Instant Reader Report on Diving
Brac Reef/Cayman Breakers in
Cayman Islands/Cayman Brac in
2003/06

 California, Mexico, Belize, Grand Cayman 

Dive Conditions

Time.  

[None]  

Overall Rating

I'd dived Cayman Brac many times, but always stayed in the resorts, usually
the Divi Tiara.  After some discussions with the locals on my last trip,
this time I booked into a new condo development on the East End (farthest
from the airport) called the Cayman Breakers, and set out to do some
serious shore diving.
I did a few boat dives with Brac Reef, and those are rated above.  Not
exceptional, but I'd need to do more diving with them to have a firm
opinion.
The Breakers were a real find.  Yes, you'll need to rent a car to get out
there, but that's not a problem and not expensive compared to some places. 
Being out on the far East End was nice and private, and the condos
themselves are brand-new, immaculately clean, and of superb construction. 
Robert and Nina Banks built and operate the Breakers and are wonderful
folks.  Both have been diving for a dog's years and have been on the Brac
for more than ten.  Nina is a gold mine of info about local shore sites,
and each unit has a list of locations to get you started.  I liked the
Breakers so much I have placed my name on the waiting list to purchase a
unit!  In the meantime, you can book a rental through
http://www.cayman-vacations.com/ and read all about the units there.  They
are VERY diver friendly.  The "3" rating above for food is due to
my own inadequate cooking.  Aunt Sha's is just ten minutes down the road
and has great seafood.
Despite the weather being very stormy while I was there, opportunities to
shore dive were plentiful.  In fact, if you have experience in surf
entries, there is a reef and wall site right off the Breakers that I loved.
 It is rarely dived and the critters (including lots of turtles and a
way-too-friendly nurse shark) seemed to regard me with astonishment.  The
reef is pristine as the site is not moored and Nina figures it's only dived
a few times a year.  This held true for all the shore dives I did
here--pristine and untouched.  You can borrow a "diver down"
float from the Breakers.
Most of the moored dive sites, such as the Tibbets destroyer, are easily
accessible from shore with a reasonable swim (even some of the walls)
should you wish to "join the crowd." 
I dived new sites every day the whole time I was there and barely
scratched the surface of what is available.  I'm coming back with a GPS
unit and a notebook!  A dive kayak would really open up some
opportunities.
Note that the Breakers is on the windward side of the island (good
points--no mosquitoes, and a nice cooling breeze) and so sites along the
main road west from there are surf entries.  While the surf is generally
nothing to get excited about (at least to this Monterey diver!) the entries
can be over jagged ironshore, which makes hardsole booties and great care
necessary.  Shore dives on the leeward side lack the surf but the ironshore
still needs to be respected. Just in case, I wore a pair of gloves with
kevlar palms for the shore entries and exits, and will probably bring a 1mm
full-body suit next time.  However, there are several sites with easy sand
or pier entries.  I really enjoyed the freedom shore diving gave me and I
doubt I'll make any boat trips on my next visit...except to scoot over the
Little Cayman. 
Stay at the Breakers and shore dive your brains out--you won't regret it! 

Questions?
Send an email to the author of this report

Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. It is presented here to provide Undercurrent readers with timely information on dive operations worldwide. The material may contain errors, typos, ... Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above. An edited version of this report will likely appear in the next Travelin' Divers' Chapbook, which will be sent to newsletter subscribers and published online for Online Members.