Dive Cayman

Cayman Islands SCUBA Diving

Cleaning Stations

Those of you my age will remember the old style gas stations, the kind with the attendant that would come rushing out at the sound of the bell to service your car. He would check your oil, wash your windscreen, check your tires, all while you relaxed in the comfort of your automobile. The old time full service gas station is a thing of the past but there does exist something eerily similar just a few feet beneath the vibrant waters of Grand Cayman. It's called a cleaning station.

A cleaning station is a location where all types of aquatic life congregate to be cleaned. Just like you in your car, the fish pulls in and the attendants go to work!
The cleaning process includes the removal of parasites from the fishes body, and can be performed by various creatures.

Approaching a cleaning station, the creature will open it's mouth while taking a non aggressive posture, giving the "all clear" signal to the cleaners. This symbiotic relationship is one of mother natures true miracles and is not to be missed while scuba diving Grand Cayman.





In this video you will see a Tiger Grouper being cleaned by several Pederson cleaning shrimp. These tiny, translucent shrimp live in association with a variety of different sea anemones and feed primarily on parasites removed from other fish. I shot this with a 100 macro lens, allowing for a unique, close up viewing of this incredible relationship. I spent over an hour gaining the trust of this Grouper before he would allow my camera such close access. 

Happy Diving!


Dive Grand Cayman
www.ambassadordivers.com