Learn to Scuba Dive at Cobalt Coast in Grand Cayman

I found myself standing in the Cobalt Coast pool in Grand Cayman loaded down with scuba diving equipment all because a perfect stranger I met at a bar in San Francisco convinced me diving is an awesome experience. I was about to begin my first scuba dive lesson in Grand Cayman and questioning whether I made the right decision, but before I even finished earning my PADI certification I was certain I made the right choice!

Choosing a Grand Cayman Dive Shop

In deciding where to go for my scuba diving certification, I wanted a destination with warm water and I knew Grand Cayman has a great reputation for diving, so it was settled. I just had to find a place to stay and a dive shop.

There’s a plethora of dive shops in Grand Cayman but I wanted one-stop shopping that included a hotel with a PADI-certified scuba dive center onsite, so I landed at Cobalt Coast Resort. The reviews on TripAdvisor were excellent and Reef Divers is the onsite scuba dive operator, meaning no hassles with arranging transportation or renting equipment. Reef Divers also provides “valet diving” which initially meant nothing to me but I discovered is a HUGE plus and should be a consideration when selecting a dive operator. With valet diving the dive guides assemble your equipment, load it in the boat, help you put it on and rinse it after the dive. All you need to do is walk on the boat with your wetsuit, mask and snorkel and dive computer.

Cobalt Coast isn’t on Seven Mile Beach, which was a bonus for me since I prefer not to stay in the super touristy areas with lots of high rise hotels. The resort is on the northwest coast and is fairly secluded, so if you’d like easy access to lots of nightlife and activity I suggest finding a spot on Seven Mile Beach. But if you prefer to stay away from the cruise ship crowds and jet skis and want to roll out of bed and onto a dive boat then Cobalt Coast is your spot!

I arranged reservations for Cobalt Coast over the phone with Clearly Cayman. I discovered Clearly Cayman manages two other dive resorts in the Caymans in addition to Cobalt Coast. It would have been preferable to make online reservations, but it was easy enough to make the phone call and the whole process was smooth and I had the opportunity to ask questions about what would be included in the vacation package.

All-Inclusive Scuba Diving

Cobalt Coast offers all-inclusive scuba dive vacations, meaning you have the opportunity to purchase a meal plan and drinks as well as your dives. The standard packages are for either 7 or 5 nights and include three meals a day at set times.  Drinks aren’t unlimited which is fine since you definitely can’t go diving with a hangover! Moderation is key. The drink package includes 21 drinks (on a 7 night plan) that can be used for beer, house wine, most cocktails and soft drinks. The all-inclusive experience isn’t unlimited food and drinks, but given how expensive Grand Cayman’s food is, you can’t go wrong with the price. A 7-night dive package is less than $2,000 per person.

I arrived on a Saturday afternoon and was greeted at the airport by the driver pre-arranged by Cobalt Coast (at no extra cost) and in about 30 minutes arrived at the resort.  The receptionist was expecting me and met me at the van with a warm welcome, greeting me by name. That was the just start of the best hospitality I’ve ever experienced at a hotel!  Everyone working at Cobalt Coast and Reef Divers was beyond friendly, remembered everyone’s names and truly created a memorable stay.

Learning to Scuba Dive

Sunday morning marked the beginning of my dive lessons. My instructor met me by the pool after breakfast and expertly guided me through morning and afternoon sessions covering all the dive basics, from setting up my equipment, entering the water, clearing my mask and proper ascent and descent techniques. After about five hours in the pool I was more than ready to hit the open ocean!

I was alone for the pool lessons but for the ocean lessons I joined a group of divers on the morning two-tank boat dive. It was an early morning, with the boat leaving at 7:45 but I was excited for the dive, and breakfast with an ocean view can’t be beat (FYI, coffee doesn’t count as one of your drinks, so fuel up).

Even though I practiced dive skills in the pool I still had to prove I could do them in the ocean, so for the first two days of ocean dives my instructor gave me a few skills to perform before and after the dives. In between we were able to swim around and enjoy the dive site. The feeling of weightlessness while diving is really cool and all I kept thinking about was how I felt like I was swimming in an aquarium.  I saw a myriad of tropical fish plus a turtle, stingrays, lemon rays and several barracudas. No sharks, but maybe another time!

After two days of ocean dives with my instructor I became officially certified as a PADI open water diver and can dive anywhere in the world!  I have the diving bug and can’t wait to keep my new hobby going. I would definitely go back to Grand Cayman and wouldn’t hesitate returning to Cobalt Coast. For something new, maybe next time I’ll try one of Clearly Cayman’s other resorts on Cayman Brac or Little Cayman.

Good to Know:

• If learning to scuba dive, be sure to complete the online course prior to your arriving at the resort. No one wants to study while on vacation!
• Morning dives (two tank) are included in the all-inclusive dive packages. Afternoon dives (one tank) are extra.
• The resort has a small beach area but the sand is somewhat course and there is no swimming off the beach because of the iron shore.
• The water is typically choppy at Cobalt Coast in the winter months but settles down in early to mid-April for the rest of the summer. If the seas are too rough you’ll take a 5 minute van ride to the boat dock instead of using the dock at the resort.
• Baby shampoo is key to easily pulling on a wetsuit!  Fill a spray bottle and bring it on the boat and you’ll be everyone’s best friend.
• Seven mile beach is about a 20-25 minute trip via the bus. Buses cost 3USD each way and you pay when you get off the bus. Don’t worry about finding a bus stop. Walk to the main road and when you see a bus (i.e. van) flag it down. It’s basically like hailing a cab.