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