< Previous28 WELCOME JUMP IN DIVING IS A BIG DRAW TO THE CAYMAN ISLANDS, renowned for its exceptional visibility, healthy reefs and abundant marine life. All three islands have numerous dive sites to explore, some accessible from shore and others by boat, including wrecks, walls, tunnels and canyons. With more than 300 dive sites in the Cayman Islands, divers of all skill levels and interests have plenty of options when it comes to exploring the underwater world. Top dives sites include: THE USS KITTIWAKE This 1945 submarine rescue ship was sunk close to shore off West Bay Public Beach to take on new life as an artificial reef. The 251-foot ship was sunk in Cayman’s waters in 2011 and now has a host of exotic underwater marine life to enjoy. Suitable for all levels of diving experience. DEVIL’S GROTTO Located off the George Town waterfront, Devil’s Grotto is a popular shore dive that features a network of caves and tunnels filled with tarpon, parrotfish, barracuda and schools of silversides. Grouper, crab and lobster can also be sighted. EDEN ROCK Next door to Devil’s Grotto is Eden Rock, a shore dive located off the waterfront in George Town. Eden Rock features caverns and tunnels and boasts an abundance of corals, sponges and tropical fish. It is also a popular spot to see tarpon, crabs and lobster. TURTLE REEF A spectacular coral garden replete with resident eels and turtles. It is a spectacular shore dive in West Bay at Macabuca restaurant. Night divers will spot octopus and coral extending its polyps. SUNSET HOUSE Famous for the bronze mermaid statue and the wreck of the Nicholson landing craft. COBALT COAST Access the ‘deep wall’ with the possibility of sighting a passing manta ray. CHEESEBURGER REEF This reef earned its unusual name as the site is located just out from Burger King on the waterfront in George Town. It has a large population of tarpon and is teeming with reef fish. Divers may also spot sea turtles and stingrays. Nearby is the shipwreck Cali, a freighter that sank near the reef in just 20 feet of water. BEST DIVE SITES DIVER-RECOMMENDED SITES Divemaster and underwater photographer Sergio Coni is a veteran diver in the Cayman Islands. The Argentina native got certified at age 15 and began working as a commercial diver and instructor at 18. He has been working with Don Foster’s Dive Cayman since 1988. In March 2024, Sergio will mark 50 years of exploring the underwater world. His career has taken him to many places, spanning from South America to the Philippines and Indonesia. As the operations manager at Don Foster’s, he is passionate about his career, the ocean and its creatures, as well as introducing people to the world of diving. “The Cayman Islands has many top-of-the-line dive sites,” he says. “Every dive, I see something I had not seen before.” HERE ARE SOME OF SERGIO’S FAVOURITE DIVE SPOTS TO EXPLORE: Best wall/deep sites: Northwest Point; Big Tunnels and Orange Canyon Best shallow sites: Fish Reef; Stuey’s Crevasse; Doc Poulson’s Wreck Best shore dives: Casuarina Point Reef; Devil’s Grotto; Turtle Farm Mini Wall Best shore night dives: Macabuca; Casuarina Point Reef (Don Foster’s house reef) Best night dive: Black Water Dive off the West Wall SISTER ISLANDS Little Cayman: Any site along Bloody Bay Wall Cayman Brac: MV Captain Keith Tibbetts wreck For more on diving the Sister Islands, see page 59.29 WELCOME JUMP IN Clockwise: Sergio Coni; Little Tunnel dive site; Casuarina Point Reef. IM AG E: Se rg io C on i IM AG E: Ja me s W hi tt ak er IM AG E: Se rg io C on i30 WELCOME JUMP IN WATERSPORTS ENTHUSIASTS HAVE numerous options when it comes to playing on the waves, spanning from kiteboarding and kayaking to paddleboarding and parasailing. Here are some of the best water-based activities to get your feet wet: KAYAKING A tranquil way to explore the coastline, kayaks let you travel under your own steam. Take a guided tour through the mysterious mangroves or paddle out to a magical bioluminescent bay after dark, where a startling underwater light show, courtesy of Mother Nature, awaits. Bioluminescent kayak tours are best on the darkest nights of the lunar cycle. PARASAILING Fly high in the sky with a parasailing adventure. You’ll be held aloft by a parachute attached to the boat below. Enjoy a bird’s eye view when you’re winched several hundred feet into the air. Tandem parasailing experiences are available, so that you can ascend with a friend. PERSONAL WATERCRAFT Jet Skis and Waverunners can be rented at various locations. Easy to operate, you can be skimming over the waves at high speed in no time at all. Guided safaris, with snorkel stops, are also available. PADDLEBOARDING Stand up paddleboarding offers a fun way to explore, with Cayman’s warm, calm waters making it an ideal fit for the sport. Paddleboarding can provide a full body workout, but you can also slow it down for a leisurely cruise. It takes minutes to get to grips with paddling on the large, stable beginners’ boards, and a lifetime of fun once you progress to paddleboard racing, surfing and yoga. KITESURFING Steady breezes, warm water and calm lagoons make Cayman a good location to try out this popular watersport. Various kitesurfing schools offer everything from two-hour introductory classes to zero-to-hero courses. East End, Barker’s in West Bay and Little Cayman are some of the best places to learn and practise. WATERSPORTS: A year-round playground31 WELCOME JUMP IN SUNSET CRUISES There’s nothing quite like sailing into the sunset on Cayman’s beckoning waters, soaking up the scenery while cruising along the coastline. It’s a relaxing way to end the day, with tours offering appetisers and a cash bar. Excursions typically last two hours and are offered by numerous charter companies. YACHT CHARTERS Cruise across North Sound, interact with the stingrays, snorkel over coral gardens and enjoy cocktails as the sun sets – it’s all in a day’s cruising. Both motor and sail boats offer half day, full day and sunset charters for you and your party, with itineraries tailored to suit. PARTY BOATS Party on a boat while cruising Cayman’s clear blue waters. Visitors can arrange a private charter or join one of several party boat excursions organised throughout the year. Music, dancing and a cash bar are all on board, with Stingray City and the Sandbar, Starfish Point beach and Kaibo Beach Bar among the most popular stops along the way. SAFETY TIPS While out on the water, make sure to use reef-friendly sunscreen, wear protective clothing and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.32 WELCOME JUMP IN ABOAT TRIP TO STINGRAY CITY and the Sandbar is a must-do excursion. It is Grand Cayman’s top attraction, offering visitors a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe and interact with the sociable Southern stingrays in their natural habitat. Various charter companies escort visitors to the sites in the North Sound where these friendly rays have been gathering for decades. Stingray City is a shallow dive and snorkel site where you can swim beneath the surface to see stingrays and other sea creatures. The Sandbar is where the boats anchor, allowing passengers to climb down steps into the waist-high water to interact with the stingrays. The waters are clear and typically calm. The practice dates back decades to when fishermen cleaned their catch in this part of the North Sound. The stingrays congregated for the scraps and now they continue the habit by flocking round for tidbits of squid brought by the boats. The female stingrays weigh around 60 pounds and are larger than the males, which tend to be more timid. These curious yet docile creatures have a velvety underbelly and will sometimes rub against you in search of food. Captains know many of the stingrays by sight, giving them pet names. Passengers are shown how to feed approved snacks (ballyhoo and squid) to the fish and the way in which to shuffle their feet on the seabed while moving among them. The site is strictly regulated to protect the fish, and you’ll be given a detailed briefing before entering the water. The main rule when playing with the rays is to never lift them out of the water as they need to breathe. Many of the excursions also visit nearby Starfish Point, a sandy beach on the tip of the island’s district of North Side. Here, the boats anchor close to the shore and allow passengers to wade in the water and look at (but not touch) the dozens of starfish on the sea floor. PLAY with the RAYS DO THE ‘STINGRAY SHUFFLE' To avoid stepping on a stingray while at the Sandbar, wade through the water by doing the ‘Stingray Shuffle’ – simply slide your feet along the sandy bottom. The Department of Environment outlines proper stingray handling, as well as Wildlife Interaction Zone (WIZ) rules on its website: doe.ky/ marine/stingrays. 33 WELCOME JUMP IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS BOASTS WORLD-CLASS FISHING GROUNDS, with deep sea fishing and top- notch tournaments an attraction for visitors and residents. Gamefish like blue marlin, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi are plentiful and can be found year-round. Best of all, the action is exceptionally accessible – thrilling catches can happen as close as just a quarter mile offshore. Bonefish and silvery tarpon are sought-after gamefish, and both are found in abundance in Cayman’s waters. People travel far and wide to catch these fighting fish, which offer anglers an exciting challenge. For the serious bonefish hunter, a quick trip to Little Cayman is a must, as it is renowned for its bone fishing waters. Shore fishing is highly popular, where anglers can cast a line from the coastline, beaches, docks or flats. Expect to reel in permit, barracuda, tarpon, bonefish, grunts, snook and jacks. For visitors, it is strictly catch-and-release. Reef fishing is also popular. The calm waters surrounding the reefs make it an ideal excursion for families or first-time anglers. Yellowtail, snapper, trigger fish, jacks, blue runner and barracuda can be found. Booking an excursion through a local fishing charter is recommended as the captains are seasoned veterans who know all the top spots to drop a line. TOURNAMENTS Cayman boasts several high-profile fishing tournaments throughout the year. A premier sportfishing event is the Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament, held annually in late spring. Anglers compete for more than US$100,000 in cash and prizes and, of course, bragging rights. Among other tournaments are the Hoos Who Shootout in February and the BK Big Fish tournament in March. Another popular tournament is the Brac Jackpot, held in May in Cayman Brac. Learn more about fishing through the Cayman Islands Angling Club, fishcayman.com. Visit the Department of Environment website at doe.ky for information on National Conservation Law fishing rules as well as locations for shore fishing. REEL ADVENTURE32 WELCOME JUMP IN ABOAT TRIP TO STINGRAY CITY and the Sandbar is a must-do excursion. It is Grand Cayman’s top attraction, offering visitors a once- in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe and interact with the sociable Southern stingrays in their natural habitat. Various charter companies escort visitors to the sites in the North Sound where these friendly rays have been gathering for decades. Stingray City is a shallow dive and snorkel site where you can swim beneath the surface to see stingrays and other sea creatures. The Sandbar is where the boats anchor, allowing passengers to climb down steps into the waist-high water to interact with the stingrays. The waters are clear and typically calm. The practice dates back decades to when fishermen cleaned their catch in this part of the North Sound. The stingrays congregated for the scraps and now they continue the habit by flocking round for tidbits of squid brought by the boats. The female stingrays weigh around 60 pounds and are larger than the males, which tend to be more timid. These curious yet docile creatures have a velvety underbelly and will sometimes rub against you in search of food. Captains know many of the stingrays by sight, giving them pet names. Passengers are shown how to feed approved snacks (ballyhoo and squid) to the fish and the way in which to shuffle their feet on the seabed while moving among them. The site is strictly regulated to protect the fish, and you’ll be given a detailed briefing before entering the water. The main rule when playing with the rays is to never lift them out of the water as they need to breathe. Many of the excursions also visit nearby Starfish Point, a sandy beach on the tip of the island’s district of North Side. Here, the boats anchor close to the shore and allow passengers to wade in the water and look at (but not touch) the dozens of starfish on the sea floor. PLAY with the RAYS DO THE ‘STINGRAY SHUFFLE' To avoid stepping on a stingray while at the Sandbar, wade through the water by doing the ‘Stingray Shuffle’ – simply slide your feet along the sandy bottom. The Department of Environment outlines proper stingray handling, as well as Wildlife Interaction Zone (WIZ) rules on its website: doe.ky/ marine/stingrays. 33 WELCOME JUMP IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS BOASTS WORLD-CLASS FISHING GROUNDS, with deep sea fishing and top- notch tournaments an attraction for visitors and residents. Gamefish like blue marlin, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi are plentiful and can be found year-round. Best of all, the action is exceptionally accessible – thrilling catches can happen as close as just a quarter mile offshore. Bonefish and silvery tarpon are sought-after gamefish, and both are found in abundance in Cayman’s waters. People travel far and wide to catch these fighting fish, which offer anglers an exciting challenge. For the serious bonefish hunter, a quick trip to Little Cayman is a must, as it is renowned for its bone fishing waters. Shore fishing is highly popular, where anglers can cast a line from the coastline, beaches, docks or flats. Expect to reel in permit, barracuda, tarpon, bonefish, grunts, snook and jacks. For visitors, it is strictly catch-and-release. Reef fishing is also popular. The calm waters surrounding the reefs make it an ideal excursion for families or first-time anglers. Yellowtail, snapper, trigger fish, jacks, blue runner and barracuda can be found. Booking an excursion through a local fishing charter is recommended as the captains are seasoned veterans who know all the top spots to drop a line. TOURNAMENTS Cayman boasts several high-profile fishing tournaments throughout the year. A premier sportfishing event is the Cayman Islands International Fishing Tournament, held annually in late spring. Anglers compete for more than US$100,000 in cash and prizes and, of course, bragging rights. Among other tournaments are the Hoos Who Shootout in February and the BK Big Fish tournament in March. Another popular tournament is the Brac Jackpot, held in May in Cayman Brac. Learn more about fishing through the Cayman Islands Angling Club, fishcayman.com. Visit the Department of Environment website at doe.ky for information on National Conservation Law fishing rules as well as locations for shore fishing. REEL ADVENTURE34 WELCOME THE ISLANDS THAT TIME FORGOT LONG BEFORE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM became its main economic engines, the Cayman Islands was an isolated seafaring community which gained the moniker “the islands that time forgot”. In the early days, Caymanians relied on fishing and farming – living off the land and sea. Many men went to sea to earn a living, often for months on end, while the women tended to affairs at home. Traditional industries of old included turtling, fishing and thatch rope making.34 WELCOME THE ISLANDS THAT TIME FORGOT LONG BEFORE FINANCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM became its main economic engines, the Cayman Islands was an isolated seafaring community which gained the moniker “the islands that time forgot”. In the early days, Caymanians relied on fishing and farming – living off the land and sea. Many men went to sea to earn a living, often for months on end, while the women tended to affairs at home. Traditional industries of old included turtling, fishing and thatch rope making.36 WELCOME THE ISLANDS THAT TIME FORGOT THE CAYMAN ISLANDS WAS FIRST SPOTTED BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS in 1503, who named them “Las Tortugas” – Spanish for turtles, which were found in abundance in the surrounding seas. In 1670, the islands were acquired by the British from Spain. The Treaty of Madrid decreed the islands a British possession and a dependency of Jamaica. Permanent settlement of the islands began in the 1730s. The name of the islands was changed to Cayman, after the Carib word caymanas, a local species of crocodile. In the days of piracy on the high seas, buccaneers used the islands as a base to replenish supplies. Among the famous privateers landing here in the 18th century were Blackbeard and Henry Morgan. In 1831, the leaders of the day met at Pedro St. James in Bodden Town to form the first elected parliament. In 1962, Jamaica became independent while Cayman remained a British colony, now referred to as an Overseas Territory. THE HISTORY of the CAYMAN ISLANDS 37 WELCOME TURTLES WERE FOUND IN ABUNDANCE around all three islands in days gone by. ey became a major source of food and income for the islanders from the early times of settlement. ey were shed in small vessels called catboats, placed in a pen known as a kraal, and traded. As numbers of turtles dwindled around Cayman, shermen ventured further a eld to Cuba and Honduras for their catch. Following the decline of turtle shing – referred to as ‘turtling’ in Cayman – men turned to a career in the merchant navy to provide a living for their families in the 20th century. O en recruited by American rms, this required them to be at sea for months at time. It was le to the women to look a er the a airs at home, including tending the crops. As Cayman developed, shing and the seafaring life took a back seat to other higher paying sectors such as banking and tourism. Today, turtles remain an important cultural symbol for the Cayman Islands. e book "A History of Turtlers and Schooners of the Cayman Islands" was released in 2023 and explores the history of turtling, shipbuilding and ship sailing, and the people, and boats, that made it possible. Available at More than Words bookstore in George Town; Cayman Turtle Centre; and on Amazon. THE DAYS of TURTLING & SEAFARING THE ISLANDS THAT TIME FORGOT Cayman Brac schooner the Kirk-B, 1938.Turtle kraal in the mangroves, 1938. Men with a turtle in a catboat, c. 1946-1952.36 WELCOME THE ISLANDS THAT TIME FORGOT THE CAYMAN ISLANDS WAS FIRST SPOTTED BY CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS in 1503, who named them “Las Tortugas” – Spanish for turtles, which were found in abundance in the surrounding seas. In 1670, the islands were acquired by the British from Spain. The Treaty of Madrid decreed the islands a British possession and a dependency of Jamaica. Permanent settlement of the islands began in the 1730s. The name of the islands was changed to Cayman, after the Carib word caymanas, a local species of crocodile. In the days of piracy on the high seas, buccaneers used the islands as a base to replenish supplies. Among the famous privateers landing here in the 18th century were Blackbeard and Henry Morgan. In 1831, the leaders of the day met at Pedro St. James in Bodden Town to form the first elected parliament. In 1962, Jamaica became independent while Cayman remained a British colony, now referred to as an Overseas Territory. THE HISTORY of the CAYMAN ISLANDS 37 WELCOME TURTLES WERE FOUND IN ABUNDANCE around all three islands in days gone by. ey became a major source of food and income for the islanders from the early times of settlement. ey were shed in small vessels called catboats, placed in a pen known as a kraal, and traded. As numbers of turtles dwindled around Cayman, shermen ventured further a eld to Cuba and Honduras for their catch. Following the decline of turtle shing – referred to as ‘turtling’ in Cayman – men turned to a career in the merchant navy to provide a living for their families in the 20th century. O en recruited by American rms, this required them to be at sea for months at time. It was le to the women to look a er the a airs at home, including tending the crops. As Cayman developed, shing and the seafaring life took a back seat to other higher paying sectors such as banking and tourism. Today, turtles remain an important cultural symbol for the Cayman Islands. e book "A History of Turtlers and Schooners of the Cayman Islands" was released in 2023 and explores the history of turtling, shipbuilding and ship sailing, and the people, and boats, that made it possible. Available at More than Words bookstore in George Town; Cayman Turtle Centre; and on Amazon. THE DAYS of TURTLING & SEAFARING THE ISLANDS THAT TIME FORGOT Cayman Brac schooner the Kirk-B, 1938.Turtle kraal in the mangroves, 1938. Men with a turtle in a catboat, c. 1946-1952.Next >