With water that’s crystal clear, an environmental policy to be proud of and an abundance of activities to make the most of the beautiful Caribbean Sea, Sportsister’s Louise Hudson found there was much more to the Cayman Islands than just white sandy beaches and tax free shopping.
As someone who would definitely describe herself as a water baby, the thought of spending a holiday in the Cayman Islands set in the turquoise waters of the Caribbean was an easy one to handle. My only premise for the trip was to spend as much time on or in the water as possible.
Scuba Diving
One of the main draws for tourists to these islands is the top class diving that is found just a short distance from land. Our first base was at the Compass Point resort on the East End of the island where the Ocean Frontiers dive outfit is located. There are 55 dive sites within easy reach of this spot, and some divers even set themselves the challenge of diving all 55 and completing ‘The Green Short Challenge’.
Whilst I’d previously completed my PADI open water certification, a couple of others that were in my group had not and so they were able to use the resort pool to run through training drills before heading out into the open water. This set up meant that it was a great place if you had divers of mixed levels as it was equally well suited to novices as to those looking to ‘earn their shorts’.
I’ve been lucky enough to dive in some fantastic spots around the world and had high expectations of the Cayman Islands, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I call myself a fair weather diver and so sunny locations, clear, warm water and excellent visibility are all really important to me. Here, I got all of this and more. All the dive sites are part of the marine national park that surrounds all three Cayman Islands (Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac) and because of the impressive conservation schemes that run here, underwater is a very exciting place to be.
I was spoilt with bright, beautiful coral, an abundance of tropical parrot and puffa fish, regular sightings of sea turtles and dozens of majestic eagle rays that seemed to fly through the water. Our second base was the Cobalt Coast Resort on the north of the island, giving us easy access to a whole new bank of dive sites. Their dive operation, Dive Tech, is considered one of the best on the island, and is particularly good for expert qualifications and technical diving. As well as enjoying some dramatic wall dives littered with sponges and corals there were also sites with lots of swim throughs and interesting rock formations.
But there were two dives that really stood out for me on this side of the island. The first was a wreck dive on The Kittiwake – this ex-USS submarine rescue vessel was sunk off the coast of Grand Cayman just over a year ago. You can already see reef growing on it and marine life making it their home, and as time passes this will only increase. As you dive through the different rooms it gives you a glimpse of what life must have been like on board many years ago.
The second was a site called Stingray City – here you kneel on the sandy bottom of the ocean, just a few metres below the surface, and whilst the Dive master pulls out squid from a bag dozens of stingrays swarm around you. Stingrays have been drawn to the site for years after fisherman used to empty their scraps off here, and now it attracts dive groups every day to play with these (largely) tame and friendly rays. You are able to touch them as they swim over you with their surprisingly soft skin reminding me of wet mushrooms! After playing with the rays for about 40 minutes a two metre long moray eel (nicknamed Psycho!) appeared and he wanted to play too. That’s a sight I’ll never forget!
Stand Up Paddleboarding
The original plan had been to try out some kitesurfing but the winds were not on my side so instead I opted for the more sedate activity of stand up paddleboarding. There are quite a few options as to where you can paddleboard on Grand Cayman including mangrove forests, the calm waters of the North Sound or the miles of barrier reef around the island.
As I was staying at the Compass Point resort on the East End of Grand Cayman I chose to go just off the shore here. My instructor Richie took me by boat out about one mile from shore to an area that was very protected by the reef and offered perfectly calm flat waters – ideal for beginners. After a few tips from him it was straight into the warm, clear Caribbean water.
At first it may take a while for you to get your balance and you start by kneeling down on the board so your centre of gravity is lower, using the paddle to propel you through the calm water. Once your confidence builds you can stand up and I found I soon got the hang of steering and breaking using the paddle. It’s a very serene and calm way to enjoy time on the water, and while it’s not super energetic it is a great workout for your core, arms and legs too. As I paddled my way through the clear water I was spoilt with views of tropical fish, coloured coral and lots of starfish.
Kayaking
I was promised that the kayaking trip would be no ordinary paddling experience. Instead I was to experience a phenomenon known as bioluminescence that appears in only 12 bays in the world – one of them being in Grand Cayman. After meeting our guide Tom at Rum Point just as dusk was falling we doused ourselves in much needed mosquito repellent and were ushered into our two man kayaks on the water.
The paddle wasn’t too strenuous and guided by lights on each kayak it took us about 20 minutes to reach ‘bio bay’. Once there the magic began. The bioluminescence is light created by plants and creatures under the water and whilst it can be seen in many parts of the world it is very rare to see it in such concentration as here – where between 750,000 to a million single celled organisms exist in each gallon of water. What this means is that every time you put your hand, leg or an oar in the water you are treated to a magical, twinkling light show. Some people described it as looking like fairy dust others as underwater fireworks. Luckily Tom knew the area like the back of his hand and was able to seek out the spots in the bay where the bioluminescence was at its most concentrated.
As we paddled around with only the moon to guide us, it was a truly magical experience and another great example of how a trip to Grand Cayman allows you to explore the beautiful water surrounding it from all angles.
Travel notes:
British Airways (ba.com - 0844 493 0787) flies four times a week from London Heathrow to Grand Cayman, return fares cost from £716 including taxes.
Prices at Compass Point resort start from US$215 per night for a one bedroom ocean front apartment see www.compasspoint.ky
Price for a two tank boat dive trip with Ocean Frontiers is US$119, see www.oceanfrontiers.com
Price for a two tank boat US$120, see www.divetech.com
Prices at Cobalt Coast resort start from $270 per night for a double room with breakfast see www.cobaltcoast.com
A kayaking tour with Cayman Kayaks starts at $50 see www.caymankayaks.com
Double up
Why not combine your trip to the Cayman Islands with one of these great events?
Flowers Sea Swim - June 9 2012
Billed the world’s richest open water swim with big money prizes on offer, it’s no wonder this event attracts some top names. But its open to all levels and the appeal of swimming off stunning Seven Mile Beach into the crystal clear Caribbean waters is easy to see. Next year will be the one mile swim event’s 20th anniversary.
More info: www.flowersseaswim.com
Cayman Islands Triathlon - November 4 2012
A small, but growing field of entrants, take part in the annual triathlon with both Olympic and Sprint distances on offer, as well as a popular relay event. For Brits more used to wetsuits and cold lakes the tropical sea makes a pleasant change for the swim leg!
More info: www.caymanactive.com/triathlon
Intertrust Cayman Islands Marathon - December 2 2012
Held in December and with an early morning start time to help combat the heat, this race gets fantastic feedback from locals nd international visitors alike for its super friendly atmosphere and beautiful two-lap route. There is a half marathon, relay race and kids fun run also on offer.
More info: www.caymanislandsmarathon.com
Louise Hudson, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine
