Taking tanks offsite at Cobalt Coast :)

[oregondiver]

I was just at the Dive and Travel Expo last weekend (in Tacoma Washington) and talked to Arie from Cobalt Coast.

He confirmed that we CAN take tanks offsite to other shore diving locations as long as there isn't a dive operator there (common business courtesy). He said they would be happy to give us recommedations of places to go shore diving without dive ops on site.

He did say that some of the sites are more like what the locals dive since they may not be using dive ops on site (ie own their own gear/tanks etc).

So although I researched high and low, couldn't find confirmation that it could be done (in recent posts), Arie confirmed it can be done!

We bought our tickets last night (prices went down $100 in 2 days!). Grand Cayman Cobalt Coast...here we come!

Note: We were informed later that this was not true. Please see later posts.

 

[diversteve]

I'm sure you probably didn't ask this but I assume that's only if you're a guest there - i.e. no walk-in offisite rentals available.

 

[luckydays]

I was there last October and dived Cobalt Coast and Lighthouse Point. You are correct that you can take their tanks off site to dive other shore dive sites but you cant bring in rentals from other shops to dive their site.

Both sites are amazing. (as are many other places on GC) You will love it. I could do either site all day and never get bored.

 

[ianr33]

I would confirm that (in writing) with the dive shop rather than the hotel.

I have taken tanks off site from Cobalt Coast BUT, I've been there many times over the years and for some reason Jay must have trusted me ! I don't believe it's general policy.

 

[oregondiver]

Ian, thanks for the reminder. You are right, get it in writing from the shop!
Steve, we will be booking with them so I don't know their policy on non-guests.

Luckydays, thanks! We typically do 20 dives per week so checking out other shore diving sites is more about having fun and exploring (we are that type of creepy married couple that like doing things together instead of apart) and laughing about what did or didn't work on an excursion.

My favorite dive in Curacao involved 5 stray cats stealing my husbands lunch A favorite dive at home involved 30 minutes of hauling tanks down a cliff only to never find the wall (by looking at the map, we circled it twice though).....

 

[ianr33]

Luckydays, thanks! We typically do 20 dives per week so checking out other shore diving sites is more about having fun and exploring (we are that type of creepy married couple that like doing things together instead of apart) and laughing about what did or didn't work on an excursion.

My favorite dive in Curacao involved 5 stray cats stealing my husbands lunch A favorite dive at home involved 30 minutes of hauling tanks down a cliff only to never find the wall (by looking at the map, we circled it twice though).....

I like that attitude!

Do Babylon on the North East Coast. Awesome dive. It's a long drive out there so take more than one tank each. Eat at Vivines Kitchen near Ocean Frontiers afterwards. Avoid Georgetown at Rush Hour!

 

[oregondiver]

Ian, turns out we were told wrong by Cobalt Coast. Dive Tech said we weren't allowed to take tanks off site.

After some discussion via email today they are allowing us to take tanks off site...but appears that is the exception rather than the rule.

We will check out Babylon and Vivines. Thanks for the recommendation!!!
Shell

 

[Nylorac]

Ian, turns out we were told wrong by Cobalt Coast. Dive Tech said we weren't allowed to take tanks off site.

After some discussion via email today they are allowing us to take tanks off site...but appears that is the exception rather than the rule.

We will check out Babylon and Vivines. Thanks for the recommendation!!!
Shell

You might want to change the title of this post to You CANNOT take tanks offsite at Cobalt Coast - someone might not read the full thread and book a trip thinking they can.

Have a great trip! Cobalt Coast and DiveTech are both great.

 

[oregondiver]

Hey Nylorac,
Excellent idea. I just emailed the mods to delete the post completely as the information that is out there (somewhat vague) is still where the answer lies