Skills for the Caymans

[merxlin]

I am going to Little Cayman for a week in late August. Although a fairly new diver (about 25 dives in the last 9 months, not counting when I was certified originally in 1972), I have a fairly good consumption rate and reasonable bouyancy. I passed my AOW last weekend (with no dillusions that it makes me an "Advanced Diver"). I try to keep the danglies in tight, and stay off everything. I will only get 3-6 more dives in (all in Catalina) before the trip. What should I concentrate on working on before I go: more bouyancy drills, air control, something else or nothing and just get more comfortable diving?

 

[BrianV]

I haven't been to Cayman, but almost went. Went to the Bahamas instead. However, I have a friend who is equal skill level to me who just got back from Grand Cayman. My skill level (on paper) seems to be equivalent to yours. I have about 35 dives in 15 months, and am also AOW.

From what I've read and heard from my friend, you should be equipped to do the dives without any problems. Cayman diving is great, it'll blow your mind even compared to Catalina diving (which I also think is great).

You'll do fine!

 

[downdeep]

Just watch your depth on the wall and you'll be fine. It's easy diving. You're gonna love it!

 

[dkktsunami]

Dive operations in Little Cayman are very professionally run, and very safe. Be alert on the wall dives - these sites can drop straight to 6,000 ft. and the water is so clear that it is easy to lose track of your depth. It won't "feel" deep so check gauges frequently. Have a great trip. The diving is easy and extrordinary.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Just go and enjoy yourself.Be safe and Listen to what the divemasters say.It is easy and fun diving .You will enjoy it.

 

[divingjd]

Buoyancy control and breathing (it's all part of the same thing anyway). As others have said, you really want to control your depth on the wall, particularly places like Great Wall West, one of the sheerest walls you will ever see. In addition, there is lots of really good shallow diving in LC, by which I mean 20 feet or less. Much of Bloody Bay and Jackson starts in 15-20 feet of water and you finish your dives on top of the reef, essentially doing an extended safety stop. There are lots of critters up there to keep you occupied. Good buoyancy control skills are very important in shallow water to stay in control. Good breathing will extend your bottom times. Believe me, once you see Bloody Bay Wall, you will not want to surface. But then again, everything is connected, just get some more dives in and relax and the other stuff will all get better.

 

[H2Andy]

yeah... pretty much what everybody said

the primary thing to worry about is your depth. work on situational awareness:

always be aware of your depth, your air left, your bottom time. as you go deeper,
these become more and more critical

as a secondary thing to work on, work on bouyancy. try to stay neutral as much
as possible, that is, weight yourself so that you don't have to put a ton of air
in your BC to stay just sligthly negative or neutral (i find it's easier to control
bouyancy slightly negative than slightly positive)

 

[merxlin]

Thanks all. I'm really looking forward to this. I'll spend a good amount of time on my bouyancy skills.