Grand Cayman-where to stay?

[niter]

We're considering a trip to Grand Cayman and would love to have any input in where to stay. *I'm posting here as diving is a considerable part of why we are picking this location--I would like to get certified this year and my spouse already is. *However, we are traveling with two small children so a decent beach is a must. *I'm also not looking for the most populous area but reasonable access to a grocery store (again, children!). *We are more inclined to stay at the better beach and drive to dive but any suggestions about where to stay and who to dive with would be much appreciated!

Where exactly do the cruise ships dock? *I would like to avoid staying right next to that too!


Thanks!

 

[listen2bob]

The cruise ships dock in Georgetown Harbor, Not my favorite place on the island. If you want a beach then essentially you have 1 choice with many hotels.... 7 mile beach is on the west side. very nice, decent snorkeling and close to my absolute favorite spot to dive in the world across from the old turtle farm. I believe the restaurant that you swim out from behind is the cracked conch, but that has been a couple years.
If you have some spare time and want to see a georgeous uninhabited area head to the northwest corner. It is a national park that is dissected my mosquito ditches and mangroves. easy to get lost, but it is an adventure worth having for sure many of the little roads lead to little beach access points that are remote. look as far up and down the beach and there is nothing but shallow reefs and shipwrecks, and iguanas.
Happy Hunting!

 

[niter]

Thanks! So it sounding that the northern portions of 7 mile beach would be with considering....further from Georgetown and the ships but closer to that Northwest bit you described. Are you familiar with Rum Point?

 

[listen2bob]

I have been to rum point a couple of times, it is interesting. kind of a long haul for such a small island. The park I was speaking about is Barker's National Park and is located directly across the bay from Rum Point. I prefer isolated beaches at the park to the often crowded Rum point.

 

[ousnakebyte]

Yeah, when we went we stayed in a condo on the upper end of 7-mile beach, away from the cruise ships. There was nice snorkeling there, and when we wanted to dive, most of the dive operators would pick you up and drop you off if you were somewhere on 7-mile beach.

I recommend doing a few dives on the west side of the island, but also get over to the east side if you can - it's such a dramatic transition from the leeward to windward sides. Very breathtaking.

I still remember my favorite dive site that I would like to revisit some day - Princess Penny's Pinnacle, on the west side of the island. Just simply amazing. This column of encrusted stony corals, gorgonians, sponges, etc. rises from the sea floor away from the main wall. You drop down to a 100ft floor and then slowly spiral up the column. Just... wow...

Cheers
Mike

 

[niter]

I have been to rum point a couple of times, it is interesting. kind of a long haul for such a small island. The park I was speaking about is Barker's National Park and is located directly across the bay from Rum Point. I prefer isolated beaches at the park to the often crowded Rum point.

Interesting! I was looking at Rum Point vs. 7 mile beach because the rental prices were significantly cheaper and it looks less crowded via google map. I guess it gets a lot of local traffic?

Yeah, when we went we stayed in a condo on the upper end of 7-mile beach, away from the cruise ships. There was nice snorkeling there, and when we wanted to dive, most of the dive operators would pick you up and drop you off if you were somewhere on 7-mile beach.

Were the beaches really crowded?

I recommend doing a few dives on the west side of the island, but also get over to the east side if you can - it's such a dramatic transition from the leeward to windward sides. Very breathtaking.

I still remember my favorite dive site that I would like to revisit some day - Princess Penny's Pinnacle, on the west side of the island. Just simply amazing. This column of encrusted stony corals, gorgonians, sponges, etc. rises from the sea floor away from the main wall. You drop down to a 100ft floor and then slowly spiral up the column. Just... wow...

Cheers
Mike

That dive sounds spectacular!!

 

[ousnakebyte]

Were the beaches really crowded?

Well, I guess that all depends on your perception. Other people in the condo unit were out on the beach, but that was maybe 5-12 people at a time. And, then people are almost always walking/running by. But... I would not consider it crowded like a spring break beach in Panama City or anything.

Again, the farther away you get from the port the better, IMO.

Oh, and the company we used on the west side of the island was Dive Tech. They put two DM's in the water with you on any dive - one in front and one in back - and they pay attention to you. Or, you can go to their shop and do a shore dive right off the pier.

Can't remember who we dove with on the east end...???

Cheers
Mike

 

[ousnakebyte]

Ahhh... forgot I had uploaded these.

Here is a look at the beach where we were staying (we were there in February 2008). At sunset, there were not too many people around... :spin1:

This is how we felt all week (Jen and my buddy Gill, pictured) - EXCELLENT!

Cheers
Mike

 

[listen2bob]

Rum point on the weekends can get crowded. I think I have seen all of 3 other vehicles in the Barker's Park.
Definently try to get out to the east side as well, very very pretty.

My preference there is to rent gear out of the dive shop under the cracked conch and do shore dives directly behind it. 50 yrds out there is a mini wall that drops to 70 feet then sand bed full of garden eels for another 50-100 yrds, then the outer wall rises up from the sand bed to about 30 feet. the outside of the outer wall drops into the "Scary Deep" zone. lots of turtles, lobster, tarpon etc. They say the coral formations there have some of the highest growth rates from the effluent from the turtle farm (which has now moved)
that dive shop will also leave you full tanks outside after they close for night dives. I stick to the 1st wall at night. lots to see

There are a lot of dives in georgetown harbor......dont waste your time. When I first went there in 90 they were cool dives, now they are trashed lots of damage from hurricanes from 2000 till now.

 

[billsreef]

Staying on the 7 Mile Beach stretch will leave you close to the Turtle Farm, the airport, grocery shopping, etc. It's also not far from George Town, just avoid George Town when there's a cruise ship in port. As Bob mentioned, diving behind the Cracked Conch (good place to eat last I was there) is excellent. They have a nice protected access point with a ladder in the iron shore, the reef up close is great for snorkeling, and the diving is good out in the deeper water as well. For diving on the East End (worth the drive) I've used Ocean Frontiers and was quite happy with them. Rum Pt. is a bit of tourist spot, but it is kind of nice spot to hang out with some food and drinks...you can snorkel there, but it's not a great spot for that.