What are the MUST dives on Grand Cayman?

[Rye22]

Heading to GC for the first time next week. We'll be staying at Sunset House for 8 days and I'm looking for some must dives for that week.

We'll be diving stingray city, but what others are recommended?

Thanks.

 

[marshallkarp]

Here's my HD East End Dive report

Grand Cayman East End Dive Report on Vimeo

 

[diversteve]

Big Tunnels
Trinity Caves
Orange Canyon
Babylon
Bonnie's Arch
Blackie's Hole
Turtle Reef (shore dive - rent tanks from Sundivers on-site)
Aquarium (shallow boat dive)
obviously Amphitrite (the mermaid) off your resort.

Some of these sites might be too far north for SH to go to but I don't know any of the sites south of SH. One I'd skip is Eden Rock/Devils Grotto, it was very tired looking due to all the cruise traffic. And there's so many better sites.

 

[1KWIK_69]

We just returned from GC and Sunset House a few days ago. I have to disagree with the previous post on the Devil's Grotto. If you're looking for a nice easy close shore dive, it's a must see. There are lots of swim throughs filled with tarpin, tons of sea life, and we even had the luck of running across and 8 foot Nurse Shark on the south side. It's had it's share of cruise ship divers but it's in better shape over all than some had lead me to expect.
Another really great shore dive if you don't mind snorkeling out a ways is the main wall at Lighthouse Point near the northwest corner of the island. It's only a 20 minute drive from Sunset House depending on cruise ship traffic in George Town. Dive Tech is onsite to rent you tanks and has a good pier to use. It's definitely a boat quality dive with giant coral on the main wall if you're willing to swim out that far. Even if not, the mini wall is pretty nice too.

One boat dive I'd really recomend is the eye of the needle on the south side. We had some nasty winds coming out of the west so Don Foster's picked us up from the south side of the island and took us there. It has some really nice swim throughs.

 

[scubadada]

Rye22,

I'm jealous you have a trip to Grand Cayman. We all have our favorite dives, I have 8 trips, 142 dives, off Grand Cayman, 1997-2008.

The South dive, Eye of the Needle, described earlier, is indeed quite good. We dived it for the same reasons, wind and water.

My favorite dives off the West are Northwest Point, Bonnie's Arch, Orange Canyon, Big Tunnel, Little Tunnels, Trinity Caves, Sand Chute, Aquarium, Wildlife Reef (great at night), and Mesa.

My favorite North wall dives are Babylon (very far away), Andes Wall, White Stroke Canyon, Gail's Mountain, Hammerhead Hill, Leslie's Curl, Eagle Ray Pass, Tarpon Alley, Blue Pinnacles, and, a very personal favorite, Ghost Mountain.

Sorry, I've not had a chance to dive the East and can't comment.

You'll have a great time, enjoy.

Good diving, Craig

 

[scubadada]

Hi Rye22,

Forgot a few things. Shore diving at Cobalt Coast and Lighthouse Point is quite good. Operator, Divetech, has a great DPV dive beteen the 2 sites. I haven't dived Turtle Reef since it was taken over by Sundivers but it is a great site, north or south (Tarpon in a cave). If you're done for the day, bar below Cracked Conch is great for drinks and munchies.

If you need additional diving in the afternoon or night not supplied by Sunset House, I would consider contacting Cayman Diving School. Very nice, fast, six pack with the best personal service. CAYMAN DIVING SCHOOL

Best of luck for your trip, good diving,

Craig

 

[Rye22]

Awesome, lots of choice. I should be able to go down there with a pretty good array of what to do.

Any locations where I can encounter larger game? Sharks, Mantas, swordfish, and perhaps whales (do they even go by Cayman?)

 

[scubadada]

Hi Rye22

In your dreams. Unfortunately, you have not done your own research in what to expect off Grand Cayman. I would suggest Lawson Wood, Dive Guide The Cayman Islands and/or Lonely Planet Diving & Snorkelin Cayman Islands.

Sorry, Craig

 

[carlislere]

We have stayed at Sunset House several times in the last few years. Great resort, dive op and my favorite bar/restaurant. Order the bacon wrapped shrimp and conch fritters from the bar! Where Sunset Divers dives this time of year depends on the weather. Some of the locations lised by DiverSteve are locations they dive. There is also great beach diving and night beach diving off the resort. You can walk to Georgetown, about 15-20 minutes, to look around and shop. Have a great trip!

 

[Rye22]

Update:

So far so good. Been here for 6 days and put in 11 dives. A couple of the ppl I'm diving with are not that "hardcore" into it. I was hoping to get btwn 20-25 dives for the 8 days, but no such luck. I'll finish up with 15 by the time we're done.

Seen lots of turtles, stingrays, squid, crabs, shrimp, etc. We did Stingray City, Turtle Reef, Orange Canyon, Royal Palm Ledge, and today Little (something cannot remember thus far). We were stuck on a boat w/ some inexperienced divers b/c we booked late.

Yesterday, a group who went in at Sunset House came in as we were kitting up saw a 12' Hamerhead. So jealous!!!

Tomorrow we'll do Turtle Reef again unless I can talk everybody into the caves, but in the aft. its a 2 tank dive on the east side, which I'm looking forward to.