Diving FAQ
Is the East End for Advanced divers only? No way, this is the Caribbean after all- warm, clear water with great visibility. We are on the Windward side of Grand Cayman, so there is a constant breeze and at times there will be some chop and swells. Similar diving conditions to Cayman Brac, Little Cayman and Florida Keys.
Can I dive unguided? Yes you sure can, unsupervised buddy diving on computers is welcomed for experienced divers. Many divers prefer our expert guides. We take a Max of 12 divers per boat with three dive-masters, so dives are typically guided in groups of 6. One of the crew stays on board. Our Dive profiles are as follows- the first dive is 100 feet max with a 30-45 min bottom time. The surface interval is 45 mins. The second dive is max of 50 -60 ft with a lot of action at 30 45. Max Bottom time is 50 mins. All dives can be either guided or unguided. If opting for unguided on the wall dive this is at the discretion of the captain and we would suggest jumping in first and coming out last so as to extend your bottom time. We also require that you and your buddy both has a computer and that you do not exceed the 100¹ depth limit and that you do not go into deco.
Can I store my dive Gear with Ocean Frontiers? Yes, absolutely. After arriving at Ocean Frontiers you will be able to leave your dive gear in our secure, shaded and well ventilated customer storage area. Each diver has their own cubby with hangers and a crate box, complete with a name tag so that we can have your gear on the boat for you each time you are diving. We will also rinse your gear for you prior to storage and we set the gear up on the boat for you. Remember you are on vacation.
Sea Itch, what is it and when can I get it? It does not effect everyone, but those in particular who have sensitive skin and only in the sping time. Sea Itch is caused by the larvae of the thimble jellyfish (sea lice) and is an itchy red rash, which affects exposed areas of skin. It can occur any time around during April/May. The locals say that it can occur anytime from Mothers Day to Fathers Day. At these times it is best to wear a skin or a wetsuit and cover exposed skin with suntan oil. If you get stung, the standard treatment consist of application of steroid creams to the skin and taking antihistamine tablets. Alternative remedies include calamine lotion, rubbing alcohol, ammonia spray and vinegar.
What's the Water temp? It is either warm or hot. Water temperature peaks in Sept and Oct reaching 85f to 86f then drops slightly, eventually reaching a low of 78f to 79f during the winter months of February and March. A 3mm shorty wetsuit or skin is quite appropriate in the summer months, while in the winter full suits are recommended for those who get cold easily.
What's our Diving cancellation policy? We require 24 hours notice for rescheduling or canceling of dive trips for a full refund or a fee of $30.00 will be charged. 48 hours notice is need from groups of 4 or more.
Is there Shore Diving? Most of the best East side diving in Grand Cayman is done from boats. There are two very nice shore dives in the area for experienced and advanced shore divers, as there are no facilities at those sites. Shore diving is subject to weather and never guaranteed. Check with the front desk upon check-in and we'll be glad to point you in the right direction and rent you some tanks.
What is the Visibility like? "Viz forever" is our moto, some even call is viz-snobs, as it the visibility is less than 80ft, we ain't getting in the water ;) Water visibility is generally fantastic, averaging over 100 feet. It can even be up to 200 feet in the best conditions.
Wreck Dives? We dive the Wreck of the ex-USS Kittiwake every Tuesday afternoon as a one-tank wreck dive.
Can I wear Gloves? Divers are prohibited from wearing gloves while scuba diving under the Marine Marks Regulations. Divers who do not wear gloves are detered from touching the coral reef. We have found that Gloves tend to give divers a misconception that they do not damage the reef as they are not really touching the reef with their own hands.
Do you have Nitrox? Nitrox is available for an additional surcharge of US$12.00 per tank, $55 for 6 tanks, or $99 for 12 tanks. We also offer Nitrox certification, which is easy and doesn't take much time. We use 32% Nitrox for our profiles.
Tipping of Dive Staff? All of our Dive Staff are trained professionals and pride themselves on providing the highest level of service and best diving on the island. Gratuities are not expected or solicited - This is what we do :) However gratuities are welcomed and if you feel you would like to show your appreciation to someone specifically or the whole staff for going the extra mile - gratuity envelopes are available at the front desk of the dive shop. Feel free to discuss with our operations manager if you are unsure what is appropriate.
Compass Point Dive Resort is where Ocean Frontiers one and only dive shop in Grand Cayman lives. We are both located at:
