Cayman’s underwater world is a miraculous place – from the colourful reef fish to the amazing coral formations, many have become enchanted by its beauty over the years. Even those who do not fancy getting wet have access to this world through a trip on the Atlantis Submarine, which takes passengers down to 100 feet in air conditioned comfort.

However, night time is a completely different experience, with the depths appearing even more eerie than usual, and one which is now open to a much wider audience thanks to Atlantis’ night dives. Of all the locations where Atlantis Submarines operates, Grand Cayman is the only one that offers night dives, and it takes passengers to a completely different world to the one visible in the daylight.

The 90 minute excursion starts with a ferry trip out to where the submarine lies in wait for its passengers.

In spite of reassurances about the exemplary safety record of the submarine and all the safeguards and procedures, I must admit that I was still a little bit nervous before the dive. However, sitting in the submarine and looking out the large view port at the underwater world outside, nerves soon made way for wonderment.

The lights of the submarine lanced through the dark, and illuminated and attracted all sorts of life forms, from the large silver tarpon that use the light of the sub as a hunting aid to an abundance of free-swimming segmented worms, small jellyfish, and numerous other small creatures attracted to the light of the submarine.

The silvery tarpon that accompanied the sub on its dive seemed to be on the hunt, but their heart wasn’t in it – not in the same way at least as the big dog-toothed snapper that shadowed the sub. It spotted a fish exposed on the sand flats as soon as the sub’s lights illuminated it, and was onto it in a flash. Such is nature – red in tooth and, well, fin. Another dog-toothed snapper, this one complete with a remora attached, joined the sub later on, and when another small fish made the mistake of poking its head out of the reef, it was quickly hunted down and gobbled up. All this played out just outside the big view ports of the sub, seemingly within touching distance.

This is one of the things that makes the night dive unique – the regular colourful reef fish might have decided to retire for the night, but the bigger fish that usually lurk in the shadows during the daytime come out to hunt by the light of the submarine.

The lights also revealed a couple of lionfish hiding in the reef, and although these fish are beautiful to behold with their delicate, fan-like fins and red and white stripes, they pose a serious threat to biodiversity on Cayman’s reefs.

There were even a couple of conch lurching across the ocean floor, and of course the rare treat of seeing the bioluminescent creatures of the ocean twinkle outside the view port when the sub’s lights were dimmed while resting on the bottom.

The corals and sponges were also revealed in all their colourful glory, as the tour guide pointed out interesting sights and answered questions from a group that ranged in age from young children to pensioners.

All too soon the sub began its ascent again, and with very little ceremony we found ourselves back at the surface, the colourful world below a fast-fading memory. The last sight we caught of the sub was as it slipped beneath the waves again, brightly illuminated.

Night dives take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, weather allowing.   WH

For more information on Atlantis Submarines, call 949-7700, e-mail atlantis@candw.ky or visit atlantisadventures.com.