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Dive Review of Cayman Dive Lodge in
Cayman Islands/Grand Cayman

Cayman Dive Lodge, Sep, 2004,

by John Walker, CA, US . Report 1342.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 3 stars Food 4 stars
Service and Attitude 5 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 5 stars Shore Diving 2 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 5 stars
Advanced 5 stars
Comments Cayman Dive Lodge - The Week Before Ivan.

It is not certain when CDL will reopen.
www.divelodge.com (daily trip report page) will keep you posted.

This publication was right-on about how great CDL was.CDL is perfect for the single traveler/diver and the week before Ivan right up to evacuation was wonderful.

Describing the clean air conditioned rooms is moot as CDL received extensive damage from Ivan's wind, storm surge and looters (per messages on CDL’s now shut down chat room). The boats were not damaged. The owners offered credits to encourage guests to evacuate to safety. They were calm and accommodating. Guests were trying to get flights out one day after arriving and some were on hold for more than 2 hours to some air lines. My flight was cancelled less than 24 hours before departure which was one day before airport closure. It required some scrambling and 7 hours at the airport and I almost had to stay. As it was I just made the 12 hour no fly time. I would have regretted not having a satellite phone with extra batteries, some food bars, a water filter, a good map of the island and a plan to contact relatives if i had to stay. I did have a back pack for my more valuable dive equipment. Anything left in the rooms would have been gone.

What will probably not change when CDL reopens is service, which was excellent both in and out of the water combined with great diving. The CDL "program" successfully accommodates the distance from town. It is family style meals (one big sit down) all varied and excellent, 3 dives a day by a competent, friendly, fun loving staff with your equipment taken care of for you, and a bar for post meal gathering.

If you want to go shopping and eat in different restaraunts or do the club scene it is not the place for you. I would not advise renting a car - to far from town, left hand drive, round-abouts, shops close at 6 dinner starts at 6:30, long drive, A.M/P.M. traffic jams.

CDL posts daily dive reports with pictures on its web site which is great to check the conditions prior to your trip and fun for those at home who can follow your diving. I look forward to returning.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 101-250 dives
Where else diving Cozumel, Honduras, Belize, Ft. Lauderdale, Key Largo FL, Monterey- Pt. Lobos, San Diego CA,
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, cloudy Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 83-88°F / 28-31°C Wetsuit Thickness 0
Water Visibility 100-150 Ft/ 30-46 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile ?
Enforced diving restrictions 15ft safety stop, Min 500 lbs when exiting water, no decompression, 110ft max
Liveaboard? no Nitrox Available? N/A

What I Saw

Sharks 1 or 2 Mantas None
Dolphins None Whale Sharks None
Turtles 1 or 2 Whales None
Corals 4 stars Tropical Fish 4 stars
Small Critters 4 stars Large Fish 3 stars
Large Pelagics 1 stars

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

Subject Matter 4 stars Boat Facilities 5 stars
Overall rating for UWP's 4 stars Shore Facilities 3 stars
UW Photo Comments Boats had designated camera tables and dunk tanks, 45 min from town and 1 hour photo (for film), Power in rooms and internet access in loby for digital
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Note: The information here was reported by the author above, but has NOT been reviewed nor edited by Undercurrent prior to posting on our website. Please report any major problems by writing to us and referencing the report number above.

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