Dive resort offers great 60th Anniversary Special, launches new North Wall dive boat and re-introduces popular 3-tank North Wall Safari.
Sunset House, the dive resort “for divers by divers” is marking a historic 60 years in the dive business of the Cayman Islands, and inviting others to celebrate by taking advantage of a discounted dive package available through December 21. The 7 Night dive package starts at $1435, based on double occupancy, and include 6 morning 2-tank dives, unlimited shore diving, made-to-order breakfast, a complimentary glass of bubbly, and a Sunset House Anniversary t-shirt.
The story of Sunset House began in 1958 when Miss Hebe (Briggs) Connors nee Bodden, an 8thgeneration Caymanian, and widow who lost her husband at an early age, began renting guest rooms in her seaside cottage to support her young family. Miss Hebe arranged to have dive pioneer Bob Soto, who had just started his dive operation, take care of her diving guests. The agreement included diving lessons for her 12-year-old son Adrien Briggs, who learned the business from the legend. Thus, began Cayman’s dive tourism industry.
Today, scuba diving is a multi-million-dollar tourism industry, and the Cayman Islands is a leading dive destination. Sunset House has grown into a dive resort that includes 36 air-conditioned units on lush seaside grounds; a full-service dive shop and training center; one of the most popular waterfront bars in the Caribbean – My Bar; the Sea Harvest restaurant, famous for West Indian and East Indian cuisine; and the resort is home to Cathy Church’s Underwater Photo Centre.
Only minutes from downtown George Town, Sunset House sits on the rocky coastline of southwest Grand Cayman, where it has drawn divers to the Cayman Islands during the past six decades with its excellent shore diving and great customer service. Miss Hebe, and her son Adrien, have both been honored by the Cayman Islands Government as dive pioneers and “Heroes of the Tourism Industry.”
“My mother was a strong woman who worked hard to support us at a time when tourism hardly existed, so she had to also be smart and creative,” said Adrien Briggs, who learned from Miss Hebe. “She would be excited to see how far Sunset House has come, and to know that her granddaughters, also strong women, are now running the resort.”
Sunset House has always been a family-run operation, with a welcoming laid-back atmosphere that keeps guests coming back year after year. Miss Hebe’s granddaughters Lisa Evans and Anne Briggs took over management of Sunset House earlier this year and are making their own mark on the resort with upgrades to the property and the dive operation. Recently added to the Sunset House fleet is Ocean Spirit, a spacious 50-ft, custom-built V-Hull with robust twin John Deere engines for comfortable trips to the North Wall.
Sunset Divers is also re-introducing its popular 3-tank North Wall Safari on Ocean Spirit every Wednesday on demand. The safari starts with a deep wall followed by two shallow dives. Nitrox is available, and lunch is included.
“Tourism is in our blood, and we are proud to carry on the family traditions of Caymankind. Our grandmother would have been excited about our improvements to the resort, especially our new tropical Caribbean colours,” said General Manager Anne Briggs. “Lisa and I are looking forward to a bright future for Sunset House with continuing upgrades to our property and brand-new dive boats which are being delivered later in 2018.”
The new managers want to remind guests, that even after 60 years, Sunset House Reef never disappoints shore divers, and they work hard to keep it new and exciting. In addition to the reef, divers can also visit the bronze mermaid sculpture, Amphitrite, sitting at 55 feet of water, the Sunset House Coral Nursery, and the wreck of the David Nicholson, a landing craft purposely sunk as an artificial reef. And My Bar, which faces the western Caribbean Sea, is still the best place to watch a spectacular Cayman sunset.
The 60th Anniversary Packages start at $1435 per person based on double occupancy and availability. To book contact Sunset House toll free at 1.800.854. 4767 or on Grand Cayman 1.345.949.7111.
