After returning from Aruba last summer with the family where Al and the boys did another SCUBA "Resort Course", Al finally decided to get certified for underwater diving. Working through Columbia Scuba, he completed the Open Water and Advanced Open Water courses in October of 2001. Since those dives were all done in a quarry (cold, 30 foot visibility, few fish, etc.) he was very ready to go some place warm where there were lots of fish, pretty coral, and warm waters. When an opportunity presented to go with a group from Columbia Scuba to Grand Cayman, Al convinced Marie that this was "a good thing", even though Marie would not be diving - and the time came much more quickly than we expected.
Although Al initially knew only the instructor, Bill (with whom he had taken his classes), Marie and Al quickly found the group who went to be a friendly and fun-loving group: Patty and Steve, Eileen and non-diving pal Samantha (Sam), Danielle, Bridget, and Karen.
We stayed at Sunset House on the southwest corner of the island. The rooms were adequate and the bar was being rebuilt after last year's hurricane demolished the old "My Bar". This hotel (actually a series of low buildings) caters to divers offering an excellent dive shop on premises, their own boat dock, and the ability to shore-dive right from the end of their property. A fantastic restaurant with great service and large pool completed the facilities. Dinners featured fresh fish fixed in a variety of ways (including "Cayman style" with sauteed onions and peppers!) as well as steak, chicken and many other choices. Morning made-to-order breakfast was also included in the package.
While Al was diving, Marie was frequently off exploring town, checking out 7 Mile Beach for our next trip, or enjoying the pool. The southwest end of the island is much more "island-like" than the western side which has the big hotels, condos and 7 Mile Beach. Many lovely homes grace the main road (South Church Street) that runs along the coast.
Each day, we had the opportunity to do a two-tank boat dive in the morning and unlimited shore dives at any time. The boats typically take off between 8:10 and 8:30, so you need to get an early start - not a place for sleepy-heads! We started off the week on Saturday with a familiarization and check-out dive right off the Sunset House property where they have a ladder leading straight into 12 feet of water. In addition various of the group did several night dives from the dock area.
The boat dives were well-briefed, with nicely drawn maps on the whiteboard and expected profiles for each dive. All of the boats were equipped with a landing stage and recovery ladders and most dives included a bar for the safety stop as well as a regulator over the side by the bar. Many of the group also took advantage of an all-day 3-tank trip on Sunset House's Manta - a high-speed catamaran.
Dive sites included: Hammerhead Hole & Armchair Reef; Wreck of the Oro Verde & La Mesa; Trinity Cave & Aquarium North; Three Sisters, High Rock Caves & Bat Caves; Eagle Ray Rock & Smith's Cove; Palace Pinnacle Central & Devil's Grotto, and finally Stingray City.
Al rented a See&Sea MX10 camera for a couple of dives which took place on 4/30 at Trinity Cave and Aquarium North. Trinity Cave has a number of large angelfish who have come to expect treats of fresh oranges - just be careful when you offer it to them - they tend to nibble fingers as well as the orange! Large barrel and basket sponges can be seen off the pinnacle. Aquarium North is a breeding ground and tends to have tons of smaller fish.
Thursday afternoon, Marie, Al, Danielle and Karen went off to explore the Botanic Gardens. Since it was at the end of the dry season on Grand Cayman, it was not as lush as one might have hoped. There was an interesting "Old Cayman" house in the garden which showed how the people of the island built and gardened their land. Conch shell lined the walkway, medicinal herbs and plants were grown on the side, and a separate cookhouse was located at the back. A large number of captive iguanas are raised in the Garden and many smaller ones also run about the trails.
On Friday, 5/3, we dove Palace Pinnnacle Central and Devil's Grotto. Devil's Grotto features several nice swim-throughs at about 40 - 60 feet plus some beautiful coral.
The last dive of the trip was to "Stingray City", a spot on the northern side of the island where islanders for years cleaned their fish at the end of the day. The stingrays came to associate the area as a spot for easy food and continue to swarm around the area today seeking handouts of squid from the tourists who come to make what is called the "shallowest dive" of the Caymans. Most of the group (including Sam who had done a resort course earlier in the week) dove the site while Marie and another woman who had come out on the boat snorkeled above. One guide stayed on the surface, diving down to lure some of the stingrays to the snorkelers hovering above, while the other swam around our circle below handing out bait. The stingrays regard the whole thing as a big game to try to get the bait away from the humans, and the humans view it as a game to keep the rays around for as long as possible. The smooth underside and slightly rough top skin of the stingrays was truly amazing - but watch out for the voracious suction with which they slurp up the bait! The pictures below were taken by a photographer from Cathy Church's studio who went along on the trip.
The pictures below were shot at Stingray City by Bridget - watch out Cathy Church!
