Where to go? GC vs. Little Cayman vs. Cayman Brac?

[periwinkle888]

I'm planning a dive trip in January and it will be my first time going to the Caymans and trying to decide where to stay and where to dive.

I'm an intermediate diver (100+ dives) but am traveling with two newbies that are finishing their check out dives so I'm looking for a place that will appeal to everyone.

Top side, I like nice beaches, good restaurants (but no chains), and ideally someplace I can chill in a hammock away from large crowds.

Any thoughts?

 

[Damselfish]

well, the places you can chill in a hammock away from the crowds aren't the places with a whole lot of restaurant choices.

Little Cayman or Brac are good places to chill. Little Cayman has only one standalone restaurant, while you can dine at the few resorts it's pretty common to just eat where you're staying (unless you're at one of the condos.) Brac has a few more choices but it's still fairly limited. LC might be better of the 2 for checkout dives or brand new divers as the sites tend to start shallower. It may sometimes be rough getting around to Bloody Bay in January.

The East End of GC is pretty quiet, there are a few restaurants not too far of a drive and a longer drive to others. It's a longish drive back to the west end and 7 mile beach. For all practical purposes it's all boat diving in the east and it might be rough in January (don't know if that's a problem for any of your group), though they will pretty much always find a place to dive. The northern end of 7 mile beach is quieter than further south where most of the hotels are, so a condo at the north end of SMB might work, and you would still be close to a lot of restaurants and stuff. There are also some shore diving options that would be good for newbies.

There are nice enough beaches at most of the places you would stay on the water. Some exceptions are Cobalt Coast and Sunset House, dive resorts with shore diving on site which is pretty much incompatible with a beach!

 

[tangfish]

Great question, periwinkle. I'm actually considering the Cayman Islands for a trip this December. I heard from someone that the best diving there is off of Little Cayman. Damselfish, do you think that this is true? I'm looking to shoot some photos, video, chill on the beach and just relax. I'm not into the whole tourist-trap, shopping, huge resort, tours thing.... just good diving and relaxation.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Damselfish]

I think the best diving is either Little Cayman or from the east end of Grand Cayman. I think I actually prefer the east end but that might just be because I've been to LC a lot, plus it's nice to not hassle with the inter-island flight.

 

[Tim Ingersoll]

Have been to all three islands. Best diving and best place to just "chill" is definitely LC but if you have people looking for shopping and nightlife forget LC and stick to GC or they won't be happy.

 

[billinwilliamston]

If I understand you correctly, it sounds like the East End of Grand Cayman and specifically either Morritt's or The Reef Resort to me. Both are on a beach with hammocks and close to a few decent to good restaurants. They are right next to each other and about a 1/2 hour to 45 minute drive from George Town where all the "action" is. There is both a small grocery store and a liquor store withing walking distance.

Depending on your flight schedule into GCM, going to one of the sister islands could add quite a bit to your travel time.

 

[tangfish]

Great info everyone. Thank you. So, if staying on the East side of GC, do boats do daytrips for dives out at CB or LC, or is the distance too far?

 

[Damselfish]

no daytrips to the sister islands, too far. Even a daytrip from CB to LC or vice versa is considered a special trip.

 

[fdog]

As far as a pure diving perspective goes, go to Bloody Bay Wall/Jackson's Bight (Little Cayman). The scenery is superb and the life is rich.

Just returned from there after a week on board the Cayman Aggressor, which usually doeas a day on Grand Cayman, then, makes the crossing to Little Cayman.

By request, we departed for LC immediately, and gained a day at Bloody Bay Wall. Totally worth it. Can't say about shore accomidations, though, which certainly has input.


All the best, James

 

[carriemak]

We have dived all 3 islands numerous times and always prefer LC to the others. Yes the trip is a little longer in getting there, however, we feel it is worth it. Once at LCBR we never leave as everything we need is there.

Both LCBR & Brac Reef offer valet diving, which means you set up your gear once and you don't touch it again until time to leave.

If I had to give a reson why we prefer LC over CB, it would be the serenity of being on a small island like LC.