> Thanks, I thought it would be a long swim.
I agree that the easiest place to reach the wall is near Foster's, but this
area is pretty beat up from shore divers and the boat traffic is dicey.
If you are a strong enough swimmer, a number of the the West Wall moorings
are reachable from the beaches in calm conditions, although again be careful
of boats and tow a flag. Just spot a mooring and swim for it. :)
Spanish Bay has some good spots to reach the wall, although I haven't made
those dives in a few years and don't know if the resort makes it accessible
to non-guests. The North Wall dives off Cobalt Coast Resort are very good
and there's a helpful dive shop right there all set up for shore diving.
It's not a short swim but do-able for a reasonably fit person, and you won't
be totally alone out there.
Some of the most fabulous, pristine walls I've ever seen are reachable from
the beaches on the northside of Grand Cayman where the commercial operations
never go (no moorings). You have to be a little careful because some of this
area is a "no dive" zone, but not all of it. At the eastern end of this
area, you can reach Babylon and the sites around it, which aren't dived
often. But this wall is a VERY long swim and the wall is deep, 70-80 feet at
the top edge in most spots, although there is some shallower reef a little
ways back from the edge. No dive shops onsite, nobody but an occasional
fisherman to hear you scream, LOL. I've done this with a very experienced
buddy and 100 cu ft Nitrox tanks (we were able to get them at Cobalt Coast
with a little begging and pleading). Loved every minute, but 85% of the
people reading this are probably NOT ready in terms of experience or
fitness.
Julie Miller
> > Thanks, I thought it would be a long swim.
>
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
>
> Ian Phillips
Daniel Arrepas - 08 Apr 2005 21:40 GMT
> Loved every minute, but 85% of the
> people reading this are probably NOT ready in terms of experience or
> fitness.
As it would seem is anyone who has to mention how experienced their "buddy"
was.
Pardon me for being so blunt, but it just seemed so ill-measured....the
manner in which you described your dive compared to other people's
readiness.
Chris Pflaum - 09 Apr 2005 04:15 GMT
Blunt is good if it saves someone's life.
I found nothing objectionable to the post.
Chris
>> Loved every minute, but 85% of the
>> people reading this are probably NOT ready in terms of experience or
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> manner in which you described your dive compared to other people's
> readiness.
Daniel Arrepas - 09 Apr 2005 19:33 GMT
> I found nothing objectionable to the post.
I don't recall saying you did.
Steve - 09 Apr 2005 08:20 GMT
> As it would seem is anyone who has to mention how experienced their "buddy"
> was.
>
> Pardon me for being so blunt, but it just seemed so ill-measured....the
> manner in which you described your dive compared to other people's
> readiness.
"I've done this with a very experienced buddy and 100 cu ft Nitrox tanks"
Yeah, she really laid it on pretty thick.
I don't know that I'd describe Babylon as a *very* long swim, but I think it's well
over 100 yards beyond the reef you need to get past. Because there are no real
channels through the reef you won't have to fight a rip current to get back in, but I
have seen decent long shore currents there, and there are just so many places where
you can get across the reef without damaging yourself or the reef (which is almost at
the surface in many places). It's not suitable for the inexperienced, the timid, or
the unfit. If you've been to GC and paid attention you should agree that 95% of the
divers fit one or more of those categories.
Babylon Shallows is a decent dive in 50 to 60 feet that's a lot closer to shore, but
still 75 or 100 yards beyond the reef.

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