Caymans or Turks & Caicos ???

Hi there! I'm planning a trip on January '07 and I don't know where to go. I was planning to go to Roatan, but after reading some posts from members here that it was "fished out" I'm thinking about changing it.

I've read some good things about Caymans and Turks & Caicos, and I need some help from more experienced travellers on this matter. Where should I go?

I'm from Brazil, but I'll go first to Miami to purchase my DSLR set and then to the diving place. What would be the best option for me?

 

Thanks!

Do you have any islands in mind in Turks ... or in Cayman ?

 

How long are you planning on going for ?

 

Being from Cayman I would of course recommend Cayman, I would do Grand Cayman for 4 days, and then a few days in Little Cayman and or the Brac.

 

That would bea super dive vacation.

Either place is FAR superior to Roatan (where I've been twice, but never plan to go again), as far as I'm concerned. Roatan's primary attraction is that it's CHEAP, but its wrecks and walls aren't as good as those in the Caymans, and its fish life (what little there still is) is far less than either the Caymans or T&C's.

 

As Giles says, it depends a little on which islands, but in general I agree with his suggestion of doing Grand Cayman for awhile and Little Cayman (or Brac) for a few days, too. You might even consider the Cayman Aggressor - I've been on it twice, and they've got a good routine, although I'm not sure if they're going to be making the crossing over to Little Cayman when you'll be there.

 

T&C has some surprisingly good diving, especially if you're going to be doing a liveaboard, but the Caymans are better IMHO (and I don't live there, so my opinion is more objective! ).

 

One other consideration is that Grand Cayman is an excellent place to practice with your new DSLR - little or no current on most dives, with great vis and a few really unusual dives (e.g., Stingray City, Tarpon Alley). It is where I always recommend that new divers or new uw photographers go to get some beautiful, easy diving experience under their belts.

Just for you to know, I'll have 7 days to spend there. It will be only me and my girlfriend, so NO FAMILY, JUST DIVES !!! I think I prefer not to go on liveaboard. It will make my trip more expensive and I really want to enjoy the beaches too.

So it looks that 4 days in Grand Cayman + 3 days in Little Cayman / Brac it a good choice.

Does anyone know a good place to stay? Is there any hotel with unlimited shore diving, like Roatan? Can anyone recommend a good hotel for divers?

If you could list me a few places so I could check them out would be great.

 

Thanks again!

You might even consider the Cayman Aggressor - I've been on it twice, and they've got a good routine, although I'm not sure if they're going to be making the crossing over to Little Cayman when you'll be there.

You are right not to choose a live aboard, especially in Cayman at that tim eof year, mostly because you may get stuck with only 3 dive sites for all that money, our winter storms can really mess with a live aboards routine.

 

If you want a hotel with shore diving, www.sunsethouse.com although that is just one mini reef and a wall, and a wreck and a mermaid there (he he) so not everything you will want to see. There are many good shore diving spots t check out, best to hire a car for a few days and check those out also, but you will also want to do some boat diving, and there are many good operators who will cater to you having a camera.

 

There are many aspects to cayman diving, our walls, our shallow reefs, our north west, east and south shores all offer very different sights, a few wrecks (not very good ones) then in little cayman you have the famous Bloody Bay Wall, and the Destroyer Wreck in the Brac (little cayman and the Brac are very close and you can stay on one island and dive both)

 

If you choose to do all boat diving in the mornings with some shore diving in the afternoon you won't go wrong !

Thanks guys. I think I've made my mind here. But I still have 2 questions:

 

1) Sunset House or Cobalt Coast? I've read your comments on Cobalt Coast, Giles, and it appears to me that Sunset House is a better choice for its location. But what about its diving operation? Is it good? You said some good things about Cobal Coast's operation.

 

2) Grand Cayman + Little Cayman or just Grand Cayman? I fear that I may lose some precious diving time if I go to Little Cayman. I was planning to stay 3 nights at GC and 3 nights at LC, but it seems to me that I will lose at least 1 day of diving if I go there. I'd rather stay only at GC all 6 nights I have, and go to every dive site I can (and I think I won't be able to go to all of them...).

Thanks guys. I think I've made my mind here. But I still have 2 questions:

 

1) Sunset House or Cobalt Coast? I've read your comments on Cobalt Coast, Giles, and it appears to me that Sunset House is a better choice for its location. But what about its diving operation? Is it good? You said some good things about Cobal Coast's operation.

 

2) Grand Cayman + Little Cayman or just Grand Cayman? I fear that I may lose some precious diving time if I go to Little Cayman. I was planning to stay 3 nights at GC and 3 nights at LC, but it seems to me that I will lose at least 1 day of diving if I go there. I'd rather stay only at GC all 6 nights I have, and go to every dive site I can (and I think I won't be able to go to all of them...).

 

Hmm it's tough, there is no doubt that little Cayman is betetr diving, but you will loose an entire day just getting there after Grand Cayman.

I would do G Cayman this time, if you like it .. then make a special holiday just for Little Cayman some other time. I personally would stay at sunset house and dive with a small operator. There are many really good ones here in Cayman, and they can really make your dive trip a lot better than a larger organisation.

 

If money is no option I would stay at a different hotel or condo as well, I can recommend if you want. I would hire a car and drive to the shore diving places, and also to my chosen small boat operator.

 

I don't know how much you want to spend though, however if you PM me with any specific questions I would love to answer them.