Tips/Advice on SMB

[dflaher]

Hi,

The wife and I are leaving for GC in a few days and will be staying at Cobalt Coast. During non-dive times we will want to hit the beach.

Is SMB a nice beach to go to for relaxation/swimming? Will it be very crowded? How far from Cobalt Coast is it? Any tips or other suggestions?

Thanks for your help,
Dan

 

[billinwilliamston]

It depends on where on SMB you are and what day it is. If the cruise ships are in town, it can get quite crowded. It's not quite 7 miles long, but it does cover a lot of ground, so it's hard to make generalizations about how crowded it is. The water is generally quite calm.

I'm open for correction here, but I think the nearest end of SMB is maybe 5 or 10 minutes from C.C. The far end could be 1/2 hour away depending on traffic.

 

[divesergeant]

Hi Dan,

Bill is right, cruise ship days get hectic! It's best to avoid the days when there are more than three or so ships in port. How can you do this? Check out this link, it gives the port schedule... PORT AUTHORITY OF THE CAYMAN ISLANDS.

Also, SMB is an easy drive from Cobalt Coast. For beaches, Mrs DS and my mum spent an afternoon snorkeling and lounging on Cemetary Beach. They, and others, have given it good reviews. If my geography is accurate (and someone please correct me if it isn't) Cemetary Beach is toward the left (north) side of this map ... Map of Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. and is labeled "Public Beach". If coming from CC, you'd be coming from the left so it's on the close end of SMB for you.

Be sure to try the shore dives both with Ollen Miller's www.Sundivers.ky which is at the Cracked Conch and with CC's new shore dive spot at Lighthouse Point Dive Resort. We have dived them both and they are great.

Have a great, safe trip.
DS

 

[Drew Sailbum]

If my geography is accurate (and someone please correct me if it isn't) Cemetary Beach is toward the left (north) side of this map ... Map of Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. and is labeled "Public Beach". If coming from CC, you'd be coming from the left so it's on the close end of SMB for you.

Not quite.

The Public Beach label on that map is for Seven Mile Beach Public Beach. Cemetery Beach is not labelled but would be further north (to the left on this map) and much closer to the Foster's grocery store.

 

[dflaher]

Be sure to try the shore dives both with Ollen Miller's www.Sundivers.ky which is at the Cracked Conch and with CC's new shore dive spot at Lighthouse Point Dive Resort. We have dived them both and they are great.

Thanks DS and Drew. Is the Ollen Miller's Sundivers located at Turtle Reef?

 

[divesergeant]

Drew,
Thanks! I can get arouind well when on the Island, but can never remember what landmark is next to which resort, etc. They all kind of flow together. It works out well being farther north, it'll be closer to Cobalt Coast for Dan and his wife!

Dan,
Yep, the Ollen Miller Sundivers operation is where Divetech used to be at Turtle Reef. He has all new equipment and the dive is as great as ever. He has nitrox if you dive that. Mrs DS and I did that dive several times ast spring. We'd dive, take a shore break, dive again and then have lunch. For the four dives (two each, with nitrox) it came to $60/US. Fifteen bucks per nitrox dive is fine with us!

There used to be a coupon for diving, snacks and drinks on the cayman activity guide site. I think it si still there, and is worth a look. (www.caymanactivityguide.com)

See ya,
DS