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Dive Review of Reef Divers/Brac Reef Resort in
Cayman Islands/Cayman Brac

Reef Divers/Brac Reef Resort, Aug, 2004,

by Ken Hobday, OH, USA . Report 1216.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 3 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 4 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments The Reef Divers service is spectacular -- valet diving at its height. The boats are fabulous. When you're ready to dive, you take a seat on a bench at the back and the DM's bring your gear to you, tell you how much air you have (you still should check yourself) and off you go. When you return you take your fins off in the water and hand them up. Otherwise you repeat the process in reverse.

Good nitrox (32%) service is available. It is best to test your tanks and label them each afternoon for the next day's dives. Then they will be on the boat waiting for you in the morning.

If your expectation of diving is "Follow the Leader" this operation probably isn't for you. You're always welcome to trail around with the divemaster in the water, but most folk don't. Because of the excellent vis. it is easy to keep others in site, but each buddy pair pretty much does their own thing. We dove with Craig (again) and Vicki most of the week. Both are really good at finding interesting things and pointing them out if you kind of keep them in sight. If you haven't dove with Craig, you've missed an experience!

This was our second year here in a row (it's hard to convince ourselves to go someplace else). We did 17 dives and only 4 were at sites we had been too last year (and we certainly didn't mind going back to those). One new site, Elkhorn Forest (just offshore from Divi Tiara), is an amazing site with tons of new elkhorn growth on top of old hardened elkhorn. One of our favorite spots by far.

We spent more time on the South side this year because the seas were calmer than last June. I think I like the South wall better but it's hard to say.

The Brac Reef Resort is about as pleasant a place as you could ever hope to stay. The staff is simply the friendliest I've ever encountered and we have stayed at some of the top hotels in the world. It feels like being around family. The pool and hot tub are great, but the covered dock with swings and hammocks makes the place. Everynight, we trooped down to the dock to watch the tarpon and one night 3 squid entertained us for quite a while.

We were surprised at the August weather -- certainly warm in the middle of the day but quite bearable and incredibly pleasant either out on the water or in the shade.

The food is good and plentiful with plenty of variety. It's not gourmet fare; I actually wouldn't mind paying a bit more for an upgrade in the cuisine department.

We're going to force ourselves to go elsewhere next year but the temptation to go "Back to the Brac" will always be there!

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 26-50 dives
Where else diving Antiqua, St. Croix, Cayman Brac (2003), Cozumel, Riviera Maya
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm
Water Temp 84-87°F / 29-31°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 50-80 Ft/ 15-24 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile yes
Enforced diving restrictions 110' max (90 if no computer), stay with buddy. Generally gave a time limit but that was somewhat flexible. Deco alarm gets you a 24 hour hammock dive. 500PSI on return is generally encouraged.
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas 1 or 2
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles > 2 Whales None
Corals 5 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 3 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter 5 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 5 stars Shore Facilities 5 stars
UW Photo Comments Dry table on boat (no rinse on boat) and separate rinse tank on shore. DM's will hand you your camera once you're in the water and take it from you at end of dive. Good dive shop with very helpful professional photographer - Ed.
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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