Frequently Asked Questions

Got Questions?

Red Sail Sports is Grand Cayman’s largest dive and watersports company on Grand Cayman with over 25 years of experience. You might say we are the experts in making your vacation fun!

 

Choose from scuba diving, catamaran sails to Stingray City, Wakeboarding, Stand-Up Paddle Boarding, Waverunner Safaris and many more watersports!

We have locations across Grand Cayman including Tortuga Divers in the East End.

 

To help you plan and get the most out of your Grand Cayman vacation, here are some frequently asked questions from our guests.

Do you offer packages that include airfare as well as diving and accommodations?

No, at this time we do not offer packages with airfare. Please contact your travel specialist for reservations with airfare. Red Sail Sports recommends Cayman Airways and / or American Airlines.

I won't be staying at any of your partner hotels, can I still rent your watersports toys and book your catamaran or diving activities?

Yes! Any and all visitors to Grand Cayman are invited to partake in our watersport activities from any of our locations.

I will be vacationing with my children and plan to go diving with Red Sail Sports. Can you suggest any activities for my children to do while I go diving?

Children interested in snorkeling can accompany divers on some of our diving excursions. Ask about adding snorkel passengers to existing reservations, or the SASY and Bubblemaker programs for kids! Additionally, here are some of the childcare services that our hotel partners offer when staying on the island. Grand Cayman Beach Suites offers Beach Camp offers a full range of activities for potty-trained children from the ages of 3 – 11 years old. Inquire with the hotel directly for details. Westin Seven Mile Beach Resort offers a Kids Club for ages 4 to 12, offering a wide variety of activities that are designed to be both educational and enjoyable to ensure the most memorable of vacations. Inquire with the hotel directly for details.

I'm coming into Grand Cayman on a cruise ship - what activities may I do with your company?

Please visit our cruise ship pages for suggested activities. Keep in mind that you’ll need to make your own transportation arrangements to and from the cruise ship port, however this is easy as there is a taxi dispatch just outside the terminus main entrance.

Should I make reservations in advance?

In order to guarantee spots on our dive boats it is best to book prior to leaving for your trip – plus you can save up to 30% by booking one of our dive packages which are only available for advance bookings! Just like hotels and airlines, spaces are limited and can sell out on all of our dive boats and catamaran trips.

How far in advance should I make reservations?

There is no set time limit to book, however the earlier you book the better your chances are of availability on board the dive boats or catamarans.

Which dive certification cards does Red Sail Sports accept?

All certified divers are required to present a Certification card upon check-in. Red Sail Sports accepts the following certification cards, among others: PADI, SSI, NAUI, IDEA, PDIC, NASDS, SDI, YMCA & HSA.

What equipment can I rent from Red Sail Sports?

We have everything you need for scuba dving and safe snorkeling. For scuba diving, tanks, weights, and weight belts are included in the cost of the boat dive; all other gear is available for rent from our dive shops. Equipment available: Aqualung Titan Regulator w/ Suunto Gekko Computer, Aqualung Wave BCD w/ Inflator, Dive Light, Mask, Fins & Snorkel Sets, 3 mm BARE Wetsuit (shorties), Prescription Mask and Individual Computers (Nitrox compatible).

What is the average water temperature?

The water temperature averages 80-82 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer and 78-80 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter, making diving without a wet suit comfortable for most people. If not, we have 3mm shortie wetsuits available for rent.

Can we rent Nitrox tanks?

Yes, Nitrox tanks are available for Nitrox certified divers for an additional cost. Don’t forget t ask about a Nitrox package if you are diving for three or more two-tank dives. Please inform the dive shop in advance if you would like to have Nitrox tanks available.

What type of tanks do you use?

Aluminum 72 cubic foot tanks are used on the dive boats. 100, 63 and 50 cubic foot tanks are available for additional fee. Please note we need at least 24 hours notice to make these tanks available.

Are dive lockers available?

Yes, dive lockers are available at our dive shops at the following hotels: the Grand Cayman Beach Suites & Westin Seven Mile Beach Resort.

Are there refreshments on the boats?

Yes, there is iced water available on all dive boats. There is a full cash bar available on our 65′ catamarans (open after snorkel stops).

Do you require a deposit for advanced diving reservations?

To secure a dive package, a 50% deposit is billed to your credit card upon booking and the remainder will be charged 14 days prior to your arrival. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.

I'll be taking a cruise which docks for only a day. Will I have enough time to dive with Red Sail Sports? Also, do you provide transportation to and from the port?

Whether or not you have enough time depends on which day of the week and at what time your cruise ship arrives and departs. Most of our dives do not take more than 4 hours (plus a half hour for registration), and we offer a la carte diving daily in the morning and afternoon, and at night a few times a week. Please call toll free 1-877-506-6368 for the dive schedule during the time you are in port (please remember to have your cruise itinerary handy when calling). Additionally, we do not provide transportation to or from the cruise ship dock. You would need to take a taxi to our shop, which is an approximate 15-minute taxi ride for the port.

Do I need to give exact dates I want to dive, or can that be set up when I get there?

It is best to set your full dive itinerary in advance because it is based upon availability. However, if you are not sure of what your plans are we can book dives for during your dates of stay and these can be altered upon arrival to Grand Cayman.

Can snorkelers go on the dive boats with the divers?

Yes, snorkelers are welcome on afternoon on-tank dive boats for a small fee and are subject to available space.

Do all the training courses include equipment?

Yes, Open Water, Advanced Open Water and Discover Scuba Diving courses include tanks, weights, BCD, reg and wetsuit if required. Specialty courses such as Rescue, Peak Performance Buoyancy and Nitrox include tanks and weights only. Other equipment such as wetsuit, BCD and reg can be rented.

I am trying to decide if I need to bring along my wetsuit. Could you tell me what the water temperature is like?

In Grand Cayman, the average water temperature is 82 degrees. We do rent 3mm shortie wetsuits, so if you do not bring one you may decide to rent one upon your arrival.

I am not a certified diver but would like to dive with Red Sail Sports. What are my options?

There are several ways you can dive with Red Sail Sports: First is an introduction to diving called the Discover Scuba Resort Course. This is NOT a scuba diving certification course, it is designed to introduce non-divers to the thrilling world of SCUBA (Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus) with only a limited amount of theory and in-water training needed. This experience is a great way for non-certified divers to to dive the crystal clear waters of Grand Cayman or to find out what scuba diving is really like before you take a full certification course (referral or e-learning). Children must be at least 10 years to be certified or to do the resort course. Second, if you choose to take your theory classes and pool session in your hometown, you can then complete your open water dives in Grand Cayman. Open Water Referrals includes all equipment, consists of 4 dives, and takes 2 days to complete. We accept all referrals under the Universal Referral Program. Third, is the PADI eLearning Course. You can now complete the knowledge development portion of the PADI Open Water Diver course online with PADI eLearning. Once you have completed the online segment, you will print your eLearning Record and bring it with you to Grand Cayman to start your underwater activities. The course includes all equipment, confined water training sessions, 4 dives, and takes 3 days. Please note that the minimum age for eLearning is 13. * Please call first to ensure that certification by a particular agency is available at the location you plan to dive.

I haven't been diving in a long time - is there a Refresher Course that I can take?

Yes, in fact Red Sail Sports refresher policy is as follows: Last dive was over 1 year ago, Refresher Ccourse recommended. Last dive was 2-5 years ago, Red Sail Refresher Course required. Last dive was 6-9 years ago, Full PADI Scuba Tune Up Course required. Last dive was over 10 years ago, please contact dive shop for assessment prior to booking your dives. If you have any further questions about our refresher course policy then please call toll free 1-877-506-6368 and our representatives will be happy to assist.

Should I bring my own equipment or rent it from you?

Every diver is different and this is entirely at your discretion. Tanks, weights, and weight belt are provided on every dive at no extra charge and all other equipment can be rented at an additional cost. All of our equipment is re-newed every year and we have top-quality equipment. If you bring your own equipment, we have locker facilities for you to store it.