Cayman Islands Dos Throughout the Island

Text by Cathy Church CaymanPhotos by Cathy Church and Tony Mark Islands —A guided tour with Cathy Church

© 2011 cathychurch.com PREVIOUS PAGE: Coral garden at Blackie’s Hole. ABOVE: I stayed overnight on my boat in the north sound so that I could wake up with the sun and be at Stingray City sandbar when all of the rays came in for the day’s action. This photo is the sum of two photos taken as they approached me. The large stingray in the center is the same individual as the one just to the right of him. His shadow is not missing— it is hidden in a small valley of sand. He was not photoshopped, only the large stingray in front was

When people ask me where hundreds to thousands of feet. This is south of Florida, USA. It is famous my favorite dive spots in the wonderful wall provides stunning div- above water for its world class Seven ing and the water is clear and warm. Mile Beach that runs along the entire entire world are, I have to Although sealife is not nearly as varied center of the western coast. The sand stop and give it some serious and prolific as in the south Pacific, it is is just right—not too fine, but not coarse thought. I like Fiji for soft corals, nonetheless pretty and interesting and either. It suits a set of bare feet per- Chuuk for wrecks, Indonesia some spots are down-right spectacular. fectly. for critters, the Solomon Where to stay Islands for an all- Seven Mile Beach is lined with every around trip and the U.S. range of accommodations from small west coast for kelp. But condominiums to the extravagant Ritz Carlton Hotel. Many dive operators I usually reply that I like pull their boats right up to the beach wherever I am going to pick up guests. While the snorkeling next, and that often here has some good spots, the diving is too far from shore for shore diving. includes right here in There are other hotels, villas and con- the Cayman Islands dos throughout the island. where I have the good There are four small, dedicated div- fortune to live. ing resorts—all with a friendly family atmosphere. Ocean Frontiers Diving Adventure at Compass Point Dive Like most dive areas in the Resort (all with full kitchens) has the world, there are always sur- whole pristine East side virtually to prises, always something © 2011 cathychurch.com themselves. Divetech Divers at Cobalt lovely and always something Juvenile spotted drum. By moving my point of focus Coast (all rooms are one or two bed- to photograph. Let me tell to the lower right, and using only one strobe from the room ocean-view suites) and their new you what is so special about lower right, and waiting until the fish swam to the right, I environmentally friendly Lighthouse my hometown diving. was able to get the sort of photo that I visualized Point (nine condominiums with full The Cayman Islands are kitchens) on the Northwest corner has three small islands isolated in the Grand Cayman the best shore diving for critters. They Western Caribbean. They barely pro- Grand Cayman is the largest and most are also close to the great diving along trude from the ocean surface, atop a populated island of the three and is just the north wall and the west bay area. steep mountain that plunges abruptly 150 miles (241km) south of Cuba, which Sunset Divers at Sunset House on © 2011 cathychurch.com Red finger sponges are common along the walls 19 X-RAY MAG : 41 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Caymans

the southwest is closest to the airport, ing one crossing my dock as I write son to visit us. The diving is warm, calm, shopping, restaurants and town. They this. Darn, he is going to eat some of safe, comfortable, usually free of cur- also have the best shore diving for vari- my garden plants. Oh, well—my plants rent, shallow and varied with lots of ety—a small wreck, a nine-foot bronze should not just be for the bugs to eat. canyons and interesting terrain. Let’s statue, friendly fish, a huge anchor and You can also visit the Cayman Turtle start with the very first Stingray City. even a canon. I may be prejudiced Farm where they raise turtles for food when writing about this location, as and to replenish their numbers in the Stingray City and Stingray Sandbar this is where my photo center is, but I wild. This appears to be an environ- Back in the day, fishermen came in chose to be here because of the easy mentally acceptable activity. On the from the north wall through a natural shore access and leeward location for other hand, I would suggest that you cut in the barrier reef of North Sound the most days of the year. The hotel consider not paying to watch trapped and cleaned their catch in the calm itself does not have the apartment dolphins work to get fed. The captive water. Stingrays quickly associated and other amenities of the other much dolphin entertainment industry is active the sound of a motorboat with the newer hotels. in Cayman with two dolphinariums. onslaught of fish cleanings dropped Since I have seen the horrors of how overboard and immediately congre- What to do these wonderful dolphins are captured gated below the boats. One day, Pat If, for some strange reason, you do not and ripped from their families, I cannot McKenney said, “Golly, I wonder if a want to spend every waking moment personally condone supporting their on- diver could get close to them while underwater, there are a few things to going enslavement. That said, there is they are eating?” I made up that do in Grand Cayman. There is a lovely always another side to every story, and sentence, but the idea is accurate. Botanical Park where you can see the I will still love you even if you tell me you Anyway, he got into the water and was rare and endangered Blue Iguana. went anyway. mobbed. The rest is history; Cayman They are being overrun by thousands of visitors come by the hundreds to feed the recently introduced Green Iguanas Diving in Grand Cayman these wonderful creatures. They are everywhere around the island, includ- Now for the diving! This is the real rea- smooth and soft underneath and being © 2011 cathychurch.com 20 X-RAY MAG : 41 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Caymans

relatives of sharks, they have rough through the deep crevasses. had gotten a bit beaten up and skin on the top. Babylon North wall dive was NOT back on my list of good Babylon, like my other favorite dives. A few months ago my close Orange Canyon West Bay wall dive walls has a large pinnacle sepa- friend Christine and I went out on The next big treat are the walls. rated from the main wall by just a my boat, the M/Y Photo Journey, My personal favorites include few feet. You can swim through dropped down to 50 feet at the Orange Canyon. This labyrinth of the gap, being careful not to top of the large coral mound and coral pinnacles and swim throughs disturb the fragile sponges and to my surprise the swim throughs has orange sponges everywhere gorgonians lining the crevice. On were filled with silversides. I started you turn. When mixed with bright your way out, keep your eyes to taking pictures and almost yelped green halimeda algae and tall red the blue for the spotted eagle rays underwater at the combination finger sponges, every photo turns which cruise all of the walls of the of the flowing silversides and the out wonderfully. Turtles are not Cayman Islands. beautiful colors of the sponges. uncommon here; tiger groupers, I took some of my favorite pho- angel fish, and ocean trigger fish Blackie’s hole, Southwest wall dive tos ever that day. They are not hang out here also. During certain This dive is why I still like to dive the kind of photos that will sell seasons in spring and summer, look in Cayman. I had not visited this and make me rich and famous, for schools of silversides flowing site since hurricane Ivan in 2004. It but they are the type of photos © 2011 cathychurch.com Red sponges 21 X-RAY MAG : 41 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Caymans

© 2011 cathychurch.com Divers enjoy a colorful overhang with sponges on Cayman wall (left); Watch for spotted eagle rays off the walls or on the sand flats (above); Rock Beauty, a yellow-faced damsel fish, will look right at you (right); I found this incredible gorgonian hydroid near the stern of the wreck of the Polson (lower right)

that make me enjoy looking at of sponges, plenty them, and remembering a dive of queen angel fish, where I felt so much at home in a turtle on occa- the water. As the school moved sion, arrow crabs, around me, and curved over and at a large over- the sponges, I was mesmerized. hang at Hepp’s,

I have been diving for over 45 there is almost © 2011 cathychurch.com years, and here was a wonder- always a school of ful, new array of creatures. I have tarpon. of the Balboa for 45 years, and seen sponges before and I have I still enjoy its serenity. It is bro- seen silversides before, but the Snapper Hole ken into many small sections combinations at Blackie’s Hole Snapper Hole, like many sites over a shallow sand bottom in were unique. They are not there on the east end is loved for the Georgetown harbour. I have often—this is an example of a swim-throughs and tunnels with watched it break up a little more nice surprise. plenty of fish including snappers, each year, but the prominent tarpon and sometimes those propeller of this small interisland Hepp’s Pipeline / Armchair Reef incredible schools of silversides. freighter that sank in a hurri- Hepp’s Pipeline (northwest) and There is a large 1872 Spanish cane in 1932, still sits atop a sec- Armchair Reef (southwest) are Anchor, small critters and more. tion of the upside-down stern. great dives for the same reasons. It is a great exploratory event. Endangered by an encroaching They both start shallow at 25 to Since I do not get many chances plan to build a large cruise ship 30 feet deep (7-9m) with small to dive on the East end, I will let dock, I take more photos every schools of fish and lots of sponges Ocean Frontiers tell you about year to help preserve its memory. and reef creatures. They both the East End dive sites at: www. I will never forget a night dive have a horseshoe curve with a oceanfrontiers.com. back in the 70’s (let’s see—not vertical, “mini wall” drop-off to 65 the one where we got caught and 55 feet respectively. Along Balboa Wreck among a group of nasty box this wall are pretty outcroppings I have been diving on the wreck jellyfish—we were all fine after a

quick visit to the local hospital for anti- wonderful night dive. It is shallow, well toward the bow and shoot. The colors © 2011 cathychurch.com © 2011 cathychurch.com histamine and pain killers), oh yeah, defined, and often has large crabs, lining the inside will amaze you. Along the one where a group of my students octopus, and orange-balled anemo- the edges of the wreck, you can kneel CLOCKWISE FROM TOP were photographing an octopus hunt- nes. in the sand and look for small corals LEFT: Diver and large ing along the top of the boiler room. and worms. By the port side of the stern, grouper meet on a reef The student got really close and the The wreck of the Doc Polson I found the largest, most complex, gor- off Grand Cayman; octopus evidently detected his fish prey This is my favorite wreck for photogra- gonian hydroid that I have ever seen. Scenes at Cayman Bay at the same time that he encircled her phy in Cayman. It is small enough to fit with fountains at night; Nikonos camera and close up framer. the entire wreck into your photo. The The new Kittiwake Sunset with Jolly Roger sunset sail boat in fore- (We did not have autofocus in those growth is wonderful, including yellow There is so much news about the recent ground; Guest holds days and depended on metal framers tube sponges, tall gorgonians with bas- sinking of the new Kittiwake, that I will a sea turtle at one of extended in front of the lens to tell us ket stars curled up asleep in the fronds. not repeat it all here. It is a 1945 U.S. the sea turtle farms on where the focused distance and pic- The structures include well-defined submarine rescue boat sunk 5 January Grand Cayman Island; ture area were.) The octopus would not winches, an open hold, and a colorful 2011. You can see me photographing it Fishermen sell fish from a let go, so she had to let him have the bridge often with a large barracuda or on Youtube.com. For a complete news thatch-covered trailer camera. He moved away with it, did even a goliath grouper inside. Go into update go to: www.kittiwakecayman. a lot more gyrations and finally aban- the bridge and spread your strobes far com. doned her camera. This wreck is still a to the sides. Expose for the open blue

© 2011 Lin Fronda 23 X-RAY MAG : 41 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED LEFT: Underwater photographer on Nicholson wreck FAR LEFT: Colorful Caymans travel sponges at Babylon

take a look at Walton’s Mango Manor on the north side. The six units of this delightful bed and breakfast are ele- gant and appealing. Bring your own phone if you have to make calls. For a larger dedicated diver resort with full amenities, there is the Brac Reef Beach Resort (Reef Divers II and Reef Photo centre). This is a hammock kind of island. No crowds, just a wonderful climate, friendly people, and lots of water. I have not been to the new Alexander Hotel, so I will defer review- ing them. What to do With a population of only 1,200, there are not enough people to support things like large shopping malls—this is a quiet island. There is an active rock climbing community of visitors that has established over 70 bolted routes. (I have no idea what that means, but if you are a climber, I am sure that that is clear.) For more information, go to: www.caymanbrac.com/islandattrac- tions/climbing.html. Brac diving The Brac wall is further from shore and less steep than on the other two islands, but since diving at Little Cayman is just a short boat ride away you can enjoy both islands from one destination. The two must-see highlights on the Brac are the M/V Capt. Keith Tibbetts wreck and Atlantis.

The Tibbetts The wreck of the MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts is a 330-foot Russian-built Cuban naval frigate built in 1984 and deliberately sunk off the island’s northwest coast in 1996. I have done this © 2011 cathychurch.com dive only once and have actually not Cayman Brac brac-information.html for complete been inside it, so I have that to look for- Cayman Brac is the next largest island. information about the Brac. ward to next time. It is lying in sand 110- “Brac” means bluff, and there is a tall feet deep under the bow and 55 feet bluff on the east end that is 43m high. Where to stay under the stern. The forward half of the Go to: www.gocayman.ky/cayman- You can’t all of you go at once, but ship was broken away from the stern

section and lies on its port side. The stern section is still upright, and has an impressive canon. There is relatively little growth yet on this wreck. Many open- ings are sealed off with grates. Those on the coning tower of the superstruc- ture are so filled with colorful sponges that it is hard to imagine that this was built for war.

Atlantis A passionate, colorful (to say the least) artist named Foots has used concrete formations to create his vision of the lost underwater city of Atlantis. His sculp- tures, resting on a sand bottom 40 to 50 feet (12-15m) deep, include a sundial, figures of the elders (modeled after actual people whom Foots chooses to immortalize), arches and more. It is an easy shore dive from the steps at Stake Bay in front of the government admin- istration buildings. Visit: www.atlan- tiscaymanbrac.com/index.html for a complete look at Foots and his dream creation. Little Cayman The smallest island of our trio boasts the most wonderful walls. They not only start as shallow as 30 feet (9m) but wall at Bloody Bay forms a perfectly sheer vertical drop-off. While it is fun to look at, other areas of the wall are actually more photogenic. Where to stay The choices of dive resorts is amazing: Consider the twelve-bungalow Southern Cross Club Fish and Dive Resort, 11-room Pirates’ Point Resort and Dive Centre (this place has a unique cozy style of family friendliness and incredible!! food that keeps it close to my heart) and the lovely 40-room Little Cayman Beach Resort with a larger menu and more amenities. All three have their own excellent dive opera- tions. © 2011 cathychurch.com Brown sponges—I cannot resist shooting sponges with such beautiful texture 25 X-RAY MAG : 41 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED Two divers swim through a school of silversides during the few weeks in summer when they arrive at travel Devil’s grotto and other caves Caymans Little Cayman Walls I could write a whole book just about the diving along the Little Cayman wall. The mile-long stretch along Bloody Bay that continues into Jackson’s Bight is among the most famous walls in the world. Dive sites here are photogenic and full of life, color and interesting terrain. Some parts of the wall start as shallow as 25 feet, so you can start your dive as deep as you safely can, and then work your way toward the shallows and spend a long time finishing up your tank. Watch for all types of rays—spotted eagle rays and Southern stingrays feed in the sand. Try to get to places like Randy’s Gazebo with a small, colorful archway through a coral pinnacle that provides the setting for many great photos. I can’t help loving Mixing Bowl (also called Three Fathom Wall). It starts shallow (three fathoms, about 18 feet or 5.5m) so that you can have a really long dive. For divers familiar with Grand Cayman, it is like having Devil’s grotto sitting on top of Trinity Caves. Jackson Bay starts deeper, around 50 feet (15m) and is lush with sponges. The sandy plateaus are probably the best in the islands for seeing spotted eagle rays.

Live-aboard 365 moored sites and Another great way to visit it all would lots more shore dives. be to stay on the Cayman Aggressor. When I get to a site Although it is sometimes limited by while I have my weather, this boat visits all of the close-up lens on, islands and offers plenty of diving. I often don’t need With no time spent traveling between a big drop-off wall or your bed and dive boat, you have swim-throughs. I just need more time to eat, sleep, dive, eat, to get close to the bot- nap and dive some more. tom and search for strange things that Conclusions look like something It is hard for me to describe the features of the dive sites around the The endangered Cayman Islands. There will soon be blue iguana eats plants. Many of them are being carefully raised in captivity for © 2011 cathychurch.com Little Cayman wall release in the botanical park and elsewhere TONY MARK 26 X-RAY MAG : 41 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED travel Caymans h yc urc h. com cat 2011 2011 TONY MARK © ©

ABOVE: These four fascinating squat urchin shrimp (Gnathophylloides mineri) are found on the underside of the Variegated sea urchins (Lytechinus var- iegatus) found commonly in shallow water. I am looking forward to taking a really close photo with my newest camera. CENTER: A fine wedding on the beach would be a great start to a honeymoon diving in Cayman

other than what they are. I look for faces, Every creature is a photo opportunity, ever I go. And as long as I am underwater, I textures, circles, anything that makes me even on the plainest reef. As I write this I am content, I am where I want to be and I laugh or challenges my creativity. I am still am thinking of going right off the entry at never think of some other place. a sucker for Christmas Tree worms and fla- Sunset House and try to get a better jawfish mingo tongues. I always remind myself that photo with my new D3x. Or maybe I will get Cathy Church has been taking photos the most beautiful photograph of anything a better tiny close-up of a blenny with my underwater since 1965. She has master’s has yet to be taken and off I go, shooting new close-up attachment from Kerri Wilk. Or degree in Marine Biology, and has received another dozen angles. maybe I will just take my new scooters and many awards for her pioneering work in I enjoy trying to get that perfect face-on zoom around. underwater photography. She has written photo of a fish and close-ups of their scales The biggest problem for both our shallow five books and a coffee table book, My or eyes. When the water is clear, use a mild reefs, and many of our deeper reefs is the Underwater Photo Journey, and has taught telephoto lens to shoot the dorsal fin of a incredible loss of hard coral due to global underwater photography to thousands of squirrel fish or the eye of a mutton snapper. climate change and diseases. Whether Look for juvenile spotted drum fish. If you man-made or not, as the temperatures rise have a movable point of focus set it for a too quickly for nature to adapt, the corals point to the lower left (or right), and using are dying off at a rapid rate. Algae is cov- just your single left (or right) strobe wait until ering bare places before the corals can the fish swims into that point of focus and attach, and without our population of long- © 2011 cathychurch.com shoot. Keep the strobe well to the side and spined black urchins (Diadema) to eat the LEFT: Cathy Church. ABOVE: Shrimp reflection—this photo was taken inside the shoot only as the fish is swimming toward the algae away every night, new recruits of cor- wreck of the Nicholson at Sunset House reef strobe. als and other sessile animals do not stand a There are lots of yellow-head jaw fish in chance or finding a place to settle. students in the United States and cathychurch.com for full informa- the rubbly sand. Keep your strobe far to the Sponges are replacing the corals and Grand Cayman. This accomplished tion about Cathy Church and about side and low against the bottom and aiming are pretty to photograph, but they do not woman is in four halls of fame and the services that she provides at her slightly upward. If you underexpose them a have the durability of corals. As long as I continues to dive year round to take photo centre and gallery. ■ little, their tails will turn a beautiful blue. am underwater, I can find something wher- photos and teach. Go to: www. © 2011 cathychurch.com 27 X-RAY MAG : 41 : 2011 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY EDUCATION PROFILES PORTFOLIO CLASSIFIED RIGHT: Location of the Cayman islands on global map of medical care in the Cayman Islands is BELOW: Location of Grand Cay- considered to be good—comparable to man on map of Cayman Islands what is generally available in a small city BOTTOM RIGHT: Cathy Church in the United States. Medical evacuation (second from right), husband Herb (second from left) and long- to the States is often appropriate for cer- fact file time friends Dorothy and Marv tain procedures and critical care cases. Cayman Islands Gelb relaxing on the beach during Cash payment may often be expected their first Cayman visit, “which is truly for medical services. what Cayman is all about” Hyperbaric Chamber A hyperbaric chamber is available and well run at the Cayman Hospital on Hospital Road, Caribbean sources: cathy church George Town, Grand Cayman. Email: cia.gov world factbook Sea [email protected]

History The Cayman Islands were dis- Cayman Brac is 14 miles (22km) Little The Bluff Websites covered by Christopher Columbus in long, 2 miles (3.2km) wide with Cayman Cayman Islands Tourism Cayman 1503, and he named them “Las Tortugas” breathtaking bluffs rising up to 152 Brac www.caymanislands.ky because of the abundant turtle popula- feet (46.3m). Little Cayman is only Grand tion. In the late 16th century, Sir Francis 10 miles (16km) long, 1 mile (1.6km) Cayman Underwater photography There Drake named the islands “Caymanas” wide with a maximum elevation of are ample tiny subjects for close-up lenses, (derived from the Carib word for marine 55 feet (16.8m). Primarily limestone, GEORGE TOWN Cayman dollar (CI); U.S. dollar is accept- and good wide-angle opportunities crocodile) which were also plentiful. Early the Caymans are the visible por- Caribbean ed everywhere. The Cayman currency is can be found on the walls and wrecks. visitors to the islands included explorers tion of the submarine mountain Sea tied to it. Exchange rate: 1USD =0.80CI. Telephoto lenses can be used for fish, and their crews from England, France, range known as the Cayman Ridge. Banks will exchange U.K. Pounds and especially the Rock Beauty (a lovely Spain and the Netherlands and, of Because they are small and com- Euros at current rates. yellow-faced damsel fish that often turns course, pirates. The Caribbean islands prised of porous limestone, there and looks directly at you from a hiding collectively known as the West Indies, are no rivers or streams; this lack of fresh U.S. cities, Cuba, Honduras and Jamaica. Population As of July 2010, the esti- place—but you usually cannot get close became part of the British Empire in 1670, water runoff contributes to the amazing Cayman Airways Express provides mul- mated population is just over 50,000 with enough with a normal lens). and the Caymans were designated as a underwater visibility (often exceeding tiple flights daily to the sister islands of over 95% living on Grand Cayman. In If you need to rent cameras, there are dependency of Jamaica for nearly 300 120ft or 36.6m). The Cayman Trough or Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Grand 2008, expatriates made up a majority of several locations to try but you will find the years. Although Jamaica gained inde- Trench lies between the Cayman Islands Cayman is also a popular destination the workforce, with about 40% of that largest selection at Cathy Church’s Photo pendence in 1962, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica; this is the deepest point among many of the cruise ship lines. number coming from Jamaica, followed Centre and Gallery at Sunset House, chose to remain a British Crown Colony. in the Caribbean Sea at over 4 miles by the Philippines, the UK, Canada, Grand Cayman. It is just a mile south of Presently, tourism and the international (6.4km) deep. Entry requirements A passport USA (6%) Honduras and dozens of other George Town. ■ offshore financial services sector are the is always your best travel document. nationalities. main contributors to the Cayman Islands’ Climate The weather is warm and Visitors must also have a round-trip ticket. economy. In 2004, Grand Cayman was humid year-round; easterly trade winds To see detailed requirements for visas, Language English hit badly by Hurricane Ivan; Hurricane keep the Caymans from being unbear- etc. go to www.immigration.gov.ky (official) Paloma did extensive damage to ably hot. Summer temperatures range Cayman Brac in 2008. Both islands have from 30-34˚C, with frequent showers Economy The Cayman Islands has Time zone recovered nicely, and structures were or heavy rain, usually of short dura- one of the highest standards of living in Eastern Standard repaired to even higher building stan- tion. December through April is drier the world driven by its two primary indus- time (-5 GMT) year dards to withstand future storms. with cooler temperatures ranging from tries of international finance and tourism, round—same time 25-30˚C. Storms called nor’westers cause especially divers and other watersports zone as New York Geography The three islands that high seas from the north west and occur enthusiasts. Due to its tax-free status, City, but Cayman make up the country have a total land when strong cold fronts descend from tens of thousands of companies are does not participate mass of only 100 square miles (161 square the USA. Hurricane season is from June 1 registered as businesses in the Cayman in Daylight Savings kilometers). The Cayman Islands are to November 30. Islands. Agricultural products include Time. located in the Caribbean Sea 149 miles small amounts of vegetables, fruit, live- (240km) south of Cuba and 167 miles Getting there Several U.S. airlines offer stock, farmed turtles and sea salt. Almost Health There is no (269km) northwest of Jamaica. Grand nonstop flights to Grand Cayman, as all food and consumer goods must be need for any type Cayman is approximately 22 miles (35km) do carriers from Canada and the U.K. imported. of immunization to long, 8 miles (13km) at its widest, with a Cayman Airways offers daily service from travel to Cayman. maximum elevation of 80 feet (24.4m). Miami as well as select service from other Currency The official currency is the The overall quality

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Inner Space—the world’s “I look forward to expe- largest closed circuit riencing Inner Space every rebreather event—marks year. You get a vast array of its eighth anniversary, rebreather technology, like- Cayman Adventure Awaits! 21-28 May 2011. minded divers and five star Dive the walls, explore the Hosted by DiveTech at the logistical support. This is new USS Kittiwake wreck and Cobalt Coast Dive Resort, Grand experience the vibrant color- Cayman, this week-long seri- topped off by warm water ful reefs in your free shore div- ously cool event welcomes 60 diving (from 10 to100 “Inner Space is the ing package. At Cobalt Coast plus closed circuit rebreather Dive Resort, you’ll be treated (CCR) divers from all the globe. metres) just a step away ultimate gathering of Rebreather to great hospitality with an They come to dive the shallow off the end of the dock.” manufacturers, instructors and owner-operator flair. Onsite reefs and deep walls of Grand divers in one of the best ven- dive operator, Divetech, will Cayman, attend classes, share — Mike Fowler, President of keep you diving 24/7 in 30m stories and have fun. And you Silent Diving, North American ues to truly make the most of vis and warm waters year don’t have to be an experi- Distribtutor of Inspiration and Rebreather Technology.” round! enced CCR diver to take part; Evolution Rebreathers www.cobaltcoast.com any level of rebreather diver is — Phill Short, Technical Director IANTD UK most welcome at Inner Space. But, if you do desire some top notch training, this is the perfect Want to learn more event for learning, because some of the world’s very best about diving the CCR instructors also attend this event taking recreational or Cayman Islands? Normoxic / Advanced Trimix classes.

Inner Space also attracts the who’s who in the CCR world and many manufacturers bring along products, which the divers can play with. There are also prod- uct and seminar lectures during the evening from lumimares representing Dive Rite, IANTD, Kiss, Silent Diving Systems and VR Technology.

Places are limited. To find out more about Inner Space, log Read these onto: www.divetech.com/ Innerspace.htm or email Nancy dive guides by on [email protected]. ■ Lawson Wood www.LawsonWood.com

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