Dive Review of
Brac Reef Beach Resort in
Cayman Islands/Cayman Brac

 Okinawa, Kerama Islands, Guam, Baja California, Roatan, Florida Keys -
(Since 1978) 

Dive Conditions

Dive masters briefed profiles for computer and non-computer divers, with a
max time no longer than 50". Pushed for divers to do second dive
within 45". When I asked for more time they said I didn't need it.
Result was in 19 dives I had less than 1000 psi, twice.  

One small table on boats for cameras. Luckily there was only one other
diver with a full setup. Otherwise table was too small. I asked about a
vessel to keep the camera immersed between dives and was told I could bring
something to put under the table. I used the trash bin from my room.

Average number of creatures to photograph. Lots of small turtles, both
green and loggerhead. At least two sleeping nurse sharks. Golden morays.
Quite a number of Lettuce sea slugs and file clams. Russian warship didn't
have a lot of sea life despite being down about 10 years. Must be because
the hull of the ship is aluminum.  

Overall Rating

The resort was all inclusive. We didn't get the night dives with our week
but other divers said it was in their package. Why?

Food was on the lines of a quality restaurant on the island. Deserts were
excellent. Food was self service and varied from French to English. Can't
say any English cusine is great.  One night we dined at a local restaurant.
The food was about the same as the dive resort. Cost about $60 for a diet
coke, shimp cocktail, and pasta marinara.

The rooms were Motel 6 ordinary and but they all had a view of the pool.
Some rooms have outdoor balconies and patios. See if you can get one of
those. The rooms were clean and tidy.

I was told they do everything for you. Yet we all had to marshall our bags
to and from the resort and then to the rooms. Cocoview, considered rustic,
delivers your bag to and from your room door. We had 11 people leaving on a
0500 plane. Only one cab was ordered. So we carefully stacked all our bags,
got most people in the cab (van), and then stacked bags on everyones laps.
We just got everything in. You may have figured out by now that the resort
pays for a local taxi and does not have its own transportation.

I was told the resort and the dive operation are separate businesses. The
dive operation was two morning dives and one evening dive. You are always
helped leaving the water and your equipment is immediately moved to a fresh
tank. I usually release a little air from the tank as I loosen the rig and
before putting it on a new tank. Their policy was just a direct move. You
dive one boat so after diving you take your skin, divemask, and computer
off the boat. Your gear does sit in the sun all day and at night the boat
is moved to another mooring so you do not have access at night to any gear
left on the boat.

The charge for a night dive site is $60 and was all of a three minute ride
to the dive site. The dive operation has done nothing to make shore diving
more accessable. This could be done but I guess the $60 is more important.
Tanks are locked up at night so if you do want to shore dive make sure to
ask about and then put your night tank outside. Also, this will mean taking
your equipment off of the boat. Mesh bags are provided to allow the dunking
and movement of your equipment.

Two dive masters are on every boat. They are knowledgable and friendly. On
every dive one dive master will lead a tour for those that want it. Dive
briefings are done at the site rather than before leaving the dock. This
was a problem for some people that are prone to seasickness. Each time the
divemaster redraws the site while you wait. I would rather that they had
laminated drawings of all the sites and we could have spent that time
either in the water. Laminations would have allowed people to talk about
the site on the way and after the dive. I suggested this but again was not
taken seriously. 

Nitrox 32 is available for $125 in a week or $6 a bottle.

We missed the first day of diving due to weather. The resort discounted
our night dives to $20. The same price I have paid normally at other
resorts. One of our divers was sick and missed another day. Weather forced
us to leave a day later. Although, this diver missed the first day and the
third day the dive operation still charged him for the extra day at the end
of the dive.

A dive profile was briefed for computer and non-computer divers. Everyone
was expected back on the boat in those times usually 45 to 50 minutes. On
many sites you have the opportunity to finish the dive in 25 feet or less.
But because of the arbitrary time limitations you have to cut your dive
short. Now that your first dive was shortened they want you back in the
water in 45 minutes. I had just finished a Nitrox course and even with
Nitrox they recommend a minimum of 60 minutes between dives. When I asked
for more them the divemasters said I didn't need it and then pressed
everyone to get back in the water.

Take another $10 for each diver if the weather is nice since they will ask
for agreement from everyone to go around the island. If they stop at the
cliffs at the end of the island and tell you how special a dive it is ask
to go somewhere else. The entire dive is hard pan and is about equal to a
dive in the Gulf from San Carlos, Mexico. Not exactly the reason I flew all
the way to the Caymans. Clearly posted in the dive shop is the
recommendation to tip the dive staff $100 for a week.

Cayman Airlines lost one couples bags for three days. The rest of us got
our bags on arrival.

Rent a car rather than a scooter. Price is only about $6-8 more.

I go to dive resorts to dive. Although, everyone was nice, particularly
the resort staff, and the food was quite good, I doubt I will dive there
again. The reef is close enough that they could setup for some very nice
shore diving. They could even allow you a drop off for a second dive in the
afternoon. Finally, I think they should just allow the computer divers to
come back after 60 minutes with a 60 minute break between dives. Even the
cattle cars in Cozumel will give you 60 minutes between dives if you ask.
The artificial limits set on computer divers is not conducive to my getting
the best diving for my dive dollar. 

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