Dive the Cayman Islands

Stingray City

A Graceful Southern Stingray gliding across the Sand Bar

The Cayman Islands are know for their deep walls and picturesque sea seascapes. Situated in the south west Caribbean, Grand Cayman has become the scuba diving Mecca of the northern hemisphere. Ambassador Divers, located at the Comfort Suites Resort is a PADI Five Star IDC facility specializing in PADI Scuba Diving classes and diver training in the Cayman Islands.  With two dive trips running daily, Ambassador Divers also caters to the non divers in the group. One of their most popular trips is to the world famous Stingray City.

Stingray City is located in the North Sound, about 0ne mile from the popular Rum Point. The sandbar it's self is only about 3 feet deep allowing for even the smallest children the ability to stand and enjoy the stingrays.

Weather your scuba diving the Cayman Islands or just tagging along with a friend, Stingray City is a must see while visiting Grand Cayman.

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

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

Wreck Diving Grand Cayman

Doc Polson Wreck, Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is world renowned for it's vertical walls and shallow reefs. Great visibility, warm water and abundant marine life make the Cayman Islands one of the top 5 SCUBA diving destinations on the planet. To add to the allure, Grand Cayman is home to several very interesting wreck sites as well. One of those sites is the Doc Polson.

Located just off the north end of Seven Mile Beach, the Doc Polson lays quietly in 50 feet of water. Sank in 1991 by Adrien Briggs, owner of Sunset House, the Doc Polson has become a gem and a must see while scuba diving Grand Cayman. Adorned in gorgonians and delicate sponges, this wreck dive is one of the most colorful of all Grand Cayman wreck dives.

 

The Doc Polson is a great wreck for beginner divers. Laying in the sand enables close inspection by new divers without the danger of damaging the slow growing corals on her steel hull. Before the sinking, the wreck was gutted and cleaned, making for a safe diving environment. Originally a cable layer, the Doc Polson is now a true divers playground and the perfect place for your first or 500th dive on Grand Cayman!

The video below tells the story of local divemaster Dan Hodgins. Dan had the honor of riding the Doc to her new resting place at the bottom of the sea. This is a story you won't get on just any dive boat, thanks Dan!

 

Happy Diving!

www.ambassadordivers.com

#caymanislands #scuba #underwaterphotography #grandcayman #wreckdiving

Grand Cayman SCUBA Diving

Grand Cayman SCUBA Diving

If you've ever had the chance to dive the beautiful cobalt blue waters of Grand Cayman, it's likely that you come across some very interesting creatures. Leopard flatworms, Caribbean reef squid, or maybe even a shy juvenile spotted drumfish. While all these critters are very interesting, everyone want's to dive with turtles. Fortunately, the Cayman Islands are home to a healthy population of Hawksbill turtles "Eretmochelys imbricata". 

Hawksbill turtles are found mainly throughout the world's tropical oceans, predominantly in coral reefs. These turtles feed mainly on sponges by using their narrow pointed beaks to extract them from crevices on the reef, but also eat sea anemones and jellyfish. Marine turtles are the living representatives of a group of reptiles that has existed on Earth and traveled our seas for the last 100 million years. They are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems and help maintain the health of our coral reefs and sea grass beds. 

Diving Grand Cayman

SCUBA diving Grand Cayman can be a life changing experience. The feeling of weightlessness combined with the  beauty of our underwater coral reefs can sometimes be overwhelming and we forget the number one rule in interacting with marine creatures. DO NOT TOUCH! Never touch, tease or otherwise harass marine life. Hawksbill turtles are breathhold divers. They breathe air from the surface, not from a SCUBA tank:) By grabbing or chasing these turtles, you might increase their heart rate forcing their bodies to metabolize the little oxygen left increasing the chance of drowning.

If you see a turtle, don't stalk it. Swim near but don't approach too closely. Let it get comfortable with you. Relax, your diving....your patience will pay off;)

Happy Diving!

images shot on a Canon 5D MarkIII in an Ikelite housing

Cayman Islands SCUBA Diving

Cayman Islands SCUBA Diving

Well folks, old man winter is just around the corner. This officially means NE winds and likely less North Wall Cayman diving. Unfortunately, this also marks the end of our Silverside season. During the summer months, tens of millions of dwarf herring invade the walls, reefs, and wrecks of the Cayman Islands transforming an already beautiful underwater landscape into magical shimmering amazement. Typically found in the shallow dive sites of Grand Cayman, silversides congregate during the day hiding from predators and venture out at night to "wash" over the edge of the deep wall.

As winter approaches, our diving schedule will shift toward the south side dive sites of Grand Cayman. Not to worry, the south side of Grand Cayman has some of the most amazing shallow sites in the Caribbean. Japanese Gardens, Pallas Reef, Bat Caves..the list goes on. Be sure and dress for the occasion. While water temperature will only drop down into the high seventy's, the air temperature can seem quite cold, especially after a long dive.

Happy Diving!