kozo

Where is it safe to dive near the Marriott Resort, for a year ago certified diver who has never had a dive in the Carribean?
Good to start with pool to refresh, then try reef...safest company? Good half day place at most?
Reefs, vs. shipwrecks? Near Marriott....Safe...
Thanks...

virginia

red sail sports is a very good company and as i recall will require a pool refresher for you. www.redsailcayman.com
my bff dove with ocean frontiers & they offered a pool refresher too. www.oceanfrontiers.com
there are literally 100's of dive sites around gc. either you select a company and go where they go or you do copious research to determine which sites you want to try and select your company accordingly.
they will all ask how much experience you have and they will all work hard to make sure you are safe and have a good time. often the dive master will buddy with new divers. the companies don't want you on their expert dives, as you would take up to much time & likely shorten underwater time by using too much air too fast.
the one dive i must recommend is the one at stingray city. it's a very shallow dive but very fun, as the rays come right to you. http://www.cobaltcoast.com/images/4k...rizadj_003.jpg
if you goggle diving grand cayman you'll find maps and boatloads of information.

TurtleTagger

All the Dive Ops on Grand Cayman are licensed by the water-sports authority and the business is so competitive that if a company isn't up to snuff they won't be around. I believe that Red Sail is the on-site dive op at the Marriott which would make it easy just to use them for a refresher course. After the pool refresher, they will offer transport to the boat for the OW dive (most/all ops will).

One good thing about Grand Cayman is that in addition to the fabulous wall dives, there is great from shore diving as well. Once you've done your refreshers and if you feel like diving with out spending too much $$$, you can do shore dives from the following location (all have on-site dive ops to get your gear from):

Sunset House: http://www.sunsethouse.com/shore_diving.php
Eden Rock: http://www.edenrockdive.com/Shore_Diving/shore.html
Dive Tech: http://www.edenrockdive.com/Shore_Diving/shore.html
Turtle Farm: Ollen Miller's Sun Divers
Cheeseburger Reef (Closest to Marriott): http://www.lobsterpotdivecenter.com/.../shore-diving/

And yes, do the Sting Ray City dive or at least visit Sting ray City Sand Bar.

kozo

Thanks! Are the dives near the ships wise for first time certified ocean diver, or reefs safer bet?

TurtleTagger

Most of the dives as part of a refresher course will likely head to one of the reef dive sites off SMB, but it will depend on what the DM's itinerary is. You can always ask to go to a specific site, just understand the answer may be no. If the USS Kittiwake is ever sunk, that might be a wreck dive option.

kozo

Thanks again, sounds like reef diving safer for certified , but first time diver in caribbean. What is the difference between wall and reef diving?
Are most dives 2 hours or more like one half day?

TurtleTagger

Wall diving is over the drop-off
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fOVVdr1U6q...BNSullivan.jpg. Reef or mini-walls are better for noobs.