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Don't care for Diving?
 

So it’s summer, and this time around you didn’t get to go off and spend two months in Europe or wherever else... some of us have to work, right?

However, seeing as we live in a vacation paradise, there is more than enough to do, if only you go to the trouble of learning a new trick or two.

Cayman is a watersport lover’s dream, with warm, crystal clear waters, and for much of the year good, steady breezes as well. Also with summer come special offers from various watersports operators on Island, all looking to entice residents to get out on, in or under the water. So why not try something new this summer and find a new favourite watersport.

Set sail:
With calm waters and light breezes, Cayman is the perfect place to learn to sail. Of course, the fact that the water is warm certainly helps as well, should you end up taking an unexpected dip.

There are numerous options for learning to set sail, but one of the easier ways to learn is to do so on a Hobie Cat, which is quite a bit more stable than a dinghy. Red Sail Sports offers Hobie Cat sailing lessons with an instructor as well as all the equipment you need, including life vests, which are a vital component of any watersports.

To sweeten the deal, Red Sail Sports has announced a resident special offering a 50 per cent discount for residents and their guests on all watersports activities, so there is no downside to trying your hand at a new watersport this summer.

Scuba diving:
Cayman is where recreational scuba diving originated, and for a good reason. The warm, clear waters are perfect for diving, and great locations are dotted around all three islands.

Whether you are new to the sport, or want to upgrade your qualifications, summer is the perfect time to do it, with many watersports operators are offering summer resident specials.

A Discover Scuba Resort Course is the ideal introduction to the sport for those who are not quite sure whether scuba diving is for them. The course itself includes a two hour pool and classroom session, followed by a one tank dive in the afternoon. The cost of the course includes all materials and equipment required, so no need to worry about rushing out and buying your own scuba gear. While the course is a great way to get a taste of scuba diving, it is not a certification, so once you have fallen madly in love with the underwater world it might be time to move on to a proper certification course.

The Open Water course is a much more thorough affair, spanning four days of classroom work, pool work, and open water ‘check out’ dives. At the end of the course, divers hold a recognised PADI qualification and can dive anywhere in the world. Although many Open Water courses are four days straight, according to Rod McDowell of Red Sail Sports, they intend to organise Open Water courses spread over two weekends in order to allow resident divers to be able to get their certification without having to take time off work.

The skills taught in the Open Water certification are aimed at allowing divers to safely explore down to depths of 60 feet, but anyone looking to go should look into the Advanced Open Water course.

The Advanced certification introduces divers to different types of diving, including night dives and deep dives down to 100 feet. The course itself is a one and a half day course and includes five specialised dives in order to build on the advanced skills, including a deep dive and a navigation dive, along with three other dives selected by the instructor and student. These can include night dives, search and recovery, and boat diving.

Of course, once you are certified it is time to start exploring. According to Rod, the resident special will also apply to all diving across the board, with no exceptions, but subject to space available on the dives.

“This will include any certified diver, and at all Red Sail Sports locations including Morritt’s, Rum Point, and Seven Mile Beach, giving divers the ability to go north, east, and west all at discounted prices,” says Rod. WH