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Resort Report: Ocean Cabanas and Living The Dream Divers

Personal attention and bespoke diving at an intimate oceanfront oasis designed from the ground up for divers, by divers. That's the pitch behind Grand Cayman's newest and only boutique dive resort. And it isn't just hype. Ocean Cabanas delivers unrivaled levels of comfort, spaciousness and relaxation, while also delivering a premier diving experience.

Ocean Cabanas sit on the northwest corner of Grand Cayman Island, away from the crowds but just minutes from the restaurants and shops of Seven Mile Beach.
Ocean Cabanas sit on the northwest corner of Grand Cayman Island, away from the crowds but just minutes from the restaurants and shops of Seven Mile Beach.

The Cabanas is the realization of a dream more than two decades in the making. It began when husband-and-wife team Gary and Liz Frost founded Living the Dream Divers in 2010. Both are passionate divers who came to The Cayman Islands to live their dream of a diving lifestyle. After gaining experience at a variety of resort and liveaboard operations, they decided to create a new type of dive operation that could provide a valet diving experience catering to small groups hosted aboard the best dive boats with the friendliest crew.

Learn more about Diving in the Cayman Islands.

 

As the business thrived on this formula, the Frosts began looking for property to add the second element of their dream. In 2015 they purchased a plot of oceanfront land on Grand Cayman's quiet northwest shore. What followed was years of planning and preparation that lead to the opening of the Cabanas in the spring of 2022. Today, the Cabanas are welcoming families, couples and small groups and receiving high marks and great reviews from their clients.

Guests can relax at the oceanfront pool or enjoy a shore dive.
Guests can relax at the oceanfront pool or enjoy a shore dive.

The property includes seven modern apartments in one, two or three-bedroom configurations. To say that guests enjoy all the comforts of home might be an understatement, as few of us are fortunate enough to wake up to ocean views and enjoy breakfast on a private terrace caressed by sea breezes. The actual list of amenities is impressive, and it includes tastefully appointed indoor and outdoor living and dining spaces, full-equipped kitchens complete with dishwashers, BBQ stations, large ensuite bedrooms with king beds, and added perks such as smart televisions, high-speed Wi-Fi, streaming apps and Bluetooth sound systems. All units have private decks or patios, and everyone gets access to the oceanfront pool plus extras like loaner bikes, beach chairs, umbrellas, and coolers.

 

Guests at Ocean Cabanas can enjoy unlimited shore diving right from the resort pier. This area of Grand Cayman's northwest coast is considered some of the best shore diving on the island. Shore diving is also available from the private pier at the Living The Dream Dive Center and store, which is a PADI 5 Star Dive Center located within a full retail store in the heart of Seven Mile Beach district. From the shop pier, it is a short swim to Soto's Reef where divers can explore a coral labyrinth of caverns and tunnels patrolled by silver-sided tarpon.

Cabanas offer spacious indoor and outdoor living areas.
Cabanas offer spacious indoor and outdoor living areas.

Living The Dream Divers operates a fleet of these custom-built Newton dive boats, which are some of the newest and fastest on the island. These boats are built for stability, with customized exhausts to eliminate fumes, water level platforms for easy entries and wide ladders for secure returns. Two 40-foot boats are certified for up to 24 divers but typically carry half that number or less, while a 34-foot boat is used for smaller groups and is also available for private charters.

 

Boat crews go the extra mile to make sure each dive is as easy and enjoyable as possible. This includes taking care of gear transfer on the boat and from boat to shore, aiding divers who might need gear assembled or tanks lifted out of the water on re-boarding. Dive masters are happy to provide extra in-water attention to less experienced divers while also ensuring experienced divers are able to enjoy memorable itineraries.

Living The Dream Divers operates Grand Cayman's newest fleet of custom Newton dive boats
Living The Dream Divers operates Grand Cayman's newest fleet of custom Newton dive boats

Boats are fully equipped with medical supplies and stocked with a lot of extras such as save a dive kits, extra equipment, fish ID books, sea sickness medication, defog, sea-safe suntan lotion, fresh towels, fresh water showers, hair conditioner, dry storage, towels, snacks and filtered drinking water. And just in case you forget your dive computer, the shop will provide a complimentary computer to ensure you get the most out of each dive safely.

 

The shop staff includes a PADI Master Instructor and Master Scuba Dive Trainers and offers a range of programs from Learn To Dive experiences to DAN courses and Instructor training. One unique offering is the Turtle Aware Certification, which provides insights into species identification and interesting facts about the turtles that are signature residents of Cayman Island reefs.

For something different, sign up for the Turtle Aware program.
For something different, sign up for the Turtle Aware program.

Ocean Cabanas and Living The Dream Divers offer a range of stay-and-dive packages that can be tailored to your individual needs, whether you are looking for a family getaway, a couples vacation or a great time with a group of dive buddies. Get in touch with your Caradonna agent to learn more about Grand Cayman's most exciting new option for dive vacations.

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