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Holiday Season Dive Getaway!
First Coast Divers, Jacksonville’s premier PADI 5-Star Dive Center, is excited to invite our community of divers to join us for another unforgettable adventure in Grand Cayman
After the incredible success of our June 2024 trip, I simply couldn’t wait to return. That trip was memorable not only because of the amazing diving, but also because of the fantastic group of divers who joined us and the exceptional resort that hosted us. With that in mind, I would personally love to invite you to come along for what promises to be another incredible week of diving, relaxation, and great company.
Our Home for the Week – Compass Point Dive Resort
We will once again be staying at the beautiful Compass Point Dive Resort, one of Grand Cayman’s most popular destinations for divers.
Each guest will stay in a spacious oceanfront condominium featuring a private balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea. These beautifully furnished condos include full kitchens stocked with cookware and utensils, making it easy to prepare meals whenever you like. The trip package also includes daily breakfast at the resort, so you can start each morning fueled up and ready for another day of incredible diving.
One of the great perks of staying at Compass Point is the freedom it provides. Each condo includes its own rental car that you will pick up at the airport upon arrival. This gives you the flexibility to explore the island on your own schedule—visit local restaurants, discover hidden beaches, or enjoy a sunset drive along the coast.
Between the resort’s private beach, swimming pools, outdoor grills, and relaxed island atmosphere, Compass Point offers the perfect home-away-from-home for our dive adventure.
Virtual Tours
1-Bedroom Ocean Front Virtual Tour
2-Bedroom Ocean Front Virtual Tour
Exceptional Diving with Ocean Frontiers
Our dive operator for the week will once again be Ocean Frontiers, and quite frankly they are one of the best dive operations we have ever worked with. Their professionalism, customer service, and attention to detail are truly second to none.
From their custom-built dive boats to their excellent shore facilities and highly experienced divestaff, everything they do is designed to create an exceptional diving experience
In fact, both Compass Point and Ocean Frontiers received major recognition in the November 2025 issue of Scuba Diving Magazine in the Caribbean “World’s Best” awards, earning top honors in multiple categories:
• #1 Best Overall
• #1 Quality of Dive Boats
• #1 Quality of Rental Gear
• #1 Attention to Safety
• #1 Quality of Room
• #1 Best Resort Value
These awards say a lot about the level of service and quality you can expect throughout the entire week.
Spectacular Cayman Diving
Of course, the real highlight of the trip is the diving itself, and Grand Cayman is widely regarded as one of the premier dive destinations in the entire Caribbean.
What makes the diving here so special is the island’s unique underwater topography. The reefs begin in relatively shallow water and then dramatically drop off into the deep Cayman Trench, creating spectacular wall dives that descend thousands of feet into the blue. These vertical coral walls are covered with vibrant sponges, gorgonians, and hard corals, and they provide an incredible sense of scale as you drift along the edge of the abyss.
Visibility in Grand Cayman is often 100 feet or more, and the water is typically warm and calm, making it ideal for relaxed and enjoyable diving. Because the island is surrounded by deep ocean water rather than large river systems, the reefs benefit from exceptionally clear water and minimal sediment, allowing sunlight to penetrate deep and support healthy coral growth.
Another reason Grand Cayman is so popular among divers is the diversity of dive sites. During the week we’ll explore beautiful coral reefs, swim-throughs, spur-and-groove formations, and dramatic walls. The reefs are home to a wide variety of marine life including angelfish, parrotfish, eagle rays, turtles, Nassau grouper, tarpon, and the occasional reef shark. Southern stingrays, moray eels, and colorful reef fish are also commonly seen.
One of the highlights of the trip will be the opportunity to dive the famous USS Kittiwake, a former U.S. Navy submarine rescue vessel intentionally sunk in 2011 to create an artificial reef. Sitting upright in clear shallow water, the wreck has become one of the most iconic wreck dives in the Caribbean. The ship is now covered in marine life and offers large open swim-throughs, making it both impressive and accessible for recreational divers.
Another advantage of diving with Ocean Frontiers on the East End is access to dive sites on both the north and south sides of the island. This gives us far more variety throughout the week and helps ensure we can always find the best diving conditions. Shorter boat rides mean more time in the water and less time traveling between sites.
With its healthy reefs, dramatic walls, excellent visibility, and abundant marine life, it’s easy to see why Grand Cayman has been a favorite destination for divers from around the world for decades.
Top 5 Reasons Divers Love Grand Cayman
OUR SERVICES
1. Legendary Wall Diving
Grand Cayman’s dramatic walls drop thousands of feet into the Cayman Trench, creating some of the most
spectacular wall dives in the Caribbean.
2. Incredible Visibility
Visibility often exceeds 100 feet, providing breathtaking panoramic views of reefs, walls, and marine life.
3. Healthy Reefs & Abundant Marine Life
Divers regularly encounter turtles, eagle rays, groupers, tarpon, reef sharks, and vibrant reef fish among
colorful coral formations.
4. Famous Wrecks
The USS Kittiwake is one of the Caribbean’s most iconic wreck dives and a must-see site for visiting divers.
5. Calm, Warm Caribbean Waters
Water temperatures in the low 80s and typically calm conditions make for comfortable and enjoyable diving
throughout the week.
Why December?
We specifically selected December 11–18, 2027 for a very good reason. According to locals and seasoned visitors, this is one of the best times of year to visit Grand Cayman.
The weather is comfortable, the seas are generally calm, and water temperatures are typically in the low 80s, perfect for long, enjoyable dives. Even better, this particular week falls just before the holiday tourist rush, meaning the island is quieter and more relaxed.
Traveling Solo?
No problem at all. We have reserved shared two-bedroom condos for single travelers, giving each guest their own private bedroom & bathroom along with a built-in dive buddy from our First Coast Divers family.
Triple or Quad Occupancy
Traveling with friends? Great!
Groups of three or four divers can share a two-bedroom condo, which is a fantastic way to reduce the overall cost of the trip while enjoying the spacious accommodations together.
Join Us!
As your trip leaders, Suzy and I will be there every step of the way to make sure everything runs smoothly and that everyone has a fantastic experience.
But as many of you already know, the trips we organize at First Coast Divers are about much more than just diving. They’re about shared adventures, great stories, lots of laughs, and spending time with people who share the same passion for the underwater world.
If this sounds like the kind of adventure you would enjoy, I encourage you to reserve your spot soon. Space is limited, and availability depends on the number of 1- and 2-bedroom condos we have reserved for our group.
Our 2024 Grand Cayman trip sold out, and we fully expect this trip to do the same.
You can register directly through our website, or feel free to call us or stop by the shop and we will be happy to help you get signed up.
It would truly be wonderful to have you join us for what promises to be an incredible week of diving in Grand Cayman.
Grand Cayman awaits. See you on the boat!
— With warm fins and open hearts,
Dan & Suzy Mechelke and the First Coast Divers Crew
Quick Note About Airfare
OUR SERVICES
This trip package does not include airfare to and from Georgetown, Grand Cayman (airport code: GCM).
Fortunately, getting there is very easy. American, United, Delta, and JetBlue all offer daily service to Grand Cayman from several U.S. cities.
At the time of writing, round-trip tickets are typically selling between $650–$750, depending on airline and fare class.
Approximately 10 months before the trip, I will share what I consider to be the Preferred Flight Itinerary—the flights I personally plan to take. You are welcome to book those same flights if you’d like to travel together.
TRIP INFORMATION:
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Early “divers” breakfast served daily at the resort.
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Condos have fully utensiled kitchens for your convenience. Grocery stores are nearby.
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Unlimited access to the resorts BBQ grills, beach, pools, hot tub, fire pit & hammocks.
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Free use of bikes, kayaks & paddleboards.
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Free access to Wi-Fi, Fiber Internet & HD TV Service.
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Free Welcome Cocktail Cruise on the day of arrival. Trust me…the punch they serve on the boat packs quite the punch!
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Concierge scuba gear storage, clean-up & setup for each dive day. They do all the work!
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The local 13% Hotel Tax is included as well.
Rates:
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1-bedroom Ocean Front Condo: $2399 pp/double occupancy
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2-bedroom Ocean Front Condo: $2699 pp/double occupancy
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2-bedroom Ocean Front Condo: $2199 pp/triple occupancy
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2-bedroom Ocean Front Condo: $1999 pp/quadruple occupancy
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Non-Diver Rate: Subtract $750
Terms:
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$850 Non-Refundable/ Per Person Deposit at booking
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$850 Payment due by June 1, 2027
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Balance due by Sept 1, 2027
Additional Information
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The deposit is non-refundable and will not be refunded for any reason. We are making a commitment to our travelers, so we expect our travelers to fulfill their commitment to us.
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No additional funds will be returned if canceled within 10 months of the trip.
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In the event someone needs to cancel, they can certainly transfer their secured booking to a replacement traveler and receive a full refund minus a 10% service fee.
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All trip participants (divers only) are required to have their own personal Diver Supplemental Insurance. Again, we suggest either D.A.N. or DiveAssure.
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As with all our trips, we highly recommend that our travelers purchase trip insurance. We recommend either D.A.N. or DiveAssure.
