New Resort for Cayman Brac?

Here's some more info...the marketing company's website:

http://www.crystalazure.com/

Its essentially a condo complex, although one that is claiming that it
will have its own dive operation.

Its location is on the Brac's generally *windward* south shore, and as
per their map, it looks to be very near Public Beach. Of course, when
its not to windward, its close to being downwind of the garbage dump.
Insofar as its beach, yes there is sand in this area, but there's also
"knee knocker" coral-rock-rubble in the first ~10ft of water, which is
hard to see when the weather's in its normal windward mode, which makes
shore entries for snorkeling and/or diving a bit more advanced than
Bonaire (think of a Bonaire shore dive down near "Tribbles").

There is a "protective reef" of sorts at Public Beach in that there's a
shallow shoal that can be swum over at high tide in select spots, but
its not a reef that's exposed at low tide with calm water behind it to
form a good anchorage (such as down in Dick Slessinger's Bay, where
Divi Tiara & Brac Reef Beach Resort, plus Brac Caribbean and Carib
Sands condos all are). All in all, it is that difficult combination of
not really enough reef topology to offer a good anchorage for routinely
docking diveboats and putting customers onboard, and yet just enough
shallow rock such that I'd have to wonder how they plan on being able
to find a deep enough channel to get a diveboat from a dock out into
deep water. Even if this part is taken care of, except for the reverse
flow winter months, its then going to be a long boat ride to windward
to turn the western point to get to the north side reefs & walls...I'd
estimate that when its a good 3-4 miles and thus, ~20 minutes outbound
(and 25+ minutes return) to motor to the lee of the West End point.

The rest of the marketing website discusses costs, contract terms,
etc...it is interesting to note that the Purchase Payment Schedule
calls for 80% down before construction is completed. Similarly, the
least conservative "Investment Return" from rentals assumes a 50%
occupancy rate on a $2000/week condo, which given the general
overabundence of condos already built & available for rent on the Brac
is IMO unrealistic. YMMV.


-hh

Here's some more info...the marketing company's website:

http://www.crystalazure.com/

Its essentially a condo complex, although one that is claiming that it
will have its own dive operation.

Its location is on the Brac's generally *windward* south shore, and as
per their map, it looks to be very near Public Beach. Of course, when
its not to windward, its close to being downwind of the garbage dump.
Insofar as its beach, yes there is sand in this area, but there's also
"knee knocker" coral-rock-rubble in the first ~10ft of water, which is
hard to see when the weather's in its normal windward mode, which makes
shore entries for snorkeling and/or diving a bit more advanced than
Bonaire (think of a Bonaire shore dive down near "Tribbles").

There is a "protective reef" of sorts at Public Beach in that there's a
shallow shoal that can be swum over at high tide in select spots, but
its not a reef that's exposed at low tide with calm water behind it to
form a good anchorage (such as down in Dick Slessinger's Bay, where
Divi Tiara & Brac Reef Beach Resort, plus Brac Caribbean and Carib
Sands condos all are). All in all, it is that difficult combination of
not really enough reef topology to offer a good anchorage for routinely
docking diveboats and putting customers onboard, and yet just enough
shallow rock such that I'd have to wonder how they plan on being able
to find a deep enough channel to get a diveboat from a dock out into
deep water. Even if this part is taken care of, except for the reverse
flow winter months, its then going to be a long boat ride to windward
to turn the western point to get to the north side reefs & walls...I'd
estimate that when its a good 3-4 miles and thus, ~20 minutes outbound
(and 25+ minutes return) to motor to the lee of the West End point.

The rest of the marketing website discusses costs, contract terms,
etc...it is interesting to note that the Purchase Payment Schedule
calls for 80% down before construction is completed. Similarly, the
least conservative "Investment Return" from rentals assumes a 50%
occupancy rate on a $2000/week condo, which given the general
overabundence of condos already built & available for rent on the Brac
is IMO unrealistic. YMMV.


-hh

Here's some more info...the marketing company's website:

http://www.crystalazure.com/

Its essentially a condo complex, although one that is claiming that it
will have its own dive operation.

Its location is on the Brac's generally *windward* south shore, and as
per their map, it looks to be very near Public Beach. Of course, when
its not to windward, its close to being downwind of the garbage dump.
Insofar as its beach, yes there is sand in this area, but there's also
"knee knocker" coral-rock-rubble in the first ~10ft of water, which is
hard to see when the weather's in its normal windward mode, which makes
shore entries for snorkeling and/or diving a bit more advanced than
Bonaire (think of a Bonaire shore dive down near "Tribbles").

There is a "protective reef" of sorts at Public Beach in that there's a
shallow shoal that can be swum over at high tide in select spots, but
its not a reef that's exposed at low tide with calm water behind it to
form a good anchorage (such as down in Dick Slessinger's Bay, where
Divi Tiara & Brac Reef Beach Resort, plus Brac Caribbean and Carib
Sands condos all are). All in all, it is that difficult combination of
not really enough reef topology to offer a good anchorage for routinely
docking diveboats and putting customers onboard, and yet just enough
shallow rock such that I'd have to wonder how they plan on being able
to find a deep enough channel to get a diveboat from a dock out into
deep water. Even if this part is taken care of, except for the reverse
flow winter months, its then going to be a long boat ride to windward
to turn the western point to get to the north side reefs & walls...I'd
estimate that when its a good 3-4 miles and thus, ~20 minutes outbound
(and 25+ minutes return) to motor to the lee of the West End point.

The rest of the marketing website discusses costs, contract terms,
etc...it is interesting to note that the Purchase Payment Schedule
calls for 80% down before construction is completed. Similarly, the
least conservative "Investment Return" from rentals assumes a 50%
occupancy rate on a $2000/week condo, which given the general
overabundence of condos already built & available for rent on the Brac
is IMO unrealistic. YMMV.


-hh

So much for my plans to visit Brac again. Little Cayman, here I come.

Lee

"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote in message
news:1144066039.604097.270520@g10g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> Some references have been floating around for awhile now. Here's a
> decent summary report.
>
> http://www.caymannetnews.com/cgi-scr...006/000665.htm
>
>
>
> -hh
>

So much for my plans to visit Brac again. Little Cayman, here I come.

Lee

"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote in message
news:1144066039.604097.270520@g10g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> Some references have been floating around for awhile now. Here's a
> decent summary report.
>
> http://www.caymannetnews.com/cgi-scr...006/000665.htm
>
>
>
> -hh
>

So much for my plans to visit Brac again. Little Cayman, here I come.

Lee

"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> wrote in message
news:1144066039.604097.270520@g10g2000cwb.googlegr oups.com...
> Some references have been floating around for awhile now. Here's a
> decent summary report.
>
> http://www.caymannetnews.com/cgi-scr...006/000665.htm
>
>
>
> -hh
>

Lee Bell wrote:
> So much for my plans to visit Brac again. Little Cayman, here I come.


Just because its been announced .. and a website assembled .. doesn't
mean that its actually going to happen anytime soon. There's been two
other failed projects on the Brac, as well as one right off of Bloody
Bay in Little Cayman.

Nevertheless, I would suggest going to LC before the Government
ram-rods through the new airport construction. With the new proposed
airstrip's proximity to the Booby Pond, I'd expect some bird strike
hazards in the first few years of its operations.

And for a place to stay on LC, I'd recommend Pirate's Point. While they
only do two liesurly dives per day, they don't rush bottom times ("like
some other places do") and more importantly, Gladys has the best food
on the island.


-hh

Lee Bell wrote:
> So much for my plans to visit Brac again. Little Cayman, here I come.


Just because its been announced .. and a website assembled .. doesn't
mean that its actually going to happen anytime soon. There's been two
other failed projects on the Brac, as well as one right off of Bloody
Bay in Little Cayman.

Nevertheless, I would suggest going to LC before the Government
ram-rods through the new airport construction. With the new proposed
airstrip's proximity to the Booby Pond, I'd expect some bird strike
hazards in the first few years of its operations.

And for a place to stay on LC, I'd recommend Pirate's Point. While they
only do two liesurly dives per day, they don't rush bottom times ("like
some other places do") and more importantly, Gladys has the best food
on the island.


-hh

Lee Bell wrote:
> So much for my plans to visit Brac again. Little Cayman, here I come.


Just because its been announced .. and a website assembled .. doesn't
mean that its actually going to happen anytime soon. There's been two
other failed projects on the Brac, as well as one right off of Bloody
Bay in Little Cayman.

Nevertheless, I would suggest going to LC before the Government
ram-rods through the new airport construction. With the new proposed
airstrip's proximity to the Booby Pond, I'd expect some bird strike
hazards in the first few years of its operations.

And for a place to stay on LC, I'd recommend Pirate's Point. While they
only do two liesurly dives per day, they don't rush bottom times ("like
some other places do") and more importantly, Gladys has the best food
on the island.


-hh

"-hh" <recscuba_google@huntzinger.com> pounded away at his keyboard
resulting in:

:And for a place to stay on LC, I'd recommend Pirate's Point. While they
:only do two liesurly dives per day, they don't rush bottom times ("like
:some other places do") and more importantly, Gladys has the best food
:on the island.

What are the places that rush your bottom time?

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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