Grand Cayman's new Wreck Dive

New Wreck re-discovered on Grand Cayman

 

Hidden just below the surface, Cayman Islands scuba divers find an interesting new site while hunting lion fish.

The new lion fish infestation has forced divers to search previously unexplored walls and reefs, both deep and shallow in search of the invasive juggernaut. With demand by local restaurants reaching an all time high, divers are forced to think outside the box when hunting lion fish.

A few years ago during one of our lion fish tournaments, a couple of local fisherman told me a story about stumbling across an old wreck filled with lion fish. While drifting across a deep hole in the green waters of the North Sound, their anchor became lodged in something. After further inspection they found an old wrecked fishing boat covered in Indo Pacific Red lion fish. They told me a tale of a lion fish mother load. A wreck where lion fish lined the roof and fought for space on the deck of an old barnacle covered heap. I was intrigued, the search was on!

We had a general idea of the location, or at least we thought we did. At one point we even had gps coordinates, but still no wreck. Every few months we ran out to the site, new information in hand but still nothing. A couple of months ago, I ran into the guys that had told me the original story. After explaining my countless failed attempts to find the site, he offered up a nugget. He had the exact coordinates from the day of the discovery.

We piled into  the boat, camera in tow, in search of this illusive lion fish honey pot. After an initial 45 minuet search of the site, we started seeing schooling fish. Three Atlantic Spade fish swam right in front of me. We never see Spade fish here so I knew we must be close to some sort of structure. Just like that, there it was! Thousands of grunts, snappers and lionfish! There were lionfish everywhere, on the bow, in the holds, on the roof!

It was immediately apparent to me that our lion fish culling efforts here on Grand Cayman were working. Of coarse, we knew this already, but to see this many fish on one site was eye opening. I can only imagine how the reefs would look today had this invasion gone unchecked as it had on this small wreck. This is a true testament to the efforts of the Department of Environment, the Marine Conservation board as well as CULL, the Cayman United Lionfish League. Without these weekend warriors, our under water world would look a little different today.

For information on culling lion fish in the Cayman Islands, contact Ambassador Divers.

Scuba Dive Grand Cayman