Grand Cayman

I am a regular visitor to Grand Cayman and am always on the lookout to find spots for snorkeling, shore diving and boat diving that are off the beaten track. I have lots of friends on the island and have been taken to pretty neat places.

On previous trips I have dived at 12 mile bank (the forth Cayman island that was about 30m too short), at stingray city at dawn (when the rays form a 60-80 strong school), on the Methusalem and Ridgefield wrecks at the EE and a little bit in mangroves (where we found lots of mozzies and some cool nudis).

But its not a tiny island and I love to find a spot where I might run into something different and cool. Does anyone have any tips? Or can anyone suggest a good diving forum to post this question too? Anyway I am heading back out there at the end of the month - so if you have any ideas let me know and I give 'em a go.

Thanks in advance,

Alex

I went to the Brac and they also takes trips over to Little Cayman and suggest you may like to head over there. Some amazing walls and life.

It's just a 40-minute flight on Island Air to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman. Deborah and I have been to the Brac 8 times and to Little Cayman 2 times (including this May). We've always stayed at Divi Tiara on the Brac and at Southern Cross Club on Little Cayman. Both islands have spectacular walls and absolutely pristine reefs with world-class diving.

Divi Tiara is on a long narrow lagoon with fantastic snorkeling. Southern Cross Club is on South Hole Sound, which is huge and also has great snorkeling.

If you like quiet and laid-back with creature comforts (i.e., good food and AC), either island is great. And you haven't dived until you have dived Bloody Bay Wall on Little Cayman!

That's my 2¢ worth.

Alex,

Have you dived any of the southern areas i.e. from the alternate cruise ship unloading pier around to Pedro's Castle and Beach Bay and Half Moon Bay. It's hard to get down there and there are no buoyed sites but I don't think very many have dived that area. OF does not go that far west either. Occasionally I have seen the Sunset Manta offshore, but probably only three times in ten years.

On my first visit to GC we rented a condo at Beach Bay and snorkled in their man made lagoon. Lots of silversides. It was almost impossible to get out over the reef rubble however. You can't snorkle there anymore because they no longer rent out units and several of the owners who live there full time will run you off. Too bad.

I don't know what you might find on the south side.

There's also snorkeling off Spott's Beach where we have seen lots of squid but given your experience I don't think you'd enjoy it. There's very little but sand and ellgrass bottom.

BTW, have you ever met the guy who owns the "Magnificent Dive Dump" out past the Turtle Farm?

TedJ