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Dive Review of DiveTech/Cobalt Coast in
Cayman Islands/Grand Cayman

DiveTech/Cobalt Coast, Jul, 2003,

by Mark McAlpin, Texas, USA . Report 795.

No photos available at this time

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

Accommodations 4 stars Food 3 stars
Service and Attitude 4 stars Environmental Sensitivity N/A
Dive Operation 4 stars Shore Diving 5 stars
Snorkeling N/A
Value for $$ N/A
Beginners 3 stars
Advanced 4 stars
Comments July 10-14, 2003
Cobalt Coast is a very nice dive resort that is fairly isolated on the North shore. The food is very good and the meals-inclusive option is a good choice if you don't have a car because there are no other restaurants or shopping within walking distance and the taxis are expensive. Dive Tech is a really good dive operation with a great staff that is clearly focused on making sure everyone has a good time. The divemasters are safety conscious but allow a reasonable amount of freedom on the dives. The first dive is guided and divers are asked to limit their depth to 100 feet. On the second, shallower dive you have the option of going with the divemaster or doing your own thing.
The shore diving at both of Dive Tech's Cobalt Coast and Turtle Farm locations is excellent, although it is a bit of a surface swim to get to the main wall. The current can also be a bit strong at times, so caution is needed to not use up all one's gas swimming out and back underwater to the deep wall. There is good diving closer in if you don’t want to go all the way out to the drop off. As for boat dives, Tarpon Alley stood out as did our trip to Stingray City, the latter largely due to a very friendly green moray that the crew coaxed out of its hole.
In addition to recreational boat dives, we dove the Carrie Lee wreck using Trimix since Dive Tech is one of the few operations that will accommodate technical divers. It is a great deep dive (165-230 fsw) but was a bit of a challenge for us because of the current. The wreck could not have been intentionally positioned any better as it rests upright with the bow hanging over the drop off. Very cool. Mike Lucas, our divemaster, and Gary Nightingale, our captain/safety diver, did an excellent job making sure the dive was controlled and safety executed.
There was some confusion over logistics but I can imagine that it is a task to keep track of all the divers and to coordinate things between the two locations and the boats. I also had trouble finding an equipment technician when I needed one but eventually my problem was solved satisfactorily. Those couple of things were really only mildly annoying and overall the experience was overwhelmingly positive. The dive trips themselves couldn’t have been any better. The remote location of the hotel is part of its appeal and the transportation issue can be solved by renting a car.
I highly recommend Dive Tech and Cobalt Coast and I intend to stay and dive with them again.

Reporter and Travel

Dive Experience 251-500 dives
Where else diving [Unspecified]
Closest Airport Getting There

Dive Conditions

Weather sunny, dry Seas calm, currents
Water Temp 80-84°F / 27-29°C Wetsuit Thickness 3
Water Visibility 80-120 Ft/ 24-37 M

Dive Policy

Dive own profile no
Enforced diving restrictions [Unspecified]
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 2 stars
Large Pelagics 2 stars

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

Subject Matter N/A Boat Facilities N/A
Overall rating for UWP's N/A Shore Facilities N/A
UW Photo Comments [None]
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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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