 | Grand Cayman Hotels and Accommodations | Tips 1 - 10 of 59 |  |
 | |  |  | The Sunset House Hotel: But if it's a DIVERS hotel & package you want... | Tip Rating:   Satisfaction:   |  |  | |  |
This hotel is practically next door to the Seaview, just a little ways further south from Georgetown. It's the next step up, just a little nicer. Advertised as created "by divers, for divers", it offers good values in its packages, with a good dive shop onsite as well. One of the big draws is that reknowned underwater photographer Cathy Church has her gallery & dive school here. Although the rooms don't have a lot of extras either, they are just nicer, and roomier than the Seaview. But who needs Sat TV when you are staying at THE shore diving hot spot? BTW, the managers let me have a look and take a few photos when I told them I was going to put them on my Virtual Tourist web page!
I did the Stingray City dive with the outfit here at the Sunset House. It was a great dive boat, nicely outfitted, and the equipment was all very good. My only caveat, as a rank beginner in the Dive World, would be to warn other beginners that there's a bit of the dive snobbery in the hotels that cater specifically to divers, and you'd better know how to handle your own gear, that's what's expected of you. I was a little confused at times, & the guys in the shop could've been a lot more helpful in their explanations of where/when/what to do. (Monosyllabic answers just don't cut it when you are a newbie.) Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageWebsite: http://sunsethouse.com/resort.php
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| | | | The Turtle Nest Inn: Lovely Small Hotel on Bodden Town Beach | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
The Turtle Nest Inn could hardly be more perfect! All of the service is excellent, and the kitchens are fully supplied with most everything you may need. The pool area is lovely, and an outside grill is provided for all guests to use. The only drawback is that there's no real restaurant within walking distance anymore (though there are small local food stands), now that the Edge has closed - so hopefully someone else will take over that location soon, Bodden Town really needs it. I'll update this info if I find out one has opened up there. But the Turtle Nest Inn's website has great information for dining, shopping, etc., so have a look. There are other dining options nearby, even though the restaurant is closed for now.
It was immaculate, and even prettier than the web page pictures. Snorkeling is great, right outside your door, water depth only 6 feet or so all the way up to reef. There are lobsters and all sorts of beautiful fish to be seen. I spent many a relaxed hour at day's end in a lounge chair by the pretty pool area that overlooks the reff & shore, sipping a glass of wine and star-gazing. Marleine & Alain, the owners, are charming. It's obvious they enjoy people, and those who visit them once usually return! Leave a Comment Theme: InnPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: less expensive than averageAddress: Bodden Town, Grand CaymanDirections: See their web page for clear instructions to find them. FYI, their web page is very informative, and well designed.Website: www.turtlenestinn.com
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| | | | Spanish Bay Reef Resort All-Inclusive: A nice quiet all-inclusive diver's resort Compare Rates NEW! | Tip Rating:  Satisfaction: | | | | |
Although I did not stay there myself, I did scope out the facilities and take a little shore dive there. This is a nice quiet friendly resort, with a lot of repeat customers, most of whom love to dive and are certified to dive without dive master supervision. Most were couples as far as I could see, and most middle aged. Drying rack outside the rooms held wet suits drying everywhere, and there were several snorkelers in their protected entry area as well. Supposedly there was an octopus living in that area, but I didn't spot it, darn it all. Also some lobsters living under the stairs.
The shore diving is great, with an easy entry and then a short excursion along a little underwater groove that leads you to the wall. The Spanish Reef wall is covered with healthy corals & sponges, making it a prime environment for all sorts of fish etc. As well as the usual Blue Chromis, Grunts, Sgt. Majors, Squirrelfish, etcetera, I also spotted a couple of big groupers, a few squid, and the Scorpionfish I photographed for my "Danger" tip. Leave a Comment Theme: HotelAddress: P.O. Box 903GT, West BayPhone: 1.800.48.2DIVEWebsite: http://www.caymanresortsonline.com/spanishbay/ Map: Spanish Bay Reef Resort All-Inclusive
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| | | | Sunset House: Shore Diving At The Sunset House | Tip Rating: Satisfaction: | | | | |
The shore diving here was nicer too! And it was easy to just snorkel as well, with all sorts of interesting fish right there by the steps. In fact, it was here that I swam right into a school of Caribbean Reefs Squids, at least a dozen of them, who posed for me quite nicely (see additional photos with this tip). Just as an aside, did you know that many fish, groupers & parrotfishes included, switch genders in different phases of their lives? Most start out as females, then become males in the final phase of their lives. What fun, too bad we don't do that too, presto - no more gender inequality issues! Reminds me of an old Ursula LeGuinn book, what was the title of that one... Leave a Comment Theme: HotelPrice: US$80-120 » Currency ConverterComparison: about averageAddress: 390 South Church StreetPhone: 345-949-7111
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Grand Cayman
on January 18, 2004
on April 30, 2004
