Dive Review of DiveTech/Cobalt Coast in
Cayman Islands/Grand Cayman

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DiveTech/Cobalt Coast, Aug, 2003, by Michael Marmesh, FL, USA ( Sr. Reviewer 11 reports with 5 Helpful votes). Report 604.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity	N/A
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$	N/A
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Sounds like whining, but average viz of 60 ft. is not that good for the Caymans. Viz near surface often 30-40 ft. but improved when depth dropped below 30 ft. Corals atop wall had some muck-brown algae type material amongst them. All diving done on the North Wall. Large game type fish (assorted grouper and snapper) were approachable. At Tarpon Alley saw 10-12 spotted eagle rays, hammerhead and bull shark, but no tarpon. I'll take the trade. Eagle rays on many dives, they come in during the summer. Third time in The Caymans and finally did Stingray City-not just a tourist hype-a real blast. Besides friendly, curious rays, got bitten by a mutton snapper, petted a 6 ft. green moray, checked out peacock flounder and scoped out a scorpion fish hopping across sandy bottom. Two a.m. boat dives--1st dive was always led and followed. Six to 14 divers on boat. Maybe I'm getting old and cranky but since 1st dive is always a wall dive, I'd just as soon be allowed to follow my own profile. On 2nd dive you could do your own profile if you had a computer and a buddy. From dive operation's point of view, clients' range of experience varies widely. (Returning from one dive my wife was asked, "What's that fish pictured on your T-shirt?" answer--barracuda.) Boat crews were good but rotated every couple of days making it more difficult for them to get to know the skill levels of the divers. On website, despite the picture of the dive shop and dock at Cobalt Coast, boat diving was by truck to the yacht club. Shore dive is 270 yds. from the end of the dock to the mini-wall, 70 yds. more to the deeper formations. DiveTech has 2nd shop at Turtle Reef. Mini-wall there is great for day or night dive. DiveTech offers opportunities to learn free dive techniques, Nitrox, advanced trimix certification and rebreathers. I took a rebreather intro course on Draeger semi-closed system with shop owner Nancy Romanica. First in-water attempt at Turtle Reef could've gone better-developed a headache and got to practice two out-of-air protocols. Nancy offered a 2nd opportunity the following day-fantastic. Stayed at 60 ft. for 60 minutes. Snuck into a school of tarpon, close to garden eels, arrow crabs and coral shrimp. Held baby skate and pulled hook out of grouper's mouth. Still returned with 1500 psi in a 50 cu. ft. Nitrox tank. Photo pro Chris diving on Inspiration rebreather gave me a severe case of equipment envy. Best for last. Cobalt Coast is a exceptionally nice resort. Rooms clean and well appointed. Dining by the pool, facing the sea--food excellent quality--mix of traditional meats and chicken along with Caribbean flavors of conch, lobster shrimp and fish soup with callaloo. Owner, Arie Barendrecht, really cares about guests' comfort. Willing to offer help and advice. Old world style where running a hotel is not just a job but a valued profession. Best host in all my dive travels.
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Grenada, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, BVI, Dominica, Roatan, St. Kitts, Costa Rica, Bonaire, Curacao
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, cloudy	Seas	choppy
Water Temp	78-85°F / 26-29°C	Wetsuit Thickness	0
Water Visibility	40-80 Ft/ 12-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	130 ft. w/computer
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	N/A
What I Saw
Sharks	1 or 2	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	[None]

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Dive Review of DiveTech/Cobalt Coast in Cayman Islands/Grand Cayman

DiveTech/Cobalt Coast, Aug, 2003,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of DiveTech/Cobalt Coast in
Cayman Islands/Grand Cayman