DIVING
Scuba Diving Magazine has listed the 2010 Top 100 Readers' Choice Survey for the Caribbean and Atlantic and the Cayman Islands have been rated as follows:
#1 Overall Rating of Destination
#1 Diving for Advanced Divers
#1 Visibility
#1 Health and Marine Environment
#1 Wall Diving
#2 Marine Life
#2 Overall Rating of the Diving
#3 Underwater Photography
#3 Shore Diving
Boat Details
- Fast, smooth boat rides to the best dive sites.
- Comfortable, bench seats, convenient gear storage area and tank racks.
- Plenty of shade with a sunning area on the forward deck.
- Sheltered cabin area providing protection from the wind and spray.
- Easy giant stride entry from the large stern dive platform.
- Easy exit from the water using dive ladders and handrails.
- Padded camera table in the cabin area to protect underwater photo gear.
- Freshwater shower.
- Ice water, fruit and snacks.
- Restroom facilities on board.
- A VHF ship-to-shore radio, an emergency oxygen kit, AED Kits, First aid equipment and United States Coast Guard approved boat safety equipment.
- A hanging regulator line or "hookah" and a surface current line are provided on dives. Dive tables are also on board each boat for non-computer diving.
Cayman Brac Diving Highlights
- Site of one of the world's best wreck dives, the Russian Missile Frigate #356, renamed the MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts.
- Turtles, Spotted Eagle Rays, Reef Sharks, Nassau Groupers, Moray Eels, Stingrays, Horse-Eye Jacks, Barracuda, Flying Gurnards and more!
- 100 different hard and soft corals and over 500 types of fish.
- Unlimited visibility...usually 100 to 150 feet...with little or no current.
- Warm water...Winter 78° to 80°, Summer 82° to 86°
- Trips to Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park are offered during the week, but are weather dependent.
Shore Snorkeling
Shore diving at the resort is limited in terms of what you will see. The front of the hotel and along the dock is sandy for a ways offshore but the sand offers rays, and some fish especially around the dock and in the grassy areas. We have had people snorkel here before and they were happy with the critters they saw. The best shore diving is closer to dive sites. It is a very small island so you are CLOSE to many dive sites via the car that offer great reef structure and therefore good snorkeling.
You can also go on the boat on a standby basis for $30-35 per boat ride with the group. (I am verifying the price) If the boat is not full and/or there is space you can go out with the group. So far we have space on the boat.
They chg divers $35 for the day trip to Little Cayman so it will be at least that much for the snorkeling for the fuel. We are still owrking out teh price so ask if interested. The resort is good for snorkeling but there may be boat traffic so I have asked about that as well. It is fab!!!
Diving ITINERARY
- Days Prior to start of our trip: Ask me for special pricing to either arrive early or stay late diving, sightseeing or both!
- Sept 2 Sat: Arrive in Cayman Brac where you will be transferred to the lovely Brac Reef Resort
- Sept 3 Sun: 2 tank AM boat dives + optional 1 PM dive
- Sept 4 Mon: 2 tank AM boat dives + optional 1 PM dive
- Sept 5 Tue: 2 tank AM boat dives + optional 1 PM dive - SCHEDULED NIGHT FOR BOAT NIGHT DIVE IF INTERESTED...NEED 8 PEOPE.
- Sept 6 Wed: 2 tank AM boat dives in Little Cayman Weather Permitting or if weather does not cooperate we'll choose an alternate day for our Little Cayman Dives) + optional 1 PM dive in Cayman Brac - Probably Night for Costume Contest
- Sept 7 Thurs: 2 tank AM boat dives + optional 1 PM dive
- Sept 8 Fri: 2 tank AM boat dives - Probably night for Photo Contest ALSO optional tours if not wishing to dive the last day.
- Sept 9 Sat: Transfer to Cayman Brac Airport for flights home.
Activities ITINERARY
We will set up an island tour for Friday that people can participate in. I can usually get a price break based upon the numbers going. It is approx $35 per person and is 3-5 hours and includes the caves, the island history, the bluffs etc.
Each night there is a group activity with prizes for winners at the resort as follows:
- Monday: Manager's Party
- Tuesday: Bingo Night
- Wednesday: Trivia Night
- Thursday: Market Night where local crafts people come and offer their wares (this is really fun) and a crab race for charity.
- Friday: BBQ and music night
There are board games in the lobby area, a fitness center and a spa.