Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet/Cayman Aggressor IV in
Cayman Islands

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Aggressor Fleet/Cayman Aggressor IV, Jul, 2013, by Mark Kimmey, NY, US ( Contributor 13 reports with 4 Helpful votes). Report 7060.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	An older boat that was probably converted for dive use from something else, but in otherwise good condition. Not as spacious as some we’ve been on, but certainly not cramped. Cabins are on the lower deck, which helps a lot when seas are rough. Rather than opt for the queen-bed cabin – which was in the bow – we took one mid-ship, which minimized the motion. This proved to be a good choice during the run between Grand and Little Cayman, which was a bit rough. This also meant a bunk-bed configuration (full on the bottom, single on top), which is not our favorite: it’s too easy to bump your head. The mattresses were comfy, however, and we slept well. The top bunk proved a convenient place to store luggage, as well. Cabins had a sink in the sleeping area with a combined toilet/shower area behind a mirrored door. The crew advised us to flush often, but should have emphasized this as “flush early, flush often:” ours stopped up three or four times, and we soon knew where to go for the plunger (it’s inside the hatch to the engine room on the same deck). Some cabins, including ours, experienced a “sewer gas” odor problem that came and went with no apparent cause or source. Electrical outlets are plentiful and lighting is adequate. The dive deck is large and well-organized. Each diver has a station with his own storage bin under a bench lid/seat, with a well behind that in which a tank rested. While the tank wells seemed shallow, we didn’t see any tanks tip over, even when rigged and in deep swells. Above the inside (centerline) stations, drying racks are mostly behind each diver; along the outside stations they are more nearly above, which means that wetsuits tend to drip on gear below. There is, however, plenty of hanging space. Since the storage bins are mostly closed in, things placed inside tend to stay wet; however, things also tend to stay where you put them, which is not something we can say for every boat we’ve known. A toilet on the dive deck is a handy feature, again something that not all boats have. Dive entry is from the swim step, accessed by a ladder on each side. Fins are donned there and then stuffed into the rails between dives, a trick that keeps divers from tripping over themselves. Despite the efforts of the crew, that can lead to congestion when there are divers who require a bit more time and attention than others. Two shower heads on the swim step put out adequate fresh water. A large trash barrel is filled with fresh water at breakfast and lunch for rinsing wetsuits. We did not see a dedicated mask bucket, however. The crew is small: for 14 divers we had five crew to look after us. For trips with the full complement of 18 divers, a sixth crewman is added. We wondered at just the five, but they proved themselves equal to any task. Their hustle was impressive, but I did feel for them given their rotation schedule: they had to be exhausted at the end of the day. We tried to be low-maintenance divers, but only they could comment on how well we succeeded. My only concern with diving operations was that the crew tended to overfill tanks, sometimes quite a bit. I saw several instances where aluminum 80s were filled to 3,600 PSI and more. As a former tech and tank inspector, that sort of thing gets a raised eyebrow. Dive sites on Grand Cayman and Little Cayman (we skipped Cayman Brac this trip) are healthy. Visibility was nearly excellent on most dives. Fairy Basslet, juvenile Princess Parrotfish, Black Durgon and Creole Wrasse in abundance. Very common to see barracuda on dives. French Angelfish seem larger than those elsewhere, but that could be faulty perception. Nassau Grouper on some sites are so accustomed to divers that they will follow and even let you pet them. Travelers should be aware that George Town’s airport is smaller than necessary, especially on Saturdays. Crowded, congested and chaotic, the advice to show up three hours early should be observed: check-in service was slow. If you are one of those lucky enough to be selected for “special service,” you are going to have to open your checked luggage after clearing security, and your carry-ons will also be checked – and your body subject to pat-down – during the boarding process. Such fun!
Websites	Aggressor Fleet
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	251-500 dives
Where else diving	New York, Hawaii, California, Kwajalein, Florida, Grenada, Bonaire, Grand Cayman, Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Belize, Mexico, Australia
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	rainy	Seas	calm
Water Temp	78-83°F / 26-28°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	40-100 Ft/ 12-30 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	[Unspecified]
Liveaboard?	yes	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	A separate camera tank is well-patrolled, as is the camera table, which has two air hoses.

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Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet/Cayman Aggressor IV in Cayman Islands

Aggressor Fleet/Cayman Aggressor IV, Jul, 2013,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Aggressor Fleet/Cayman Aggressor IV in
Cayman Islands