kima

I have been reading the postings and wonder just how crowded 7MB is? I am getting the impression of a Cancun, NOT what we want. We have made the flight arrangements and are thinking about 3 days in Grand Cayman and 7 days in Cayman Brac. Our main focus is diving.<BR><BR>We like to be close enough to walk to resturants but does not have to be tons of places to choose from. Most important is the quality of the water from shore, I want the blue carribean waters in the photos. <BR>A nice patio to watch the waves, pool, that is about it. Nothing fancy. I am thinking that Grand Cayman maybe a bit to high brow for us?<BR><BR>Any divers on this board have suggestions?

Cayman Mamma

The times we have been there, there were quite a few people. The beach wasn't overly crowded, but the traffic was horrendous, especially in down town and it was triple bad if there happened to be 2 or 3 cruise ships in port.<BR>The number of day trippers made it hard sometimes to book a dive trip because it seems like they always give first choice to the cruise lines.<BR><BR>AS far as the beach being like Cancun, nah, it isn't lined with high rises.<BR><BR> High brow? I don't think so...expensive? Yes. The US dollar is only worth 80 cents.<BR><BR>

mindy

I wouldn't call Grand Cayman high brow at all and I have been there twice at Christmas and never seen the beach crowded. People yes, but crowded - I don't think so. Only in front of the Hyatt! The water is beautiful - that crystal clear turquoise and although I am not a diver, everyone who is raves about the diving there. It is definitely NOT Cancun!

Been there too

The Hyatt is not on the beach.

Obviously not

"Been there" has obviously not (been there) because the Hyatt certainly is located on the beach. Look it up on the web. <BR><BR>Grand Cayman is nothing like Cancun. It's much smaller, more charming & quaint and not nearly as much of a "party" atmosphere as Cancun. And, the beaches were not crowded when we were there. We don't dive so I can't help you there. Do more research before you make your decision.

xx

Cayman has extremely bad rush hour traffic. No doubt about it. It gets seriously crowded when there are 5 or 6 cruise ships and 14,000+ people in port, which seems to be happening with increasing frequency. Avoid downtown George Town like the plague. You can always find a quiet place on the beach if you venture away from the main areas. I urge you to rent a car. For diving, you would do very well to go to Little Cayman over Cayman Brac. The diving is superb on Little Cayman.

xx

Oops. One more thing. If you are not picky about your accommodations and just want excellent diving, l would recommend looking into Cayman Diving Lodge. You are away from the crowds, but right on the water near the best diving in Grand Cayman. If you are serious divers, do not waste your time diving on the west side near Seven Mile Beach. Yuck. Go to the North Wall or East End. Visit the message boards of www.scubadiving.com to get some more advice from other divers. I am a hard-core diver myself. Enjoy!

To obviously not

You check the web..the Hyatt is across the street from the beach.

Dad

Children, children! You're both wrong. The Hyatt is on both sides of the street. Some of it is on the beach, most of it is across the street. There is a bridge over the street to get to the beach side. Go to your rooms and don't come out until dinner!!!

Ted

99% of the Hyatt is not on the beach. Recently, the Hyatt constructed some VERY high end suites on the beach side of the road, but for all practical purposes, the Hyatt is across the street (West Bay Road) from the beach. <BR><BR>

Obviously not

Ok Dad, thanks. LOL! I checked the website and it looked to me like the hotel was on the beach (they mention their "beachfront" restaurant). Do any of the rooms across the street have ocean views? Fill me in, please, as all good parents should.

Mom

Not only is it not on the beach, but it sits pretty far back on the other side. I mean we had a DRIVE into it. It's a pretty place but I wouldn't want to go all the way to GC and not stay on the beach.<BR><BR>One poster stated that they had a little spit of beach and it got crowded...there is nothing to keep you from walking either up or down the beach to a less crowded spot...it's public as far as I know.

anon

We just returned from 12 days in Grand Cayman, our second trip in 13 months. We stayed at both the 7MB area and the East end. The diving is better on the East end. (ocean front condo's in both places) Snorkelin is excellent either directly off the shore on the east end or at the North end of 7MB. I have never seen crowds on the beaches, and we always had the beach almost to ourselves. Yes, Georgetown is crowded when the cruise ships come in, but just don't go there then. There are plenty of places to eat, etc. all around the island. It is NOT "high brow", quite the opposite. We went diving, snorkeling, golfing, shopping, etc. and never had to content with crowds, quite the opposite.

kima

Thanks all. Anon where did you stay on the east end? Any recommedations on either local would be great. <BR><BR><BR>to the diver, why little cayman over cayman brac?

Trish

There are a fair amount of people on 7MB, but not crowded. It is only crowded in Georgetown when the cruise ships are in.<BR>There are plenty of restaurants to walk to, but nightlife is pretty sparse. <BR>We search for beaches with blue water and no one can beat GC. It is an expensive island, but the snorkeling was great. I can't dive anymore due to health issues, but I have to believe that if that is your main focus, you won't be disappointed!

anon

We stayed at the Royal Reef Resort on the East End. It was great, but it might be hard to get into since it's a timeshare (5 *). We also stayed at the London House on 7MB, a condo on the nicest part of 7MB, within walking distance to cemetary reef for great snorkeling. Both places were very nice. We have also stayed at the Grand Caymanian resort on the North Sound, near 7MB.

mindy

Since I was obviously the person who started the "Hyatt issue" - I'll clear it up since I in fact actually stayed there. The major portion of the hotel is across the road and it is about a 5-10 minute walk to get to the beach. The building on the beach side is called the Beach Suites and there are only one and two bedroom suites. The building is L-shaped with the pool in the middle surrounded by tall palm trees which obstruct a great deal of the water view. The beach in front of the Beach Suites is used by everyone from the hotel and by the people who stay at the Britannia condos behind the main hotel across the road - so it gets very crowded. Yes - you can walk down the beach and park yourself someplace else, but you can't take your chair with you! Everyone's idea of crowded is totally different. Since I live in a city of 4 million people where afternoon rush hour traffic begins at 3 and ends at 7, I have a different perspective than a person who lives in a town of 500. I think it's too bad people who have a nasty attitude have to come to message boards and argue with others who are just trying to get information!

xx

You asked why Little Cayman over Cayman Brac? Little Cayman is famous for Bloody Bay Wall. Read about it in your dive magazines or do some online research and you will understand what I mean. Cayman Brac is famous for a recently sunk ship. It hasn't been there long enough to be encrusted with sponges and coral like some of the genuine shipwrecks in other parts of the Caribbean that have been down for over 100 years. Most divers would choose LC over CB any day of the week. Good luck!

kima

Mindy, agree why do ppl have to be nasty? I guess no one in "real" life talks to them. <BR><BR>Anon, looking at the royal reef, hope they have space. Thanks for the suggestions. <BR><BR>To my fellow diver, The reason we are looking at Brac vs Little Cayman is $$$. We can stay that the Divi for 777.00 pp. I have heard very mixed reviews on the place and still have yet to make up my mind. Trying to do the Caymans on a budget has proved to be a challange! But you have got me looking at little Cayman. Ahhh if only the wallet was a bit fat. <BR><BR>Thanks all for your input. <BR><BR>

Kerri

I spent a week at Divi on Cayman Brac almost fifteen years ago. The diving was great, this was likely even before the "shipwreck" and there was still wonderful walls, coral and fish. The disappointments were that there was no shore diving. We did two tank dives in the am, were finished by noon and well I got all my books read. There is a beach but not good snorkeling in front of Divi and the pool was closed. Itwas not the newest place at the time, they may have continued to add or renovate. The room was nice. It was all inclusive at the time (including bar). The food was good. THere was very little on the island. We rented motorscooters for an afternoon. Totally adequate amount of time.