Help. which do I choose? Where is the best diving? want a great beach. can you suggest a hotel?

If money is not a concern, then Grand Cayman is the obvious choice. First and foremost you don't have to worry about what youre going to eat or drink in Grand Cayman. I haven't known anyone yet that has gone to Mexico and that hasn't come back without one of them getting some kind of stomach thing going on. Both places are excellent for diving, with Cozumel being better for drift or current diving and better for experienced divers, and Grand Cayman is good for Shore dives and just Regular diving and is also fine for novices. I suggest staying at the Westin in Grand Cayman- it has an excellent beach and also Red Sail sports is there for Diving. They are very professional, which is almost impossible to find in Cozumel. There, you will most likely find yourself on a "cattle boat" with lousy equipment, and no one to look after your best interests while you dive.

Nancy, I feel the diving in Cozumel is superior to GC but sorry David I have to differ on operators. Red Sail runs a good cattle boat operation. Topside GC has it over Coz but I think the quality operators in Coz are superior to the majority of the GC ops. If you go to GC check out Nick Buckley, he gets raves for his six pack operation. In Coz, check out Aldora or Dive with Martin. <BR>ON Coz, you must be careful about diet but I've never gotten sick and I eat aat the local spots- great seafood. <BR>hOTELS- gc= The Westin <BR>Coz= El Presedente <BR> <BR>Wearever you end up have a blast. <BR>Bart

Bart or others . <BR>How do you recommend eating on Coz to NOT get sick? <BR>Can we safely drink soft drinks with ice? <BR>Help, please. <BR>

Carrie, I don't use tap water in hotels or drinks with ice although all bars clain to use purified water for ice. Cans of soda and bottles of beer. Occasionally I'll havee a Margarrita at Prima or Carlos and Charlies. I don't do that at just anyplace. Stay away from the salsas and any fruit that you don't personnally peel. <BR>Prima and Capitan Navigante are safe for food. There are lots of other great places, check out the list on www.seabum.com. Don't be offended by the contest. <BR>Bart

BEEN TO BOTH HOWEVER WE DO NO DIVE BUT WE DO SNORKEL! WE WOULD MUCH RATHER GO TO THE CAYMANS PERSONALLY! WATER IS VERY CLEAR AT BOTH. IT IS MUCH CLEANER AND SEEMS SAFER IN THE CAYMANS! CAYMANS WILL BE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE. WE WOULD SUGGEST STAYING AT "THE AUQA BAY CLUB", WE LOVED IT THERE AND IT IS ON 7 MILE BEACH AND IS WITHIN WALKINS?SWIMMING DISTACE TO CEMETRY REEF (A BIG PLUS). GOOD LUCK!!!!

Nancy, It's hands down. go to the Caymans. The people are nice, honest and you won't get sick on the food. <BR> <BR>Have Fun <BR> <BR>Roger & Amy

I too prefer Grand Cayman, but for anyone interested Cozumel, we spent ten days there at the Fiesta Americana, drank the tap water, ate breakfasts there, drank iced tea and gin and tonic in numerous places, ate at restaurants on the square, at other hotels, the place above the museum, the Italian restaurant, the Lobster place, and had wonderful cakes, pies and coffee at the Coffee shop round the corner from the KFC, and always drank the water. We had no hint of stomach problems, and we're seniors. In 1999 Cozumel was head and shoulders above the Mexico we visited in years past. Grand Cayman has better snorkeling, better dive boats but not necessarily better diving. Its more Americanized, more expensive and more crowded, but we still love it.

We certified in Cayman and had a diving accident the first day of the course. The Emergency Room in Cayman has very qualified personnel who are used to handling diving emergencies. I am an RN and am knowledgeable about what should occur in an ER and was impressed with how my husband's care was handled. I am not sure how skilled Cozumel is, but at least Cayman is fluent in English. (Things you don't think about!) <BR>

Hi, planning a dive trip to Cozumel. Tell me what kind of diving accident were you involve it? Could it have been prevented? Is there a decompression chamber in the Caymans? We will be with a group of divers- most of whom have been certified 15 years or more. Feel safer being with people we know.

If you want a beach vacation and don't care about cost go to GC. If you want great value and fabulous diving, great restaurants, friendly people, go to Coz. You really can't go wrong visiting either island. I suspect the guy who says everyone gets sick has never been to Coz. Have fun.