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

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Divetech/Cobalt Coast, May, 2013, by Laura Austin, VA, US ( Sr. Reviewer 9 reports). Report 6970.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	We came to Grand Cayman to dive the Kittiwake, and it did not disappoint. The foundation has done an outstanding job with it--very accessible, with lots of swim throughs and rooms to explore. Hopefully, it will get fishier as the years progress. Cobalt Coast Resort was excellent. Lovely staff, large and comfy rooms, very good meals (we took the plan) It is a bit out of the way if you are interested in other activities besides diving. Divetech is the Dive Op most closely related to the Kittiwake. Very thorough briefings, well set-up operation, competent DMS and Instructors. Boat is good, but there is no head. You are responsible for your own equipment and the DMs are there to help you if you get into trouble, not to point out interesting creatures on the reef (unless it is something big--like the manta we saw one day in the blue. Another group saw a hammerhead!) There are two shore dives available--one at Lighthouse Point (the dive shop will give you a ride to and from, as long as it is before 5 p.m.) and off the pier at Cobalt Coast. We had a good night dive off their pier. Apparently, it is not used very often for the dive boats--divers get their gear together and are taken by van to another location to meet the dive boat every day. I know there are divers who love the coral formations and the walls and come back to GC frequently. I don't think we will be among them (except for the Kittiwake.) The visibility is wonderful and it's a lovely and easy-to-get-to location, but the derth of fish and reef creatures was extremely disappointing. Many of the divers remarked upon it, comparing GC unfavorably to Bonaire, Cozumel and Little Cayman. Considering the high cost--a typical two-tank dive in GC costs as much as one in Palau--I'm afraid Grand Cayman just isn't worth it.
Websites	Divetech
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Lembeh, Palau, Bonaire, Cozumel, Roatan, Utila, Cayman Brac, Little Cayman, FLorida Keys, West Palm Beach
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	calm
Water Temp	-°F / -°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	- Ft/ - M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	1 or 2
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		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	[None]

Subscriber's Comments

By Craig A Wood in PA, US at May 20, 2013 14:58 EST

Hi Laura, I last dived Grand Cayman West and North during 2 stays at Cobalt Coast in 2007 and 2008. I remember the dives as excellent, comparing favorably with half a dozen prior trips going back to 1997. I hope things have not deteriorated significantly. Before you write-off Grand Cayman, you might want to dive the East end. I had two stays at Compass Point, diving with Ocean Frontiers, in 2011. Diving was spectacular and the operator was fantastic. Little Cayman is my favorite Caribbean location, GC East end very well may be 2nd.

By report author: Laura Austin in VA, US at May 21, 2013 12:27 EST

Hey Craig! We had orginally planned to come to Grand Cayman just for the Kittiwake, and then move on to Little Cayman; but we had time constraints. I've only dived Bloody Bay Wall once and I thought it was excellent. Would love to go back. I would be willing to give the East End a try, but it seems like the sea conditions (chop, wind, etc,) are a frequent concern? In any case, the East End isn't very convenient if you want to dive the Kittiwake. We would definitely go back for that--this was my dad's last ship (diving officer and chief engineer) and there is a plaque for him below, so we have a bit of a personal connection.

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

Divetech/Cobalt Coast, May, 2013,

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):

Subscriber's Comments

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