At just 10 square miles, Little Cayman remains true to what a Caribbean Island should be. The Island was mostly uninhabited and rarely visited until the mid-19th century and to this day continues to have limited development. With three marine protected areas, home to the world's largest spawning aggregation of Nassau Grouper, and an international shark sanctuary, fish life is prolific. With an average visibility of 80-100 feet, an average temperature in the low 80s, and generally little to no current, the Island offers some of the best conditions for diving, and some of the best dive sites in the Cayman Islands. See some of the local endemic species including the Cayman Cleaning goby (Elacatinus cayman).
Project Focus: The purpose of this trip is to conduct fish surveys to support REEF's Volunteer Fish Survey Project. Click here to learn more about participating in fish surveys on a REEF Field Survey Trip!
Best Suited For: Divers and Non-divers
Accommodations: Founded in 1958 Southern Cross Club is Little Cayman’s original resort. With only 14 colorful Caribbean beach bungalows dappled on 900 ft of sand, our Little Cayman dive resort and fish resort has a one-to-one guest/staff ratio. Guests at this Little Cayman Resort find themselves in a serene, Caribbean Resort environment that offers privacy, comfort, and personalized, diligent service. This, combined with stunning views, delicious cuisine and a first-class Little Cayman diving and fishing operation, makes the Southern Cross Club experience a Caribbean resort experience like no other. The best of the Caribbean and Cayman Islands resorts – barefoot luxury on Little Cayman.
Southern Cross Club offers a variety of different accommodation types:
- Traditional Queen Beachfront Bungalow: Room 4 and Room 5 offer 2 Queen beds each, an ensuite bathroom, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a ceiling fan, and a porch.
- Traditional King Beachfront Bungalow: Room 6 and Room 7 offer a King bed, one king bed, an ensuite bathroom, a sitting area, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a ceiling fan, and a porch.
- Upgraded Beachfront Bungalow: Room 2 and Room 3 offer a King bed, ensuite bathroom, private outdoor shower, air conditioning, a hair dryer, a ceiling fan, and a porch.
- Deluxe Beachfront Bungalow: Room 8 and Room 9 offer a King bed, ensuite bathroom, private outdoor shower, Private balcony or porch, air conditioning, a hair dryer, and a ceiling fan.
- Blossom Cottage: Room 1 features one king bedroom, one queen bedroom, and a single pull-out bed in the main living room area. It is perfect for friends traveling together or couples who enjoy a little more space.
Diving: The trip package includes six days of 2-tank morning dives starting on Sunday, December 7. Nitrox can be added at $15 per tank. The average water temperature in Little Cayman during the time of the trip is approximately 80 F.
Pricing, Inclusions, and Other Fees
| Traditional Queen Beachfront Bungalow | Traditional King Beachfront Bungalow | Upgraded Beachfront Bungalow | Deluxe Beachfront Bungalow | Blossom Cottage | |
| Double Occupancy Diver | $3,451 | $3,451 | $3,626 | $3,626 | * Please Inquire - Based on total Occupancy |
| Double Occupancy Non-Diver | $2,756 | $2,756 | $2,931 | $2,931 | - |
*Single Occupancy and Blossom Cottage pricing by request.
Your Package Includes: The trip package includes 7 nights of accommodation, 6 days of 2-tank boat dives, all meals served in the clubhouse dining room, all government/hotel taxes, service fees, round-trip airport transfers, tanks, and weights.
REEF Program Fee: A REEF Program Fee of $300 will be added to each package to cover the cost of the group leader, seminar, and REEF survey materials. The REEF Program Fee applies to all divers and any attendee age 18 or older.
Additional Fees: The following costs are not included in the price paid to REEF. All flights and associated travel to and from Little Cayman, additional dives outside of the package inclusions, and optional rental gear. Optional Nitrox for certified divers can be added for $15 per tank by request. Gratuities are not included in the trip package and are at each individual's discretion.
Registration
To reserve your space, email trips@REEF.org or call 305-588-5869. A $500 per person deposit will be due to confirm your reservation. Visit our Trip Policies page for more information on deposit and payment schedules.
Cayman Islands Travel Info
Insurance: Travel insurance is not included. REEF strongly recommends that each participant purchase adequate dive travel insurance to protect you from unforeseen circumstances. REEF partners with both DiveAssure and DAN to offer travel insurance packages specifically for divers. REEF will receive a portion of the proceeds from travel insurance purchases when you click on the following affiliate links for DiveAssure or DAN.
How to Get There: Participants should make arrangements to fly into Little Cayman (LYB), arriving on Saturday, December 6, and departing the following Saturday, December 13. Participants are responsible for booking their own airfare. REEF is not able to book air travel for participants.
Transfers: Transfers are included in the trip package. Guests will be picked up at the airport and transferred to Southern Cross Club via shuttle.
Passports, Documentation and Visas: Visitors must have a current passport, adequate funds to support themselves, and a return airline ticket. U.S. citizens require a passport that is valid for at least 6 months after the date of arrival. Please consult the appropriate consulate for specific travel regulations and to ensure that you have the correct documentation.
COVID-19 Considerations: It is the participant's responsibility to ensure that they understand and comply with all local requirements (for entry and visit as a tourist) of the host destination, and for exit and entry requirements for their home country. Be prepared for your plans to change. Be sure your travel insurance covers COVID-related issues. No travel is risk-free during the COVID-19 pandemic. Countries may further restrict travel or bring in new rules at short notice, for example, due to a new COVID-19 variant. Please be aware that REEF is not a travel agent. We are doing our best to interpret the information provided by our trip vendor and the host country’s government COVID-19 webpages. We encourage everyone to do their own research, interpretation, and due diligence. Please see REEF’s COVID-19 Considerations and Vaccine Policies section in our REEF Field Survey Trips Policies page for more information.