Being a dive boat captain is easy, right? Drive around a boat in the middle of the Caribbean Sea with beautiful warm blue water calling your name, pick your favorite sites for some unforgettable Grand Cayman diving, mingle with the dive enthusiast customers every day — sounds amazing, right?
I’m Melissa Hart, a Sunset Divers boat captain and instructor, and I’m here to shed some light on what it actually takes to captain one of our dive boats. If you think of any questions for our team of diving experts as we go, please just get in touch for the answers you need.
A Typical Day for a Sunset Divers Captain in Grand Cayman
From the very start of our day, being a captain here at Sunset Divers is not for the faint of heart. I mean, who actually wants to park a ‘million dollar’ boat in a concrete box? What’s the concrete box you ask? Well, that’s our dock where we pick you, the guest, up from in front of the Sunset House Resort. And from the moment you board the boat, safety is always on our mind. In fact, our safety briefing about the vessel is the first thing you will hear from the captain or crew before we depart. It’s important to pay attention!
Every day a captain looks at the weather, wind direction, and wind strength. These all play a huge role in our day and your comfort. We are always checking the waves and swells because they can make the dock challenging when they are all combined. Confirming the number of guests for the vessel, and the number of tanks required for the trip, is equally important.
Before every departure, the captain completes the engine checklist on the vessel and all safety equipment that’s important for diving before it’s started and communicates to the dive shop for anything required. We then record the engine hours and fuel. Captains at Sunset Divers aren’t made overnight; it takes hours of practice docking, leadership skills, a professional attitude, and exceptional customer service.
If safety is on your mind, we think you will appreciate our blog How Safe is Scuba Diving in Grand Cayman? for even more peace of mind.
What Happens During Your Grand Cayman Dive Trip
Picking a dive site can be easy or challenging. We try our utmost to choose the best available, but if that dive site is taken, we move on to plan B, C, or even D, until we can find one that is appropriate for the level of divers onboard. At the same time, we are continually assessing the current, sea conditions, weather, other vessels on the water, and overall safety. Once secured on the mooring, the best is yet to come — the dive briefing! Our captains and crew deliver their briefings, showcasing their charm and wit, while ensuring you are listening carefully to the safety procedures.
At the end of the trip, we ‘put the boat to bed’ on one of our house reef moorings where she sits waiting for our next adventure. But the Captain’s duties are not over yet. We have to check over the boat, turn everything off, and then it’s either time for lunch or the end of the day. Whichever it is, read our picks for the best places to eat in Grand Cayman to refuel in the tastiest way possible.
Questions for Captains at Sunset Divers Grand Cayman
Q: How do you get out to your boat every day?
A: We swim to and from the boat every time. Sometimes we can take the kayak, but usually we swim.
Q: Where do you fuel the boats?
A: Right here at Sunset House. We have a bowser (some of us would know it was a slip tank) which we use to fuel the boats while on the dock.
Q: Why is the boat always in gear while we are at the dock?
A: We use the engine power and the spring line to hold the boat against the dock to keep it as stable as possible while we load guests and gear on board.
Q: How many boats does Sunset House have?
A: In the water, we have six! One boat on the north side of the island, which is our biggest, the v-hull Ocean Spirit, as well as three brand-new catamarans (Manta Ray, Eagle Ray 2, Leopard Ray 2), a further two v-hulls (Sunset Diver 2 and Sea Ray), and finally everyone’s favorite, Eagle Ray.
A Little About Myself…
I am Mel, originally from the rolling hills of Alberta, Canada where I started honing my boat-driving skills. I have been an instructor for over 10 years, the last five as a PADI IDC staff instructor with 2017/18/19 Elite 50 status. Crazy to believe I joined the Sunset family 5 years ago. Time flies when you’re living the dream!
Book Your Spot on Our Grand Cayman Dive Trips!
So, now you know a little more about how captains at Sunset Divers operate, why not join us for an adventure? Browse our full range of Grand Cayman dive trips and find the perfect experience for you. And remember, you can always contact us if you have any questions!
