Dive Review of Pirates Point Resort in
Cayman Islands/Little Cayman

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Pirates Point Resort: "The usual good diving with an added bonus of many more sharks", Feb, 2022, by David E Reubush, VA, US ( Top Contributor 68 reports with 35 Helpful votes). Report 11862 has 3 Helpful votes.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	My wife and I have been visiting Pirates Point since 1995, this was our 24th time there. The folks at Pirates Point are very much more than just staff, they are more like good friends and even family. We started going there for the best diving in the Caribbean and continue for that and to see the wonderful friends we have made over the years. This trip was originally scheduled for August of 2020 when the pandemic stepped in and forced its postponement. Late in 2021, when it looked like the Cayman Island's government was finally going to open the islands to tourism, I contacted Michelle, the manager, about a trip and she scheduled us for 2 weeks beginning the very end of January through the first 2 weeks in February. Michelle, who had been a divemaster, is still diving a bit, but the resort hired a couple, Adriane and Brooks, who are very good in the water, as the everyday divemasters. The diving was as typical, great, with the added bonus of a relatively large number of gray reef sharks. It seems that the almost 2 years of very few divers in the water brought the sharks back to patrol the walls and shallows. We actually saw more sharks than lionfish. The average was more than 1 shark per dive and less than 1 lionfish per dive. Even with a minimal number of visitors to the island the resorts still took time to dive and remove lionfish. The most sharks we saw on a dive was 5 and the most lionfish we saw was 2. The first week there were only 3 dive boats, the second week 4. None of the boats had more than a few divers each so there was not anywhere near the number of divers in the water as normally seen. The Yellow Rose (Pirates Point’s boat) had 3 divers and 2 snorkelers the first week and 5 divers the second week. With it being winter the water was rougher than in the summertime, mainly driven by a strong wind. This also resulted in a lot of surge and sand in the water, particularly at sites with large sand flats. At Mixing Bowl on one dive the eastern, Jackson Bight, section of the site was a white-out with only about 30 ft. visibility while the Bloody Bay wall section still had at least 60 ft. off the wall. Fortunately, there was always somewhere to dive with reasonable visibility. There were only a couple of days that it was so rough on the north side of the island that we were forced to dive on the south side. On my last dive of the trip, at Meadows, we saw everything from a tiny pipefish thinner than a piece of thin spaghetti, to a large nurse shark, an eagle ray, and 3 gray reef sharks. I will also note that Pirates Point has acquired a 46 ft. dive boat, which is being refurbished in Grand Cayman, and will replace the Yellow Rose at some point in the relatively near future. Pirates Point has always been known for its food. The 2 chefs, Joanne and Winston, had both worked at the resort at times in the past and continued the tradition of great food. In addition, the wine selection at dinner was a step up from that served in years past. Ben asked for comments on Covid response. At the time we traveled the Cayman Islands required proof of vaccination in order to receive permission to travel. They also required a negative Covid test the day before travel, tests on days 2, 5, and 7 in the islands, and a test the day before departure for return to the USA. The days 2, 5, and 7 tests have since been discontinued as of February 18. The resort also has been required to set aside several rooms which cannot be sold as potential quarantine housing for anyone who tests positive. In addition, when in the clubhouse and not eating or drinking masks are required. I also need to acknowledge the caring and kindness shown by Susan Howard, the owner. My wife has Alzheimer's, which has progressed to the point that her doctor said that she should not be left alone. This was going to be an issue for me being able to dive with her left at the resort. Susan solved this issue by flying her aunt, who we have known for more than 20 years, down from Texas to spend time with my wife while I went diving. Without this kindness I would not have been able to go diving. Plus, the socialization with somebody different was very good for my wife. I can't thank Susan enough. This was a typical example of the wonderful people at Pirates Point. I note for people who are familiar with Pirates Point that there were some retirements during the pandemic. Gay (manager and head divemaster), Ed (Gay’s husband and general fix-it man for the resort), and Diane (morning chef) all retired. However, they jumped from the frying pan into the fire by opening the Seahorse Boutique and Coffee Shop down the road closer to the “airport.” They invite all their friends to visit them while at the resort.
Websites	Pirates Point Resort
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	Over 1000 dives
Where else diving	Australia, Belize, Bimini, Bonaire, Caymans, Curacao, Fiji, Galapagos, Indonesia (Wakatobi, Raja Ampat, Komodo, Lembeh, Bali, Banda Sea, Ambon), Philippines, Red Sea, Solomon Islands, Southern Bahamas, St. Thomas, Turks & Caicos
Closest Airport	LYB - Little Cayman	Getting There	At this point in time American, Delta, & United are not flying to the Caymans. We had to fly to Miami on American from Richmond and then transfer to Cayman Air for the flight to Grand Cayman and then the Twin Otter to Little Cayman.
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny, windy	Seas	choppy, surge
Water Temp	77-79°F / 25-26°C	Wetsuit Thickness	5
Water Visibility	30-80 Ft/ 9-24 M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	yes
Enforced diving restrictions	The usual Cayman Islands 100 ft first dive and 60 foot second dive, but nobody checked.
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	Lots	Mantas	None
Dolphins	None	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	> 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters		Large Fish
Large Pelagics
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter		Boat Facilities
Overall rating for UWP's		Shore Facilities
UW Photo Comments	The setup for UWP's has not changed. There is a camera table on the boat as well as a big bin with fresh water. On-shore there is a big sink for use of photographers. For the last several times we have been there I have been effectively the only photographer with a housed camera. There have been a few folks with point and shoot type cameras. For the most part I have had the rinse tanks for myself and have not had any issues. They have been entirely adequate.

Report currently has 3 Helpful votes

Subscriber's Comments

By Jill Rain in WA, US at Feb 23, 2022 12:52 EST

Thanks very much for your detailed report. We’ve been going to PPR for years too and plan to again. What was your sense about how well they weathered the pandemic shutdown financially and logistically? The new boat suggests they’re solvent. Michelle driving boat and sole manager I assume. Who's doing what Ed was doing, water system, boat maintenance, etc? Did you meet up w Gay and Ed at all? I’m curious why they switched work (though I figured at some point it would just become too physically demanding, like hauling tanks around). Which rooms have they set aside for quarantine? How busy does LCBR look? Thanks for any info you can pass along.

By Craig A Wood in PA, US at Feb 27, 2022 12:21 EST

Hi David, Thanks for the paragraph about your wife, a really nice story

By report author: David E Reubush in VA, US at Feb 28, 2022 11:38 EST

I think they weathered the pandemic somewhat better than I anticipated. A lot of folks from Grand (Who couldn’t leave the country.) came over to Little for a break and PP operated as a B&B. During that time Susan also spent money on renovating rooms. I was told rooms 1, 2, 3, & 4 had been worked on and the bathrooms upgraded, plus most of the waterfront rooms now have A/C. Michelle was only on the boat twice. She spends most of her time in the office. The couple, Adriane and Brooks handle the boat and being dive masters. Also, the dive staff no longer take turns working in the clubhouse, after the divers leave the boat they do maintenance. Dana and Katie work in the clubhouse and serve as waitresses. Susan has also hired a new maintenance man. I saw Gay, Ed, and Diane at their Boutique/Coffee Shop a couple of times. They seem to be working harder now than before, but are having a good time as they are the owners. LCBR, Southern Cross, and PP are all nowhere near full.

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Dive Review of Pirates Point Resort in Cayman Islands/Little Cayman

Pirates Point Resort: "The usual good diving with an added bonus of many more sharks", Feb, 2022,

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

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

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

Subscriber's Comments

Dive Review of Pirates Point Resort in
Cayman Islands/Little Cayman