Questions about Cayman diving ? Answers from someone who lives here

[Sir James Cayman]

First post on ScubaBoard. I am a longtime visitor to Grand Cayman but for the last five years have been living here 8 months of the year (lucky me). My usual time is April thru December. I am retired so I dive about 4-5 times a week, both shore and boat diving.

I know when I go some where for first time, I wonder how "real" the information I read from the internet, so hopefully I can help. I am NOT an agent for any condo/hotel or any dive operator. However I will say I do dive with only a couple of them regularly, so I will be slightly favoring them in some remarks, but I will TELL YOU that.

So want real answers?? Post your questions here.

Sir James in Grand Cayman

 

[caymaniac]

Welcome Sir James, another voice for good diving places on GC. This board has been informative and a help to many who leave questions about Grand Cayman, or any Cayman Island.
I've been to GC many times as well as the Brac, and to Little Cayman a few, I've enjoyed every trip, you must love to live in that beautiful place.

 

[Sorrows]

Okay, here's a question for you natives:

Stingray City--dive it or snorkel? It seems a waste to use a dive trip for it, but perhaps I am missing something? We did a similar thing--snorkeling--with rays and nurse sharks in Belize.

---------- Post added May 1st, 2013 at 09:41 AM ----------

Should add that we are staying at Cobalt Coast and diving with Divetech. I was really looking forward to the shore diving options there, but I'm hearing the conditions aren't always good enough to allow it. Also didn't know that you had to take a van to get to the boat--even though they have a pier on site.

 

[BUDMANOK]

2 1/2 WEEKS till GC I can't wait. We stay in WestBay and dive with Deep Blue. What would be really helpful is a post of weather/water conditions on a somewhat regular basis.

Also local food places would be nice.

Thanks

 

[Sir James Cayman]

Sting ray SANDBAR is for those stand in 2-4ft water to play with the rays. No actual snorkeling with the rays (the boat goes other places to snorkel) Its fun if you have a group of non divers and divers but....... Sting Ray CITY is diving with the rays in 10 ft of water. This is really fun!!! Does it replace a good 2nd shallow dive, depends on you. One or two dive operations offer it as a 3rd dive. (my buddy does, so ask me) If you have not been, I would lean towards it.

Cobalt coast has a shore dive right off its dock. It is quite fun but a bit of a swim and currents (or lack off) rule the day. So then can be multiple days in a row when currents keep you out. Cobalt also has a second shore dive spot at the LIGHTHOUSE. (You might ask them about that) It has easy access to a shallow mini-wall and is also not much further out to the main wall (a rope underwater leads you out and back). Sometimes there is a stiff current (mainly in the winter) Its located about three miles away from Cobalt coast. Regarding boat pick up. Sometimes the wind and waves are too rough and they need to "van' to another dock. Its dock gets rough seas a lot, especially during the winter. If you are there today it should be really good as the seas are from the south.

I can write more about great shore dives, if someone asks.

Sir James

---------- Post added May 1st, 2013 at 03:05 PM ----------


WEATHER ANSWER

Caymanweather.com is a general site

WindGURU is what some dive operators look at for North wall diving. Select Casyman islands and then Barkers on second line.

Water Temp is about 82 F and warming up. You can expect little rain in early May. WIND will determine if North wall diving is available. For SURE there will be excellent WEST wall diving. Viz is GREAT this time of year, FABULOUS viz is in July.

Monday Night is an ALL you can eat BBQ/Fish at Macabuca/Cracked Conch ($15 CI dollars = US$ 18.75) in west bay next to the turtle farm. Discount drinks all night. Its right on the water. Great place to view sunsets. I HIGHLY recommend it!!!! Tell the bartenders Sir James (Corona - no lime) and Scubaboard sent you. (It wont get you anything!! he-he, but maybe I might be there.)

In Cayman, some restaurants automatically add 15% grats , SO CHECK the bill.

Sir James

 

[Testudo]

Wonder how I was able to snorkel with the rays at the Sand Bar? No fins, but put on a mask and snorkel, swim and you are...

 

[Sorrows]

Thanks, Sir James! Good to know about Stingray City--I guess we'll do it as one of our 2-tank dives.

We are only at Cobalt for four days/nights and took the package. We're basically looking to dive, eat and sleep--that's why we were so interested in the shore diving there and at Lighthouse. Does availability have something to do with slack tide--is it that sort of thing or is it more dependent on wind?

 

[Lopez116]

Sir James you are living my dream! One day...

 

[gb_williams]

Does availability have something to do with slack tide--is it that sort of thing or is it more dependent on wind?

It has to do with wind. Often, if Cobalt Coast has too much wave action, Lighthouse is open because it's more protected from North and Northeast winds. From my experience, May, June and July are typically calm and, hopefully, you won't have any trouble shore diving at either location.

If you haven't check the thread "Tipping at Cobalt Coast" for more details.

 

[Sir James Cayman]

What I meant was most people on the tourist boats to String Ray Sandbar do not use a mask. They just step right out into the sandbar and play with the Rays with their feet in the sand. It is not really what people envision when they hear "snorkel with the rays" (which to me implies swiming ABOVE them all the time, exactly what people do at Sting Ray CITY.)

The snorkel part comes from when the tour operators takes them to two other spots in the north sound to snorkel (usually a place called 'coral gardens'). This for a diver is rather boring but is fun for a non diver.