mlf@druxv.UUCP (12/15/83)
I would appreciate hearing comments and advice from anyone who has
recently been to Grand Cayman. I am planning to go on several boat dive
trips while I am there, but I am especially interested in good
shallow dives accessible from the shore. I plan to stay at Sunset House,
and will have the mobility of a rental car.
Mike Fontenot
AT&T Information Systems, Denverjah@brunix.UUCP (Jim Hendler) (12/19/83)
Ahh, Cayman, gets my vote for best diving in the Caribbean. It's not as
spectacular as a Cozumel or a Bonaire, but a 6 foot coral head in Cayman is
interesting enough to make a half dozen dives on. Flamingo tongues, tube
worms, christmas trees and beautiful little nudibranches (sp?) abound. From
off the shore one can reach a 30-60' reef in under a hundred yards. Night
diving will net the observant diver some sights of octopi, sleeping parrot
fish, and the rest of the beauty of the nocturnal undersea world.
Best dives:
(near shore, not boat):
Devil's caves: These are small coral caves full of bait fish that glitter
in the sun. Never have I had a more beautiful experience than swimming
throuh the literally thousands of these beautiful little fish, and that's
saying a lot, as I've done a lot of diving.
Waldo's reef: Waldo is an 8ft. moray eel who lives in a cave near the CASA
BERTMAR hotel. (Case Bertmar also runs the best and most professional
dive operation on the island). Hook up with one of CB's guides and go to
see Waldo (in about 55' of water). He's not only a huge moray, but he's
friendly to divers. I have some nice close up pictures that I use to
impress my friends.
The wreck of the Balboa: (I'm not sure this is the correct wreck, I think
the Balboa is the Caymanian wreck that one can reach from shore). A
reasonable swim from shore (about 500 yds.) will take the diver to the
wreck of the Balboa, a very nice wreck for diving. More interesting tham
the wreck itself is the local flora and fauna of the reef around it. Some of the prettiest little fish I've seen.
General comments:
The visibility varies in Cayman depending on time of year and local weather.
In the time I spent there (several weeks) the worst I ever saw was 50' visibility, best was about 120'. The deep dives (boat needed) are spectacular, but the
shallow dives are unbeatable.
I can't recommend Cayman highly enough. In all the time I've been there I don't
think I've ever been off the tables (except for the flight home). My morning
dives usually started with residual nitrogen tiem left from my night dives.
Bring your tables, listen to the guides, be careful, don't dive alone,
and all the other safety tips apply as usual, but in Cayman the diving is so
special one is often tempted to cheat, just to get a few more minutes. Don't!
Casa Bertmar, again, is the best and most safety conscious dive resort
on the island. Hook up with these folks and I'll guarantee you won't
regret it. A friend of mine who's been a professional dive photographer
for many years (including filming with Cousteau on the Calypso) picked
Cayman (and Casa Bertmar) for his honeymoon. If I ever get married, it's
where I hope to go...
Have a good dive,
Jim Hendler (NAUI 6622)