Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
110
Tips
E vermore Outfitters
The
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
website,
www.
caymanislands.ky
, has a comprehensive list of all diving and
snorkeling outfitters on the islands. We've listed our favorites,
but the options don't end there.
arrangements for transpor tation fr om hotels on other par ts of the
island. A ctivity prices ar e inv ariably cheaper when they 're cluster ed
within one of the resort's many dive packages, but for a rough idea, a
two-tank dive for certified divers costs US$110, and a 3
1
/
2
-hour resort
course for a first-timer goes for US$125. O pen-water cer tification
costs US$450. Guided shore dives are US$55.
Canadian-born N ancy R omanica is D ivetech's founder and cr e-
ative force. She's also an authority on the curious pastime kno wn as
free-diving, r ecommended only for v ery experienced div ers, wher e
aficionados reach alarming depths using only their car efully trained
lung capacities (as in, without scuba tanks). The cost for a guided free
dive and a lesson (usually taught b y Nancy herself ) is US$110 per
person for a half-day and US$220 per person for a full day .
Eden Rock Diving Center,
124 S. Chur ch St., in G eorge Town
(
&
345/949-7243;
www.edenrockdive.com), specializes in div es to
Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto, hailed as two of the best div e sites in
the Caribbean. A full line of scuba and snorkeling equipment is avail-
able for rent, with a two-tank dive going for US$95. Snorkeling trips
cost US$30.
Ocean Frontiers Reef Resort,
Austin Connelly D rive, East E nd
(
&
800/348-6096
or 345/947-7500; www.oceanfrontiers.com), is a
well-run outfitter highlighting under water attractions in the East
End, where just offshore are pristine reefs and easy access to wall div-
ing. This tends to be a less crowded dive center than around the West
End. Its specialty is PADI-certified open-water dive instruction priced
at US$399. A half-day pr ogram, which includes classr oom instr uc-
tion and pool practice, follo
5
wed b y a shallo w r eef div e, goes for
US$139.
Oh B oy Char ters
(
&
345/949-6341;
www.ohboycharters.com)
will pick you up and take you out on a motorboat to a sandbar where
stingrays gather , and will also pr ovide snor keling equipment. The
crew will help y ou on and off the boat on the sandbar , where you're
surrounded by the graceful creatures that look as if they ar e flying in
the water. They'll even “kiss” you. If you kiss one of them back, it 's
supposed to bring good luck. A t least we hope so.
