Dive Review of Southern Cross Club in
Cayman Islands

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Southern Cross Club: "Wall, reefs, fish life, turtles, service!!!", Jul, 2022, by Marie Rose, PA, US ( Reviewer 4 reports with 3 Helpful votes). Report 11961 has 3 Helpful votes.
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	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Ok – for those who don’t want to read a big long thing – GO TO SOUTHERN CROSS CLUB NOW. You don’t need to read anything else, just book it. But, if you want the details, here we go … After the stress of jobs, life, covid, and a lapse in diving (6 years) we needed a BREAK and we needed to get diving again! And we wanted a positive experience (big shock – it’s vacation!!) This was our 5th time diving on Little Cayman, 4th with Southern Cross Club. Our previous experiences seemed to get better every time we visited SCC, so once travel reopened to the Cayman Islands we booked our trip. Undercurrent asks that we comment on the COVID response, so let’s get that out of the way. When we visited, we needed to apply to the Cayman travel portal and upload our proof of vaccine to obtain official approval to visit. This was quite painless and approval was given within hours. A printed copy of the document was required. We also had to have a negative covid test 24h prior to arriving. The Cayman government recommended the use of AZOVA, an online video proctoring website that allowed us to perform an at-home antigen test ($20, the kits were free US govt supplied). This was remarkably simple and AZOVA provided a report. We then needed to upload the report to American Airlines Verifly app – this was examined and we got the highly desired “green checkmark” required for boarding the flight to Grand Cayman. Masks were required by the Cayman Islands government on both the international and inter-island flights. Masks were also required while inside (this requirement was lifted during our stay). Southern Cross Club abided by these rules; hand sanitizer was provided in rooms, outside of rooms, in dining areas etc. Since the masking requirement ended during our stay, we were all very happy to enjoy NAKED FACE DAY – haha – and actually see the staff! Because of the change in regulations, neither masks nor testing were required for our return to the US. Now – back to the fun stuff. Southern Cross bookings are handled by Adrienne who promptly forwarded our diving info (ie lack of recent diving) to Dive Operations Supervisor, Mike, who got us the ReActivate (PADI) website materials. We needed to do an online class then a checkout dive. We printed off all of our dive documents (including proof of insurance and medical forms), packed our bags and arrived – really excited to be on a vacation AND getting into the water again. SCC was waiting for us at the air strip. We filled out waivers, went over the required checkout dive info with Mike, and went over to our blissfully air-conditioned bungalow. The room and bathroom had been redesigned and upgraded and were very comfortable as well as spacious. Towels were EXTRA fluffy. As part of a GREEN effort, you put a little tag on your bed if you wanted your linens/towels changed. Food: For plated meals your order is taken at the meal before. You can choose as many things as you like, and there were vegan options at every meal. Some meals were buffet and there were frequently omelet stations, salad stations, hot food stations. Too good, too much, better dive a lot. The head chef is Indian and there is Indian food night – you guessed it – DELICIOUS. The main dining room is air conditioned. If someone catches a fish, there is sashimi at the bar before dinner. Not liking the food options? There is a bar menu available during lunch/dinner hours (I didn’t look at it so don’t know what it includes). The bar: during the day it is run on an honor system. You may purchase softdrinks, beer and wine (of course once you drink alcohol you are done diving for the day) by logging in with your room number. After 4p the bar is staffed and any crazy island concoction is available, as well as a solid choice of classic libations. Wifi is available within the bar and pool areas only. The diving (finally, right?): We signed up for the 3 dive per day package. This guarantees you an afternoon dive. If you are on the 2 tank package, you may add an afternoon dive provided the boat is going out (a minimum of 4 divers is required). Because we hadn’t been diving recently, we rented BCDs, regulators, computers; everything was in good working condition. Weights and tanks are included. Nitrox is available for an extra fee (the morning we arrived there was an issue so we dove air all week). The AM dives leave promptly at 8. If the weather is good (usually) you travel to Bloody Bay and Jackson Bight dive sights (moorings). Prior to getting in the water the first time, a full briefing including safety equipment on the boat, is given. Weight belts are set up and you are more or less assigned a “spot” on the boat. Your dive gear and stuff is left here throughout your stay – no carrying or lifting. There is cold drinking water and granola bars are served between dives. There are little cubbies where you can put personal stuff. Fresh towels are on board as well as a rinse tank for cameras. After mooring, the divemasters break out their artistic skills and draw the dive site on a white board – using ALL the colored markers – sometimes in comical detail. The dive profile is described and then they then open fish, coral, and critter ID books and tell you to keep your eyes out for these “likely to see” things at this location. Where the divemasters REALLY shine is getting you in and out of the water, and pointing things out underwater while you dive. Their politeness, crazy attention to detail, genuine enthusiasm and desire to give you the best possible experience is evident in EVERY dive. Sure, we guests all found sharks, turtles, parrotfish, sea cucumbers, lobsters, massive barrel sponges, filefishes, flamingo tongues, morays, and sea fans without help. But THESE guys find seahorses, pipehorses, pipefish, lace corals, clingfishes, octopi, nudibranchs, sea slugs, Caribbean reef squids etc etc etc on all the dives. I learned and saw more than ever before. We had the pleasure of diving with divemasters Mike, Henry and Aurelian (Sherry was off island). Mike retains his overall enthusiasm and infects all of the divers before the dive – let’s all find clingfish!! Henry and Aurelian are outstanding at patiently showing you all the little things underwater. And when the dive is over, all help you get safely back to your “spot” on the boat. Need a little help moving around with all that heavy stuff dripping off your back? Don’t worry – they are watching and helping at every step. They have a method, they care, they’re fantastic. And as someone who is “getting older” and apparently did a little too much laying around during Covid, I really appreciated these many considerations. Thank you all so much. Fishing: Fishing (bone, tarpon, deep sea) is available although the fishing guides were off island. BUT – Owner Peter H. arrived and he said – sure – I’ll take you out! Let me get one of the other island fishing guides and we’ll leave at 5:45AM for TUNA! And then, let’s do this – we’ll meet the dive boat and hand you off so you can ALSO dive. The fishing was GREAT, we caught skipjacks and tuna, then went diving, and had sashimi for dinner. Many thanks to Peter, dive crew and chefs for this tremendous last day on the island. PS we have been home for 5 days – WE have been home – not our luggage. But we know it’s in the US – and we finally have tracking info. So we are hopeful. PPSS do your homework – Little Cayman has one general store, 2 bars and several dive operations - and that’s about it. Little Cayman also has no locks, no crime, no violence. SCC has kayaks and bicycles available for use free of charge. The view from your bungalow is GORGEOUS. Geez - I think I need to call Adrienne again...
Websites	Southern Cross Club [same]
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	Bahamas, Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, Saba, St. Lucia, Fiji, Hawaii, California, Panama, Cozumel, Bonaire, Curacao, South Caicos,
Closest Airport	Little Cayman	Getting There	Cayman Air from Grand Cayman
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, cloudy	Seas	calm, no currents
Water Temp	86-90°F / 30-32°C	Wetsuit Thickness	2
Water Visibility	75-100 Ft/ 23-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	?
Enforced diving restrictions	100 feet depth, 60 min dives.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 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	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Probably depends on what you want. No currents make photos easier, even for non professionals. Lots of plugs in the rooms for charging equipment. Cathy Church has a dive center on Grand Cayman if you stop there for a couple of days prior to going over to Little Cayman. Otherwise, make sure you bring everything you need.

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

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Dive Review of Southern Cross Club in Cayman Islands

Southern Cross Club: "Wall, reefs, fish life, turtles, service!!!", Jul, 2022,

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 Southern Cross Club in
Cayman Islands