Diving the Grand CAymans .....

[inkfulthinking]

Hi I found this site from googling dive shops in the Carribean. My family and I are taking a cruise in Dec to Grand Caymans, Ocho Rios, Jamaica, and Costa Maya, Mexico. We have recently become scuba certified for open water. We are looking for some good dive shops in those locals as well as good dive spots. I would greatly appreciate any information you have or reccomendations you may have. :D THanks very much! I have explored the forum some. THere is a lot of information here.

[pcgirl]

We were in the Cayman Islands a year ago and went on many dives with Nick and Patrick at Red Baron Divers. http://www.redbarondivers.com. We had two newly certified divers with us and Patrick and Nick were absolutely wonderful with them. Actually they were wonderful with all of us. They only go out in small groups so you get really personalized service and they made sure the new divers were very comfortable. It was one of the best dive experiences we have ever had. When we go back to Grand Cayman we will definitely only dive with them.

[inkfulthinking]

Thank you Pcgirl for the information.

 

I hope to gather more information on the other ports as well so our family can make an informed decision. I have read up on the ship and other threads. This forum is very helpful.:D

[bruce-r]

Grand Cayman (no "s") has lots of diving potential. In addition to the already mentioned excellent Red Baron diving http://www.neptunesdiving.com is a good choice for cruise divers as Casey will accommodate a cruise divers later arrival time. In addition to boat diving, there is much less expensive shore diving at Eden Rock, which is just a short walk from where the tenders dock in Georgetown.

 

 

Ocho Rios, Jamaica The diving here is usually considered not worth the time/effort. The poor Jamaicans depend on fishing for a lot of their protein, and eat whatever they can catch. Consequently, the reefs are severely over-fished. Personally, I'd just stay on the ship in Jamaica, but I'm not suggesting that you do so. Make your own decision.

 

Costa Maya, Mexico can have decent diving, but the choices of dive operators is limited. http://www.dreamtimediving.com/home/index.php is one, but I think they are the dive operator that the cruise line contracts with to do their excursions and so they won't let you book directly with them.

[inkfulthinking]

THank you so much Bruce-r. Sorry about the extra s on CAyman.... probably my southern slang. lol That is really great to know about Jamaica. I was wondering why all the sites that I found for diving were focusing on sponges and coral. you even got us a map!! :cool: THANK YOU SO MUCH. I will check these places out. Greatly appreciated

[MouseHunter]

Bruce-r & inkfulthinking

If you want to dive with Casey, I think you will want to go to Nephtune Divers--> http://neptunesdivers.com. I dove with them the last time I was in Grand Cayman. They are great people. They only take 8 divers max.

[bruce-r]

Bruce-r & inkfulthinking

If you want to dive with Casey, I think you will want to go to Nephtune Divers--> http://neptunesdivers.com. I dove with them the last time I was in Grand Cayman. They are great people. They only take 8 divers max.

Thanks for giving the correct link for Neptunes Divers. I can't believe I got that wrong.