Grand Cayman Scuba Diving Excursion through RCCL

[gmouse]

I posted this on the RCCL thread, but I guess it really belongs here...

 

I'm finishing up the process of getting my Open Water Scuba Diving certification this weekend. I booked my first dive through RCCL as we will be sailing on the Navigator on September 2. The excursion name is "Scuba Diving with Equipment" and it's located on Grand Cayman.

 

It's been pretty difficult to get any details about shore excursions from RCCL directly so I was wondering if anyone on here might know more about this excursion.

 

I'm wondering if this is a boat dive, or do you just walk in from the shore? Also, is the equipment they provide pretty good? Is there any equipment that I need to make sure I bring? Do they take it easy on newbie scuba divers? How deep are the dives? Do they buddy you up with someone?

 

Thanks for any info you can provide.:)

- Greg

[bruce-r]

.. I booked my first dive through RCCL as we will be sailing on the Navigator on September 2. The excursion name is "Scuba Diving with Equipment" and it's located on Grand Cayman.

 

It's been pretty difficult to get any details about shore excursions from RCCL directly so I was wondering if anyone on here might know more about this excursion.

 

I'm wondering if this is a boat dive, or do you just walk in from the shore?

I'm pretty sure that it will be a two tank boat dive.

 

Also, is the equipment they provide pretty good?

It should be adequate, but since I haven't gone out with them, I'm not certain.

 

Is there any equipment that I need to make sure I bring?

Your own mask. If you have any of your own gear, take that too. Have a wetsuit yet?

 

Do they take it easy on newbie scuba divers?

Yes, the ship's excursion is aimed for newbie and once a year cruise divers.

 

How deep are the dives?

The first dive is usually the deeper dive and can go as deep as 80ft. It won't seem that deep when you get down there because you'll still be able to see the surface quite easily. The second dive should be in the 40-50 ft range.

 

Do they buddy you up with someone?

Yes, either that or it will be a group dive where everyone stays together and follows the DM. If you dive in Cozumel, with is great diving too, that is how they conduct dives.

 

Be sure to tell the DM that these are your first dives after certification.

 

Red Sail is the dive contractor for Royal Caribbean.

 

If you want more personal attention, you might consider a guided shore dive from http://www.divetech.com at their turtle farm shore dive site. They will rent you the gear and in all likelyhood you'll have the guide to yourself, unlike on the ship's excursion where it will be 8 divers to each guide.

 

You can also walk from the tender pier to either Eden Rock dive center or Abanks' Watersports and do a shore dive at Eden Rock. They both offer guided shore dives.

[gmouse]

Bruce, thanks so much for all of this information, it's exactly what I was looking for! I did my open water dives this past weekend and now I'm certified.

 

Based on the info you've given me I think I'll try the boat dive. It sounds pretty cool. I guess the wal-mart underwater cameras are out of the question at these depths, so I'll probably scrap the picture taking idea.

[johnlcruise]

I did the RCL dive with them in April.

It was a two tank dive. Both dives where great.

Yes RCL use Redsail sports.

Very good company, very good equipment. They will get you all set up when you get on there boat. (Dont forget your dive card they will ask to see it when you meet them on the peir, or you wont beable to go)

The DM will look out for you if you tell him it's your first open water dive.

I have done over 300 dives and I was very impress on how well Redsail handel our little group.

Have fun..the pool is open :)

[gmouse]

Thanks for the info, John. My only consern is the 80 ft dive. I've only done a 40 ft dive so far, so I'm a little scared to do a dive that deep for a first dive. I guess as long as we take our time and I'm with a group I should be ok.

[johnlcruise]

Thanks for the info, John. My only consern is the 80 ft dive. I've only done a 40 ft dive so far, so I'm a little scared to do a dive that deep for a first dive. I guess as long as we take our time and I'm with a group I should be ok.

 

You'll do fine.:) And rememer if you dont feel like going all the way down to 80ft just level off at 60ft. everybody else will be really close to you and the extra 20ft wont make that much of a difference. Just remember to breath.

You will have so much fun looking at all the fish's you wont remember how deep you are. and belive me 60 and or 80 ft is not that far down. It just seems like it. Just tell your DM and he will look out for you.

Relax, breath, look at the beauty of nature around you and have fun.

[bruce-r]

Thanks for the info, John. My only consern is the 80 ft dive. I've only done a 40 ft dive so far, so I'm a little scared to do a dive that deep for a first dive. I guess as long as we take our time and I'm with a group I should be ok.

While I'd bet that the dive won't go deeper than 60ft, in the warm, clear water, you probably won't notice much (if any) difference between 40ft and 60ft, or even 80ft.

[DancerOT]

I did the Grand Cayman dive with Celebrity a few years ago. It was one of my best dives scenery wise. Absolutely stunning! And the pictures I got back from my (at the time) brand new camera were awesome. Just please be careful and learn from my experience. Because the water is so gorgeous and so clear you dont always realize when you are going up and down. I know we all learn during classes that you need to clear equalize your ears every ten feet, but with the water that clear you sometimes dont realize you are moving more than 10 feet at a time. I ended up tearing something in my ear and it was very painful. I will say that the ships doctors treated me correctly (Celebrity paid for the medical expenses because it was one of their excursions) and when I went to a specialist at home, the ear had healed perfectly and showed no damage.

 

So the moral of the story is this is one of the best dives you will ever do but please just clear your ears often.