Last updated: 12/18/04

Check out individual dive profiles and notes for each trip/dive. Contains above water updates about resort/boat activities and logistics for each trip too.

Little Cayman

This section includes individual Little Cayman dive site notes and dive profiles by year - Also some photos:

• 2004 - Arrived on Saturday as Friday arrival on GC is no longer possible because of Ivan and airplane schedules

• 2003 - Arrived the day after Thanksgiving as usual

• 2002 - Arrived the day after Thanksgiving

• 2001 - Arrived the day after Thanksgiving

• 2000 - Two Dive trips in 2000; Feb & Nov -- Therefore no 1999 trip

• 1998

• 1997

• 1996 - First trip to Little Cayman and Pirate's Point

Little Cayman - 2004

Diving: 

The weather let us dive almost exclusively on the North side, although a couple of dives were on the Southside! The viz was mostly gin clear to 50 ft with good viz to 80 or so. Some particulate in the water here and there did challenge us underwater photographers, but not too badly.

The boat was only modestly loaded, with 12 or so divers on the first part of the week and 8 or 9 the latter part of the week. Nice...

Boat Ladder: 

While not too rocky, there was a little chop on the North side on several days we dove. It made the first day or so a little unsettling for those that have weak stomachs.

I normally adjust fine, as my general approach is to get right in the water after the diver briefing so if I'm a little queasy being in the water settles me right down.

On the second day, once we moored for the first dive, I could tell I should have NOT eaten the Eggs Benedict!

I got geared up as quickly as possible and did my giant stride off the swim step. Reaching to check my dive computer I found it wasn't on my BC. I got back up the ladder and began to search for it, only to have another diver hand it up at the back of the boat.

I then found that as it had dropped to the reef and been brought back up, it had re-set to 50% instead of 32%. I'd have to wait 10 minutes for it to clean. The divemaster didn't want to let me wait as everyone would be gone over the wall by then. Instead of using one of the old rental computers I elected to sit out the dive. BAD DECISION!

I tried to watch the horizon, drink Sprite (no ginger ale available), even lay down in the middle of the boat, but it was just a matter of time. I ended up 'calling the submarines'. <sigh>

I sat most of the surface interval feeling a bit better, but not really ready to dive the second dive. Nigel (boat captain, divemaster) took pity on me and put in just off Bus Stop so I could swim in and meet Ed, who drove down from the resort to retrieve me. Actually some nice stuff to see on the way in. Thanks Nigel!

The moral of the story for me is to take some Bonnine for the first two days of the trip next time, until I get my sea legs.

And . . . later in the trip when a new diver joined our merry group but had the same trouble getting his sea legs, I was VERY sympathetic!

Critters and more:

We saw turtles on every dive. Some others saw nurse sharks and another dive boats caught up with the Whale Shark.

For several minutes I watched and photographed a turtle eating a tube sponge with two French Angels hovering for the bits that floated away. One of the Angels slurped up a brittle star that had been moving further and further down in the sponge as the turtle ate away. It just couldn't move fast enough though.

We saw a pair of Queen triggers preparing nests with a male protecting the area. I noticed a small green moray under a coral head near the second nest site.

On one of the wall dives there was a small cave on the wall with five lobsters in it.

On our last dive day Nigel asked for requests and I said that I'd love to dive Mixing Bowl if no one had another preference. Nigel said he thought it was too rough. I said then wherever he wanted to take us. --- When we moored he said we were at Bus Stop. I never look at the island to try and see where we are, I just jump in, but when Daniel gave the dive briefing he said we were at Mixing Bowl. Looked over at Nigel to see a big grin on his face!

At Mixing Bowl that day we saw two huge barracuda, a big green moray, trumpetfish and lots of large schooling fish at the confluence of Jackson Reed and Bloody Bay. A little surgy right under the boat but a great day at Mixing Bowl. Thanks Nigel! -- I felt sorry for him because he just drove us around. He couldn’t dive because he'd had a cold for days.

The Trust thing:

I got a little payback from a few years back. Reminds me that women don't forget. 

A few years ago on LC I'd found a big green moray in a large hole. He was difficult to see as he was far back in there.

I motioned Lynda over to check him out but she kept motioning that she saw nothing. Finally I grabbed her BC and pushed her down into the hole and she got a REAL good look! She chewed me out on the boat and mentioned it a couple more times over the week but I'd thought it was forgotten.

This year Lynda and I were buddies (Bob takes a day off here and there), and I found a trumpetfish doing it's hiding and hunting thing hanging vertical among the soft corals.

I motioned Lynda over and pointed him out to her but my gestures (fingers playing trumpet) didn't get across what she should be looking for. I motioned her closer and closer. Finally I moved right next to her, extended my arm and pointed right at the fish. She finally saw him. Only later on the boat did she tell me that she was anxious about me pulling another prank on her. --- I guess I've STILL got some digging to do to get out of that hole! <sigh>

(There are some pictures from these dives in the photo gallery)

Little Cayman - 2003

Diving: 

Mostly South side - This year we got caught by end of hurricane season or the start of 'winter' in The Caymans - Because of rough weather on the North side, most days we were diving on the South side. Good sites but not as spectacular as the North side sites. There are also not a many so given that you might have poor vis on one site or another, you might be diving the same site on consecutive days. Even getting back on the boat on the South side was a bit rocky but I didn't note anyone get sick all week.

We only got two days (3 dives) on the North. Mixing bowl, Randy's Gazebo, and Sheer Wall. (went back South for the last dive) - Vis spotty on North this trip - Some REAL good but most were down from what we'd expect - Didn't dampen our glee at being 'North'. <G> - We did Randy's as a second dive (shallow) but it was a FINE dive even without going through the Gazebo. <G> 

Fish Firsts - Saw MY first Scorpion fish at Busch Gardens - Saw MY first Painted Elysias - Got my Pikefish Blenny eyes. I see them pretty easily now.

General - The boat was rather lightly loaded this year. We got down to 8 divers one day, IIRC. More of our favorite dive snacks during surface intervals ... peanut butter and Ritz crackers, Pringles and assorted soft drinks

With some "Norberts" diving on the boat it was sometimes possible to remain quietly on the sand and let the Norberts drive fish towards you, as one time here a stampeded Trunkfish swam over to closely examine me, and I him, before he casually swam off. Gee, I used to HATE bad divers, guess I'll have to modify my opinion. <G> --- However, other times they'd just drive critters off with their bumbling about. <sigh>

{Flame ON}

We had our share of divers with poor buoyancy again. I do wish divers coming to pristine reef would ensure they've done adequate buoyancy classes prior to arriving. There were those who could not hover properly on a 15' safety stop, hanging on the down line getting pulled up and down as the boat rocked, even though they attempted to 'float' at depth holding lightly to the line. This potential dangerous habit would not be needed if they advanced their skills.

We also had a Force Fins fan who could not properly fin, making it difficult to avoid his blunders when a 'close encounter' happened.

{Flame OFF}

Cam's lobster hunting - As last year, Cam was 'Johnny on the spot' for hunting season - At mid-night he was in the water hunting for the elusive (or not so) 'Bug' off Little Cayman! - On LC there are no licenses required for hunters, either native or tourist - Cam 'limited out' every day we were there, saying he could easily see 'Bugs' out in the sand in four feet of water - although lobsters taken recreationally cannot be 'converted' for commercial purposes, we DID see lobster quesadillas on day at lunch <G>

Underwater Photos:

DIVE LOG:

11/29/03 – AIR - Grundy's Garden - Dive #1

Southside – 7 lbs weight – apparently 1 lb light - 60' vis - Pike Blenny, Raccoon Butterflies, Staghorn coral - some surge in the shallows

Time:  (computer scrolled off before captured)

Surface interval:

Water temp: 85 deg

Bottom time:

Maximum depth:

Mix: Air

P02: 

11/29/03 – AIR - Soto Trader - Dive #2

Southside – 8 lbs weight - Pike Blenny, 2 striped butterflies 7", Turtle, juvenile queen angel, banded coral shrimp, cleaning station for large tiger grouper -- Starting to break up a bit. Walls falling in an such. Don't recommend dropping into the holds now.

Time:  12:09pm

Surface interval: 

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :60

Maximum depth: 50'

Mix: Air

P02: 

11/30/03 – 32% - Grundy's Gardens - Dive #3

Coral heads, Pederson shrimp

Time:  10:07am

Surface interval: 

Water temp: 83 deg

Bottom time: :58

Maximum depth: 49'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .79

11/30/03 – 32% - Windsock - Dive #4

Juvenile French Angel, Southern Ray, 2 X 4-eyed butterfly fish, Pike Seahorse, 3X Painted Elysia, 4' tiger grouper, coral heads, staghorn coral, Pederson shrimp

Time:  12:37pm

Surface interval: 

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :64

Maximum depth: 44'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .74

12/01/03 – 32% - Gay's Reef - Dive #5

Thought I had a 50% Nitrox computer error and surfaced to sit on the boat for :10 until it cleared to let me check - decorator crab, Juvenile (blue spot) yellow tailed damsel, Banded coral shrimp

Time:  10:28am

Surface interval: 

Water temp: 83 deg

Bottom time: :43 (plus :08 for computer correction)

Maximum depth: 45'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .75

12/01/03 – 32% - Windsock - Dive #6

BIG fireworm

Time:  12:28pm

Surface interval: 

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :65

Maximum depth: 43'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .73

12/02/03 – 32% - Black Wall - Dive #7 (deep)

Southern sting ray, 2X Trumpet fish - a little current

Time:  10:03pm

Surface interval: 

Water temp: 80 deg

Bottom time: :48

Maximum depth: 78'

Mix: 32%

P02:  1.07

12/02/03 – 32% - Grundy's Garden - Dive #8

Fireworm - new guest with force fins - remora on parrot fish, turtle -- Small nosebleed in mask. might have blown a capillary. 

Time:  11:53am

Surface interval: 

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :58

Maximum depth: 50'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .80

12/03/03 – 32% - Pirate's Point Reef - Dive #9

12/03/03 – 32% - Wahoo - Dive #10

Little Cayman - 2002, November/December- Pirate’s Point, Little Cayman

Diving:

11/30/02 – AIR - #1

Great Wall – 7 lbs weight – apparently 1 lb light – lobster – some surge – 9 divers on boat

Time:  (computer scrolled off before captured)

Surface interval:

Water temp: 82 deg

Bottom time:

Maximum depth:

Mix: 32%

P02: 

11/30/02 – AIR - #2

Mixing Bowl – surge – added 1 lb – cleaning station with blennies – lettuce leaf nudibranch – turtle with 2 tags  - heard about a nurse shark & octopus

Time:  12:28 pm

Surface interval: 1:14

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :65

Maximum depth: 61'

Mix: Air

P02: 

12/1/02 – 32% but dove as AIR - #1

Randy’s Gazebo – LOTS of current – Bob sat out (normal day 1 routine) – Lynda and I partnered – decided to go up cut or around wall – Lynda wrote to be careful of current and not go too far past boat – immediately when I went around to wall the current was big – I went up the wall immediately when I saw boat – everything was OK but we would have been ‘down current’ in an instant

Time:  10:13 am

Surface interval: :37

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time:  :31

Maximum depth: 78'

Mix: Air

P02: 

12/1/02 - #2

Sat out – queasy stomach – Too much celebration night before? <G>

12/2/02 (Monday) – 32% - #1

Cumber Caves – small turtle with 2 clips (P) – used 15mm lens for the first time – after dives met new guest (Patrick Kelley from Sun – works with Paul Read on Cobalt) and girlfriend.

Time:  10:34 am

Surface interval: :47

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :51

Maximum depth: 67'

Mix: 32%

P02:  1.00

12/2/02 – 32% - #2

Mixing Bowl – Ray in the sand (P) – picture had something in front of lens – Horse eyed Jacks – YTS schools – nice mini wall, sponges, cuts

Time:  12:44 pm

Surface interval: 1:19

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :50

Maximum depth: 50'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .80

12/3/02 (Tuesday) – 32% - #1

Bus Stop – swim through - Busted the 110’ limit by accident – Pederson shrimp – no macro setup – used 15mm all the trip – forgot dive skin on resort – Steve offered to have it taken to Salt Rocks; I decline – was actually quite warm diving 'naked'. . . nice – concerned about brushing up against something though – HUGE Nassau grouper in cave (P)  

Time:  10:19 am

Surface interval:  :42

Water temp: 83 deg

Bottom time:  :49

Maximum depth: 111'

Mix: 32%

P02:  1.39

12/3/02 – 32% - #2

Bus Stop – by vote of boat -  mini-wall – cowfish – still no dive skin <G>

Time:  12:19 pm

Surface interval:  1:10

Water temp: 83 deg

Bottom time:  :56

Maximum depth: 60'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .89

12/4/02 (Wednesday) – 32% - #1

Patty’s Place (South) – deep wall (101’ +) – Canyons with GREAT perspective – “island” peak off wall – 2 lobsters in hole (P) – balloonfish (P) back towards mooring – Steve and Karen – Lynda, no Bob – only 6 divers

Time:  9:59 am

Surface interval:  :22

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time:  :42

Maximum depth: 103'

Mix: 32%

P02:  1.31

12/4/02 (Wednesday) – 32% - #2

Soto Trader – (South) – vis 50-60’ – a side has fallen out since we last dove it – holes in cargo hold – eagle ray, nurse shark, juvenile spotted drums (2) (were 4 but I only saw 2) (P), Pederson shrimp, French Angel (P), turtle – Lynda – Heard about lobster

Time:  11:45 am

Surface interval:  1:02

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time:  :53

Maximum depth: 51'

Mix: 32%

P02:  .81

12/5/02 (Thursday) – 32% - #1

Le Le’s Leap – Swim down mini canyon to wall (95’) – cathedral room – left to swim back up second canyon – big grouper – large crab up to of reef

Time:  10:15 am

Surface interval:  :41

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time:  :54

Maximum depth: 97'

Mix: 32%

P02:  1.25

12/5/02 (Thursday) – 32% - #2

Coconut Walk – Nice wall – great viz – cleaning stations, filefish, pillar coral – did picture of Gay and Karen at pillar coral

Time:  12:07 pm

Surface interval:  :57

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :57

Maximum depth: 60’

Mix: 32%

P02:  .89

12/6/02 (Friday) – 32% - #1

Jackson Wall & Reef – banded coral shrimp husk (took several photos <G>) – anemones –  green filefish – cowfish I tried to snap changed color from brown to blue and back depending on mood – Pictures and stories from “Blind Date” (U.K.) – Guy started hitting on resort staff – Cam “He’s a doorknob”, “That’s the only tail he’s gonna see this week” -

Time:  10:37 am

Surface interval: :47

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :54

Maximum depth: 84’

Mix: 32%

P02:  1.13

12/6/02 (Friday) – 32% - #2 – Last dive of trip ; (

Cumber Caves – Mini-wall – turtle (P), drum (P), pipefish seahorse (P) – grouper cleaning station (P) , Garden eels – rained while down – nice effect

Time: 12:36 pm

Surface interval: 1:04

Water temp: 84 deg

Bottom time: :58

Maximum depth: 54’

Mix: 32%

P02:  .83

Little Cayman - 2001, November/December- Pirate’s Point, Little Cayman

The two weeks prior to arriving for this year's trip I began to monitor local weather closely. When 'Michelle' brushed by I became interested in seeing what storm surge and the like might have done to the reef and walls on Little Cayman.

It turned out that there was substantial movement along LC's north side. Sand had been displace from around coral heads and pushed beach ward. Lots of debris was scattered in the sand on the reef closer to the wall. Mother Nature showed her power fer sur!

Good news was that there were lots of juveniles hiding in the debris, which made for fun hunting. Given the small size of many of these little guys, Macro was the setup for the week for my Nikonos, although I DID need the 28mm lens when I took the turtle shots. <G>  The general vis ranged from 80 up to 100'+.

General Dive notes:

Little Cayman - 2000, November/December- Pirate’s Point, Little Cayman

November, 2000 - Pirate’s Point, Little Cayman

Well we're back to our Fall schedule. We found February too cold while in the water and somewhat blustery topside. Not a bad trip in February, just that November is better. 

Lower vis than other trips but still great at 60-90. No night dives this time. No Tibbets dive off Cayman Brac. A little rain here and there. No real problem. Forced some off resort diner guests indoors to eat on the domino table. Tres chic.

We let an old friend of mine, Paul Read, join our group this trip. I think all my sly smiles over the years about my upcoming vacations finally got to him. <G> He said after this trip that all was as I'd advertised. He didn't get the full treatment however; PP was full. He stayed one day on PP and then moved down to a condo at Paradise Villas. He biked down to PP each day (10 minutes) for the diving and meals/drinks/hammock time.  Paul snorkeled off Paradise villas, in the lagoon, and said they were no critters except empty soda and beer bottles.  Had a beer at Hungry Iguana and the price was the same as the posted price down at Glady’s; $5.

Things have changed little at Pirate's Point, but there have been some changes. New staff at Pirate's Point include two divemaster guys to replace Lach and Marja who have left for the private yacht industry. Seems Lach wants to be a Captain; Marja too.  

‘Spot’, the dolphin, is now mostly over at Cayman Brac; not apparently being fed to stay there. Visitors from Anthony’s Key suggest that markings they’ve seen indicate that he may be one of their former captives. 

Janet has taken 'ownership' of “the incident”, where she and Charlie came out to California and I hosted them for a dive day down in Monterey. The result deserved to wind up on some reality TV show as, "when dive tourists attack"!! However, as Janet tells it now, the small surf is now tsunami height with the three of us having to fight off a school of 12 ft long great whites to get back to the beach at The Breakwater in Monterey. <G> Can't wait to hear the re-telling again this November! 

Lynda has invented an gesture to remind me of what a total bore I am sometimes after beer on the veranda. She pulls her 4 fingers across her throat as if to say, "cut is off"!!! OK, I get the HINT. Isn't that stuff that wives do to husbands after a few years? Bob, you got to keep your wife in line!!! <G> 

Some Dive notes
We had a few "Norberts" again this trip; I pushed one off the wall when he was finning it BIG TIME. Same guy kicked the heck out of the ceiling on a swim through. DEAL with your buoyancy folks!!!

One neat thing I saw was a swimming crinoid in the water column off the wall. I pointed out to Betty who let it settle and walk on her hand. Neat!! 

#12 – Dynamite Drop
December 1 – Last (Friday) 
Time of Dive:
11:22a.m.
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:37
Max Depth:
105’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.33
 

Dive Notes:
South side – vis down – some current – hung on mooring line for safety stop – took shots – nice wall, not much on the coral fingers

#11 – ???
November 30 (2)
Time of Dive:
12:06pm
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:49
Max Depth:
59’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.89
Dive Notes:

#10 – ???
November 30 (1)
Time of Dive:
10:09
Temperature:
80
Dive Time:
:52
Max Depth:
100’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.28
Dive Notes:

#9 – ???
November 29, 00 (2)
Time of Dive:
12:40pm
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:58
Max Depth:
67’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.96
Dive Notes:

#8 – ???
November 29, 00 (1)
Time of Dive:
10:35am
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:50
Max Depth:
98’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.26
Dive Notes:

#11 – Sarah's Set
November 30, 00 (2)
Time of Dive:
12:07pm
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:52
Max Depth:
51’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.81
 

Dive Notes:
Thursday – (2) main feature is coral head out in the sand and nice wall on shore side – soapfish laying down and another with full face view – Eagle ray out in the sand area – painted lady shrimp on “island” – (2) baby queen angels – Pederson and several other kind of shrimp – southern ray – yellow ray swam right at me and under me. Took shot looking right down at it after it settled

#10 – Nancy’s Cup of Tea
November 30, 00 (1)
Time of Dive:
10:25am
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:40
Max Depth:
116’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.44
 

Dive Notes:
Thursday – Large Pinnacle is key feature – various hanging coral formations to look under – big lobster and bit crag in hole – “Norbert” in blue trunks kicked the heck out of hanging sponges on ceiling in swim-through when he accelerated past his buddy

#9 – Marilyn's Cut
November 29, 00 (1)
Time of Dive:

Temperature:

Dive Time:
:
Max Depth:

FO²:
32%
PO²:

Dive Notes:
Swimming crinoid - photographer kicking the wall with his fins

#8 – Jackson Wall & Reef
November 29, 00 (1)
Time of Dive:
12:21pm
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:55
Max Depth:
68’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.97
 

Dive Notes:
Wednesday - vis down a bit - got the trifecta - Horsepipefish; pigmy seahorse (brown); eagle ray eating mussel and it stayed around for a bit. swam right at us - arrow crab with me kicking the reef accidentally :(

#7 – Soto Trader
November 28, 00 (2)
Time of Dive:

Temperature:

Dive Time:

Max Depth:

FO²:
32%
PO²:

Dive Notes:
Soto Trader lays at about 50' with deck at 40' - three drums (two on stern and one BIG one under the stern in the sand) - lots of Pederson shrimp - flamingo tongues - parrotfish jawbones (small) - probably cleaned off by fireworms

#6 – Charlie's Chimney
November 28, 00 (1)
Time of Dive:
10:24am
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:46
Max Depth:
110’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.38
 

Dive Notes:
Tuesday - swim through to 115' - wall with cathedral room and chimney back up to 60'

#5 – Bus Stop
November 27, 00 (1)
Time of Dive:
12:13pm
Temperature:
84
Dive Time:
:65
Max Depth:
41’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.71
 

Dive Notes:
Monday - 50-100' sand slide to about 115' on the wall - computer rang up 1.4 alarm - brown coral spider - big pufferfish ; mixing bowl - two lobsters in hole - big moray with Burt using fin to get out - Burt showed drum - 2 resort students - part sand, part hard pan - wall with canyon swim down - "snots leaves"

#4 – Jig Saw
November 26, 00 (2)
Time of Dive:

Temperature:

Dive Time:

Max Depth:

FO²:
32%
PO²:

Dive Notes:
Near Salt Rocks - Has mixing bowl wall where waves circle you from one side to the other and spits you back out if waves are strong enough. Lots of life in holes in the wall - Anchor Chain - lobsters 

#3 – Lea lea's Lookout
November 26, 00 (1)
Time of Dive:
10:32am
Temperature:
83
Dive Time:
:36
Max Depth:
92’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.21
 

Dive Notes:
Sunday - nice cuts to swim down and vertical tube back to the top of the wall; Jig Saw - near salt rocks - shallow to 30' - has mixing bowl feature with lots of holes in the wall for stuff - anchor, chain - first encountered "snots"

#1 – Donna's Delight
November 25, 00 – (No transmitter battery - aborted dive)

Time of Dive:
10:31am
Temperature:
88
Dive Time:
:00
Max Depth:
15’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.46
 

Dive Notes:
Saturday - Donna's Delight - #2 Great Wall - sat out and snorkeled because of a dead battery in my dive computer 

February, 2000 - Pirate’s Point, Little Cayman

Well, we're back again. The five friends - Bob, Lynda, Charlie, Janet and me. This time we decided to forgot our normal fall trip for a winter visit. We wanted to see how things would be different at another time. We found that the water was colder and that North side kicks up a bit more than we've seen before. Probably not best time of year to come.

Because of the weather on the North side, we dived more on the South side this time. We DID get to dive the Soto Trader for the first time I've been there. Nice wreck. We were told we were lucky as it "greens" out most time. (low vis because of wave action on the close by shore) 

One disappointment; no dock diving at Salt Rocks anymore as the Cayman government wants to make the regulations for this concrete jetty the same as normal wood docks on Cayman Brac and Grand Cayman. There is no diving off any dock, jetty or wharf on CB or GC; so no more night dives at Salt Rocks. Might be more politics by CB folks to get the upper hand over LC again. Night dives will then most likely be at Cumber Caves or Bus Stop. 

We've decided to name the calm that normally descends over us while at Pirate's Point, “The Wa”. We've agreed that we'll allow no current events from the outside world to be discussed while on Pirate's Point --- nothing to intrude on Paradise, or so I said to an arriving NY based guest.  We consider any interruption in this state of calm as "a tear in the Wa". <G>  

I must admit the "Wa" was tested, at least for me, when a local guest from Grand Cayman got a cell phone call from one of her employees on Grand Cayman. I thought I'd jump outa my skin. Those darn things ought to be banned at Pirate's Point. Think I'm gonna write a letter asking Gladys about that. <G> 

Another disappointment is that Sail oriented cruise ships will start visiting LC in March. Gladys says that the numbers of cruisers will WAY overwhelm the facilities on LC. WOW!!! 

Best quote of the trip --- Lach (our Boat Captain/Divemaster for the day) – Quote after returning from the dive sites which were a little bouncy, "16 out, 16 in, 2 pukers". <G>
 

Dive Log
 

Thursday – 2/17
#1 – Bus Stop

Time of Dive:
11:22a.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:44
Max Depth:
99’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.27
 

Dive Notes:
There is a nice swim through that starts at 60’ and lets you out at 100’ – first dive of the trip – dove the ‘skin’ with 7 lbs – got cold – will dive the 3mm for the rest of the trip

#2 – Shear Wall

Time of Dive:
1:20a.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:47
Max Depth:
60’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.89
 

Dive Notes:
Nice barracuda near a coral head as the start of the dive – turtle feeding on sponge on wall with angel picking up the crumbs – was a little rough on the North side – almost missed our boat, and came up on the Aggressor – while swimming on the wall we saw a guy down below 100’; alone
 

 Friday – 2/18
#1 – Cumber Caves

Time of Dive:
a.m.
Temperature:

Dive Time:
:
Max Depth:

FO²:
%
PO²:

Dive Notes:

#2 – Great Gash
(Lei Lei’s Leap?)
Time of Dive:

Temperature:

Dive Time:

Max Depth:

FO²:
%
PO²:

Dive Notes:
Eagle Ray off the wall (6’+) – Big Crab – Green Moray – Pipefish with vertical bars

Saturday – 2/19
#1 – Marilyn’s Cut

Time of Dive:
10:43a.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:46
Max Depth:
98’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.26
 

Dive Notes:
There is a nice cut where you swing down to the wall through – Lots of big lobsters, one in the cut and more on the wall – Barracuda at the start

#2 – Barracuda Bite

Time of Dive:
12:34p.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:48
Max Depth:
62’
FO²:
33%
PO²:
.94
 

Dive Notes:
Nice swim through – I didn’t do it – Turtle swimming along wall below us – grouper cleaning station – 2 shelves on sloping wall
 

Sunday – 2/20
#1 – Black Tip Blvd

Time of Dive:
11:07a.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:49
Max Depth:
75’
FO²:
33%
PO²:
1.07
 

Dive Notes:
Lots of algae on the wall – too green, little life on wall – nice views of chutes from sand to wall – Banded coral shrimp

#2 – Awesome Wall

Time of Dive:
1:04p.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:60
Max Depth:
57’
FO²:
33%
PO²:
.89
 

Dive Notes:
Green Moray – Huge Parrot – Big Stone Crab – Eagle Ray
 

Monday – 2/21
#1 – Charlie’s Chimney
(South)
Time of Dive:
2:21p.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:41
Max Depth:
105’
FO²:
34%
PO²:
1.41
 

Dive Notes:
Took camera – wall with swim through – nice reef – poor boat diver etiquette – full boat with 20 divers – felt a bit warmer on the South side

#2 – Robert’s Reef
(South)

Time of Dive:
4:20p.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:47
Max Depth:
51’
FO²:
33%
PO²:
.83
 

Dive Notes:
Pederson’s shrimp (X2) – Scallop – Eagle Ray – Lobsters – Yellow Rose I wreck – Someone grabbed a small turtle – Lach "bitch slapped" him – Charlie did his first backroll with Lach’s training
 

Tuesday – 2/22
#1 – Windsock Wall
(South)

Time of Dive:
10:28a.m.
Temperature:
78
Dive Time:
:41
Max Depth:
94’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
1.23
 

Dive Notes:
Stingray in sand – took 3 shots right in front of him – one new photographer put his hand right in the middle of a brain coral while taking a pict

#2 – Soto Trader
(South)
Time of Dive:
12:28p.m.
Temperature:
79
Dive Time:
:45
Max Depth:
51’
FO²:
32%
PO²:
.81
 

Dive Notes:
110’ island freighter – 4 mini holds – sea cucumber under the edge of the wreck – an eagle ray and Caribbean Reef Squid I didn’t see - huge barracuda inside the wreck – big hermit in conch shell – sleeping nurse shark – pillar coral, feeding – the site greened out towards the end of the dive – The ship sunk in the 70’s while off-loading gasoline to small boats – two guys smoking ignited and blew up the boat – 2 died

September, 1998 - Pirate’s Point, Little Cayman 

The ‘Back To The Wall’ tour. (Notes now, later some photos too) - Warm water 84-87 - Viz 80 - 150 - great life - rained a bit here and there - “Sketos” out with a vengeance - itching mitigated by beer!

PP was its usual last stop at the end of the world; the perfect decompression site. Forget what day it is, any news of the outside world and your cares. All you have to remember is when the dive boat leaves and what time meals are and where the bar is. All else is “noise”. 

Island Air had a surplus of passengers going out of Grand Cayman so we got to ride the smaller plane, an Islander. Chris was our pilot and I kept a close eye on his skills as I rode right seat. <G> He had great skills keeping the ride reasonable for small plane adverse passengers. I liked how he traded altitude for speed, diving down through rain clouds at speed to smooth the ride and limit the time actually spent IN the clouds. The approach to Little Cayman let us ride in front of the approaching weather Front, neat. Really interesting to see the Front off the right side of the plane. Mother Nature IS awesome! We took the Otter back to Grand Cayman; 30 minutes compared to 45 in the Islander.

We arrived in some slight rain showers blowing through the inward Caribbean corridor. Nothing too serious. We traded places with the usual unhappy, but relaxed, guests leaving as we were arriving. <g>

We arrived just in time (8:45) to catch the first diving of the day. Since the weather was kicking up a bit we didn’t bring the dive boat around but did shores dives on the north side. I did the first one at Cumber Caves but sat out the second. Might have been the prospect of that first beer of the day. <g>

Lunch was served inside, this trip, given the rash of dive-bombing mosquitoes hatched by the first real rains of the season. Johnson & Johnson was my friend on this visit. Lived with a can of bug juice. <g> Still, they just drove us into the bar from the veranda, from time to time. Nothing serious.

After diving and lunch, I spent a few luscious hours starting my new trash paperback and sampling my first Amstel Lights. My duty later in the day (5:00) was to collect friends Charlie, Janet, Bob and Lynda at the airport with a bucket of ice staffed with beer. Duty done, we told some lies in the bar before dinner. 

Meals, as usual, were superb. Gladys had acquired another new chef and thus we experienced differences in style, but with Gladys’ supervision, there never seems to be any difference in quality. Gladys still has her theme nights; Italian, Tex-Mex and Island, to mention a few. Always fun!

One night we even had 10th anniversary party of hurricane Gilbert. Gladys told several stories and we even had a guest that had been coming for 10 years to add his.

Being a California, xenophobic wine snob <G>, I brought a couple of bottles of not well advertised local wines to share with my 4 friends from Maryland. A Bonny Doon Muscat and Cedar Mountain Duet (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot blend). Carol gave me some ‘gas’ for not bringing enough for the staff to sample. Oops, I guess I’ll have to redeem myself next year with some ‘staff wine’.

One thing that is always nice about PP is the variety of folks that come there. This year we had a great retired couple from the U.K.; David and Sheila.  I don’t think I’m giving anything away to say they were north of 60. Sheila had just started to dive and got her first ‘severe clear’, warm water dives with us. The point here is that while she started out a bit unsure, she was off and flying by weeks end. Way to go Shelia! 

So, kudos to the divermasters of PP, for always bringing new divers along in a comfortable, professional manner.

During diving we saw the Cayman Aggressor II. Divemasters told us that this was its last trip. Supposed to be replaced with a brand new boat soon They said that CA II was the oldest in the fleet.

PP staff told us that part of the Russian Frigate off Cayman Brac had lost some of superstructure in weather earlier this year. Will be interesting to dive it again to see the differences.

Best wishes go out to Gladys, by the way. She was leaving for knee surgery in Houston the day we left. I head a couple of days after the surgery that she was already in the rehab facility and doing fine. That’s the ticket, Gladys! We’ll see ya next September to check the new knee out. PP closes for three weeks this time of the year for maintenance, staff rejuvenation and facility upgrades. There was one week left to their closing. Looking at weather reports and hurricane Georges after we left, I’ll bet we got outa there JUST in time.

The Diving

The diving was, as expected, just fantastic! Water temperature around 85F, air temperature about 90F and visibility over 100ft. Nice to be back in warm water and packing just 8 lbs, compared to what I dive with in Monterey. <g>

We had two rain dives on the last day. Actually nice, given that the light was much lower in contrast; gave the reef a beautiful texture. Some of the divers had us drop them back at the dock after the first dive so there were actually just a few of us on the second dive.

There were always the normal reef residents, Groupers, Jacks, Triggers, Angels, Damsels, Barracuda, Parrotfish, Butterflyfish, Southern Stingray, Turtles, Trumpetfish, etc. More unusual sightings are listed on my dive log. Notable was my first Caribbean Reef Shark, sighted off the Wall in blue water. I noticed that the group of us unconsciously grouped a little closer together immediately after this sighting. <G>

Night Dive

We did a night dive at Salt Rock (where we generally board the boat). Checking my regulators before descending, I noted my Aqua Lung Air Mic octo was sputtering slightly. I had to un-hook the power inflator hose and do the dive without using the power inflator. Nice exercise in buoyancy control. Great to have 8 lbs of weight.

It taught me a bit more about maintenance of the Air Mic. Especially making sure to cover up the connector to keep dirt out.

We saw octopus, large crabs, basket stars and eels. Nice dive. Of course I need to mention that the divermaster, Lach, tried to bury me under some discarded reebar. <G> This, after warning us of it’s presence at the dive briefing. First night dive with the new computer. It has a NICE backlit display.

Nitrox Class  ‘Bob & Charlie go diving . . .’

I’d been buggin friends Charlie and Bob by e-mail over the past months about taking a Nitrox class to lower their risk of DCS (not scientifically validated) and let them forego that ‘unearned nitrogen fatigue’ in the afternoons. They took up the challenge and let Lach go at um.

I admire their commitment to push their brains back into gear after some days in neutral. <g> While they were in the restaurant studying, I was by the pool drinking beer and reading my trash novel.

As in many SCUBA classes, the instructor, Lach, pointed out highlights of the curriculum that would certainly be on the written test. One, an example, of a trick question addressing the maximum PO2 for a given depth and bottom time. He phrased his example as ‘Bob & Charlie go diving, they descend to 50' for 45 minutes  .  .  .’  The point here, is that when the written test came, they missed it! We now call their NITROX test as, ‘Bob & Charlie go diving. . .’.  <G> 

I’ll NEVER let them live it down! (Well, at least not until I do something equally clueless. <G>)  Congratulations on passing the NITROX class guys!

The bad part of this Nitrox thing was that the compressor for the Nitrox membrane system broke and I had to give up some of “my” Nitrox tanks to Bob and Charlie so they could do their certification dives. Oh well, what we do for friends. <g> Funny to be sucking air again. My computer started to scroll nitrogen loading at depth like a Las Vegas slot machine!

Stupid Diver story!

Well, there had to be one stupid diver event didn’t there? Here it is.

One diver, young male by the way, and his buddy decide to do some snorkeling off Salt Rock. The depth there is about 20 feet. Floating on the surface he notices an Eagle Ray dozing on the sand below. Thinking that he’d take a closer look, he surface dove directly down on the very surprised Ray. The Ray erected it’s venomous defensive spine and caught Mr. Snorkler in the inner thigh. He got cut big time and poisoned to boot. Just luck that it didn’t hit his femoral artery; he could have bled out right there.

Summary

What’s left to say; just another magnificent dive vacation in

Paradise! I’ll be going back again next year.

Little Cayman Dive Log – September, 1998

August, 1997 - Pirate’s Point, Little Cayman 

The Diving -- What I saw! 

Lots of Juveniles out now. More than in December. Lots of schooling stuff. Really makes the wall exciting as you look out over the panoramic hovering just above the wall.

The walls are just spectacular and we did some neat swim throughs. Vis around 80 or so most times.

Water temp was frigid, 85 or so. <G> Dove a skin with 7 lbs. Nice to not have so much weight; easier to maintain buoyancy. Weather was GREAT. Didn't get blown off the North Side once.

Saw some Jackknifes not normally seen in these waters, say the Divemasters. Lots of BIG barracuda hanging about, especially under the boat. They let you swim right up to em. Boy are those teeth BIG. Small stuff too, like horsepipefish, sand worms and mini crabs. Nurse Shark, Flamingo Tongues, Cowfish, Sting Rays, Big French Angels, Caribbean Squid, Trumpetfish, anchors from early 20th century wrecks, Cayman Turtles, etc ... Of course, lots of great soft coral and such. Got to bone up on my IDing; not always sure what I've seen.

Night dive produced large (2ft. +) lobsters and crab as well as my first Cayman Eagle Ray. Couldn’t do ‘Salt Rock’ which is normally a jump in from the jetty night dive since the container barge was still tied up. Instead we did ‘Cumber Caves’, a kick out from the beach at ‘Bus Stop’. I say ‘a kick’ decidedly, since from the viewpoint of a Monterey beach diver it was more of a pleasant ‘float’. <G>

Most unusual sight was our multi-minute observation of large (3') Tiger Grouper that eventually got tired of the attention and started to slip off the reef and down the wall. Hovered just 15' down the wall and a 5' Green Moray came out of his hole right where the Grouper had stopped. (Nope I hadn't seen him until this) The Moray faced off for 2-3 minutes with the Grouper for ‘turf’ until the Grouper moved off a couple of feet and the Moray retreated back to his home. Neat! -- Of course ‘muggins’ (Me) had the Macro setup on my camera! ARGGHH!!! -

The Keith M. Tibbets

We also dove the Russian Missile Frigate sunk off Cayman Brac a couple of years back as an artificial reef. Purchased by the Cayman government from Cuba, it cost around $300,000, if memory serves. 

Starting to get stuff on it. Fun anyway. Swam through a passageway or two. My first wreck. Here are pictures of my friends on the bridge, mine taken in front of one of the ACK-ACK guns and others. 

Did 13 dives and never got tired using NITROX. I think I like the 'death gas' a lot. One of Pirate’s Point’s divermasters is a registered nurse (Carol) and one afternoon when I was in the office talking to her she was called up on the radio to meet the Cayman Aggressor at the dock to help treat a guy that had had a seizure underwater. He ended up all right but I don't know if his diving career is over. I'm told that there was no shortage of doctors to treat him as they had 4 on the Aggressor as guests. <G> He was diving NITROX but don't know if that was factor or not.

Other

Saw LARGE (4 ft) Cayman Iguana on the road coming back from diving one afternoon. Weather poolside was great too. Adult Beverages available too. <G> Took both Macro and Wide Angle (28mm) underwater photographs. After realizing that I'm not the Ansel Adams of the reef yet I resorted to more snapshot like stuff. So, I guess my non-diving friends will be impressed but boy am I gonna take 'gas' from my UW Photog friends. <G> And YES, I’m goin’ back AGAIN!!!!

December, 1996 Trip - First time at Pirate's Point, Little Cayman, BWI

The Diving

The vis was generally 60 to 75ft. The staff said that vis exceeding 150 was possible but looking at the small stuff was never a problem. Compared with the general vis where I dive (Monterey, CA) the vis was GREAT. Water temp was 82 to 84 most days. I started out diving a skin but changed to a 3mil full suit the 3rd day. Just made me a bit warmer and less tired at the end of the day. 

Got a cold and laid off for 3 days. Had GREAT diving the rest of the time! 

Some of the specific animals listed on dive site guides for Little Cayman are no longer there. The last hurricane may have either moved the normal residents or, hopefully not, destroyed them.

Still, new denizens have moved in and we got the usual visits from curious groupers and were able to see southern rays and turtle feeding almost every day. Green Moray to be seen, barracuda patrolling the reefs, etc.

The coral and sponges continue to be brilliant and, to me, visually overwhelming; almost certainly due to the husbandry of the Divemasters of Little Cayman.

The Little Cayman 110ft limits are still in place and buoyancy control is strictly observed by the divemasters. Actually, Pirate’s Point is a bit more conservative. They enforce a 100ft limit. Anyone observed dropping below 100ft is talked to back on the boat. Never saw anyone restricted but I assume stronger action would be in order for constant violators. Gorilla divers look elsewhere!

Diving Logistics

Most of the time we dove on the North side, where the legendary Bloody Bay Wall is. Diving on the north side has probably spoiled me for most other sites on the south side, just fantastic!!

At about 8:30a.m., after breakfast, guests wanting to dive are driven to the Salt Rocks landing where the North side starts, and are picked up by the dive boat, the Yellow Rose, for the 2 dives of the day. The truck ride is about 3 minutes and the boat trip to dive sites ranges from 10 to 15 minutes. All dive sites have mooring balls.

Two tanks are provided (air) and the staff will almost dress you if you let them. They recently introduced NITROX, 32% only. They will run a NITROX class if you wish. Given the quantity of dives that I did, and advancing maturity (Ahem), I'm gonna take a NITROX class locally in California before I go on a Cayman vacation again.

The basic schedule is two dives a day, one at the first site and the second after the boat is moved during the 1 hour surface interval. Snacks (potato chips and fruit) and soft drinks are provided. Night dives as requested when enough divers want to go. 

The Divemasters

Diving with the staff of Pirate's Point was a pleasure. Just enough structure without being overbearing.

They give you a briefing when you reach the resort and keep an eye on you during the first dive if they don’t know you already. You can go off on your own or group up with them to take advantage of what they know of individual sites. I followed them around sometimes and teamed up with other divers the rest of the time.

Almost anyone can find the big stuff to see. One of the advantages of following the Divemasters around is they can lead you to more interesting small stuff. I couldn't believe that we once found an inch long pipe-fish. Looked like grass to me. Really COOL!!

The Divemasters will take site requests and especially try to accommodate dive site requests from guests due to leave the resort soon.

Night Dive & Last Thoughts

They do night dives almost anytime you can get enough divers to make a quorum. They night dive off the concrete boat jetty where you’re picked up by the boat for the day dives. It happens to have an old concrete staircase for easy exits.

I did one night dive and it was really great!! Octopus & moray hunting, huge crab, rays, coral feeding. OK, the coral feeding had a little ‘help’ from us.  We pointed lights near the coral to attract the 'food' (small worms I think) and then waved our hands to 'wake' the coral up. Mass murder!!!! <G>

While floating on the surface for my turn to exit the staircase after the night dive I glanced straight up at the sky. WOW, I’d forgotten what the Milky Way looks like without any light pollution! Almost worth the entire trip by itself.

Probably more thoughts that I haven't included. Maybe I'll modify this later. For my first warm water dive vacation - Just FAN..TAS..TIC!!!

Tell me what you think. Questions or comments are always welcome!

Email me at timboyd1 at yahoo.com  
(you know how to put this together)

H