Sunset House or Compass Point in February?

[jameseg]

Would love to hear from anyone who has stayed at both which one they preferred. I've heard good things about both, but haven't seen any comparisons. We would be going in February, when I understand there is a higher chance of rough water.

My wife and I have 400+ dives. We will be diving with a friend who is newer to diving, but very comfortable in the water and has experience with drift diving in Jupiter and Cozumel.

 

[tkaelin]

Hadn’t heard or experienced a higher chance rough conditions. December yes.

 

[Damselfish]

Depends what you like. I would always pick Compass Point/Ocean Frontiers over Sunset house. I much prefer the accomodations and that end of the island - quiet and prettier and not congested out on the East End.

Ocean Frontiers is a great op and setup. I thought Sunset Divers was just ok, but it’s been so many years since we’ve dove there I may not be a good judge.

Sunset House does get you on site shore diving, though it’s been heavily dove for years now and I thought it was beat up even way back when. Ocean Fromtiers is a long way from the shore diving places.

Sunset House is close to town and lots of things. Ocean Frontiers is a long drive back to all that. But there are enough restaurants around the East End and a decent small grocery store that makes it ok, though a car makes it better. Traffic on Grand Cayman has gotten terrible. We used to head from the East End to the West End more often for more restaurant choices and whatever, but mostly don’t do that anymore without a really good reason. Development has run amuck in general, but mostly towards the West.

Diving the East End can get sporty in winter, but they always find a side to dive. Sunset House is much less prone to that, though I’ve seen it and other west-ish spots get blown out. Late Feb is the end of winter and could go either way. But prob ok.

 

[scubadada]

Compass Point/Ocean Frontiers has the advantage of many, many sites in the north, east and south. On one visit in September,, we dived mostly in the north. In the same year, in November, we dived mainly in the south. The flexibility according to conditions is incredibly valuable. Plus, I don't need to be with all the people.

 

[jonhall]

Have been there in February (both sides of the island) so only replying to give you something to think about.
Also, I have only dove with Ocean Frontiers (Compass Point) and stayed there also. Top notch - some of the easiest diving (valet-wise) I've ever done. The conditions in winter can be different from day to day on different sides of the island - have had great conditions on west, east, and north during this time. Looking back at my logbook, I noted a little more current on the east end usually calm, no current along Seven Mile Beach.

Although not having dived/stayed at Sunset House, it puts you closer to Seven Mile Beach - if conditions are bad elsewhere, this side will generally have calmer water and dive ops will go here - from Compass Point that would be about a 30-40 minute drive. All sides have great dive sites.

Although there are no guarantees about the weather, if I had an option (which is generally not the case), staying closer to SMB would be my preference during winter - it also puts you closer to some nice shore dives.