Report on Grand Cayman Shore Dive

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Clint - 09 Dec 2004 16:49 GMT

Just got back from a cruise of the Western Caribbean which included Grand
Cayman as a port. We were able to scuba dive one of the shore dives there.
There are actually two shore dives off the downtown area of Georgetown which
were recommended to us. For cruiseship passengers, it is fairly easy to
locate. As soon as the tender boats arrive at the pier, we walked to the
right and less than 5 minutes, we arrived at Eden Rocks Dive Centre. Don't
be fooled by a new competitor they have just before it. Eden Rocks Dive
Centre is closer to the dive sites than their new competitor.

Cayman Islands are relatively expensive for diving with an average of $85 US
for a two tank boat dive trip. However, with limited time as with
cruiseship passengers, we were able to do decent diving for much less. If
you are bringing all your gear except for tanks and weights, you can rent
them for about $10 US. Even renting complete gear will run much less than a
boat trip. Eden Rocks has a patio with lockers in the back and an area with
a ladder where the entry to the water is. The two dive sites are called
Eden Rocks and Devil's Grotto. They are reached with a short swim out
towards some various buoys that mark the sites.

We ended up doing Devil's Grotto which had some nice coral formations. The
maximum depth was about 46 feet with a water temperature of about 80
degrees. The visibility was even better than what we experienced in Key
Largo just a few days prior. There was a very nice large swim through
tunnel and several smaller ones throughout the site. Inside the large
tunnel, we saw a large resident tarpon. The fish life including parrotfish,
groupers and tangs was healthy at this shore dive and it is interesting to
note that it even exists so close to the cruiseships. Other divers said they
saw some turtles too.

We would like to do the other shore dive site, Eden Rocks which is to the
right of Devil's Grotto during the next time we are in Grand Cayman. These
sites are ideal for beginner level divers. My partner was a newly certified
diver and had no problems with this shore dive.

Clint

Free Spirit Gallery
http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca
Exquisite Eskimo Inuit Art & Northwest Indian Art

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Tony Howard - 09 Dec 2004 20:04 GMT

> Just got back from a cruise of the Western Caribbean which included Grand
> Cayman as a port. We were able to scuba dive one of the shore dives there.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> be fooled by a new competitor they have just before it. Eden Rocks Dive
> Centre is closer to the dive sites than their new competitor.

Eden rock is the one with all the underwater signs showing youu the way, so
its great for a novice but bloody infuritaing for an experienced diver.

There are dozens (possibly hunddreds) of good shore dive locations in GC,
pretty much all of the dive operators have at least three or 4, many
directly behind their dive shops.

Further East is Sunset Divers where you can fin out pasta small wreck to the
wall and go down the wall (if your buoyancy control is OK, dont forget its
several hundered metres deep!).

There is also shore diving in the East End (many locations) Frank Sound, and
the north of the island and all along the beach from Georgetown Harbour to
Hell (where it's allowed)

> Cayman Islands are relatively expensive for diving with an average of $85 US
> for a two tank boat dive trip. However, with limited time as with
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> http://www.FreeSpiritGallery.ca
> Exquisite Eskimo Inuit Art & Northwest Indian Art

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Steve - 10 Dec 2004 04:50 GMT

> There is also shore diving in the East End (many locations) Frank Sound,

Exactly where in Frank Sound would you suggest? During an afternoon of snorkeling a
friend and I found ourselves all the way out by the channel. We decided the coral
heads there would make for a very pleasant 25' dive, but only if we wanted to swim
1/2 mile with our gear. I've never had the chance to check out the ends of Frank
Sound where the reef is closer.

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