With New Year’s resolutions being broken left and right, most people have recognised that the good intentions they had in January has trouble standing up against the reality of the eleven other months out there. It seems to apply to getting fit even more than to many other resolutions.
Cayman’s beaches and near shore reefs are very well known to local sun seekers, but the mangroves that line much of the shoreline still remain a mystery to many. It is this mystery that Cayman Kayaks aim to unlock with the mangrove tours the company offers.
Wide-angle underwater scenic shots often benefit from having a diver in the photo. A diver helps to fill in the empty water in the background, adds depth to the photo, and adds size perspective.
Boat maintenance is a very important part
of enjoying the water.
For the longest time, Neil Martin and his
business partners had wanted to open a proper surf shop in Cayman.
“Hold it,
hold it!” The sharp orders came from captain Anthony Mendillo on the bridge.
“Steady, steady…OK…go NOW!” I rolled off the transom of the “Keen M”, and was
surrounded in a swirl of bubbles, in a blue void.
Coral Reefs
are at the forefront of climate change and at least two of the three main
impacts you will have noticed: coral bleaching and storm damage, both of which
derive from increased sea temperatures.
Granted, with a world class
offshore finance sector, you are likely to see a couple of suits and ties
around. However, when it comes to clothing that really goes with the island
life style, nothing fits the bill better than surf wear.
The sinking of the former USS Kittiwake as an artificial
reef off Seven Mile beach took place a year ago this month. It was a momentous
occasion, one worth celebrating and remembering.
When the hot spots in Grand Cayman are mentioned, East End may not be
the first location that springs to mind. In fact, ‘sleepy fishing
village’ may be well ahead of ‘hot spot’.
Around the festive season Cayman’s waters tend to be busier than ever as locals and visitors alike enjoy the beaches and ocean, whether swimming, snorkelling or boating.
Tucked away on the far north side of Little Cayman is a place where scientists and students gather for research projects on reef resiliency, coral diseases, coral recruitment, coral fluorescence, deep and shallow reef connectivity and monitoring invasive species such as the tasty yet venomous lionfish.
A certain mystique and romance surrounds antique coins salvaged from
shipwrecks, due as much to the manner in which they were lost as to the
story of their rediscovery, and are of interest not only to collectors
but to anyone with even a passing interest in history.
The sinking of the Kittiwake was all over the news recently. However,
the trail had been blazed by another ship 15 years before, with the
first arguably more unique than the second.
Of course, these options are also much more easy going on the budget, which makes it a lot more accessible, and you don’t even have to own a waterfront property with a dock to really enjoy it.
Imagine a whole new world filled with strange and colorful creatures that will go about their lives as you float above them.
The Tarpon
September 6, 2011 We had tied the boat up on the mooring at a renowned dive site on the Grand Cayman’s north wall, called Tarpon Alley.
“For in the end we will conserve only what we love. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.”
Regardless of all the activities available on land, it is once visitors
enter the water that they truly experience the Cayman Islands.
I was amazed at how many different creatures have taken over this strange piece of machinery as though it were the most natural thing to live in.
Of course, just which boat you do get can influence just how much fun you can have on it, as some are much more suited to watersports activities than others.
So it’s summer, and this time around you didn’t get to go off and spend two months in Europe or wherever else... some of us have to work, right?
With summer upon us, many a boy’s fancy will turn to a spot of boating as long days and balmy nights beckon.
I have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful fish, and by telling
about them, I hope you will come to a greater appreciation of a living
fish, rather than one served on a platter.
Grand Cayman may not be the biggest island around, but try
circumnavigating it on a Jet Ski and suddenly it seems a whole lot
bigger.
The Flowers Sea Swim on 18 June is one of the sporting highlights of the year for athletes and non athletes alike.
Many people associate Automotive Art with serious cars and car care. However, in Cayman, many people lavish at least as much love on their boats and WaveRunners as on their cars, so it is only logical that the company would extend its services to include these toys for boys as well.
Seagrasses are found worldwide in shallow lagoons and are widely recognised as a valuable resource to both humans and the surrounding environments.
Links to fishing tend to run deep in families. An example of that can be seen in Melissa Rewalt and her rise to competitive angling.
It’s a good thing that a fishing trip tends to be about the experience as much as the catch, for as anyone who has been on a fishing trip well knows, it can be a little bit hit and miss.
The water is one of the great attractions of Cayman and whether you budget stretches to a pleasure craft, a Jet Ski, or can just about manage a kayak or a rod and reel, Kirk Marine has a wide selection of ways to have some fun on the water.
As the home port for the Cayman Islands International Fishing
Tournament, the Barcadere Marina will be the focus of much of the
excitement during the tournament.
A pair of tournaments got Cayman’s competitive fishing scene reeling in big fish early.
For some, speed is everything. However, to truly appreciate the beauty of Cayman, it helps to slow right down, and a kayak snorkel safari fits the bill perfectly.
Cayman’s two great resources are its crystal clear waters and white sand beaches. Bring these into a sporting event and you have a winner on your hands.
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.
Although beach weddings
are the bread and butter when it comes to wedding ceremonies in Cayman,
strangely enough few have taken that to the next level – underwater.
The Acid Test
March 01, 2011 Global warming is an ogre of our time; it’s big and frightening, it’s absolutely awful to look at and to cap it all, it smells terrible. Sadly we are discovering that this ogre has an even uglier sister, she goes by the name of Ocean Acidification.
Having a ball
March 01, 2011 Walking on water used to be something ordinary humans were just not
destined to do – it inevitable ended up with a sinking feeling.
This happy little fellow made me laugh the moment I saw it. I like
looking for subjects underwater that excite my imagination. I do not
know what you see, but I thought of an orchestra conductor. How many
other things can it make you think of?
It’s not every day an angler can say he would have had a record catch if the fish had not been cut.
How many people see a need for something in the world, yet only see and
never do? Roger Muller is thankfully one of those rare human beings who
not only recognised a chance to improve others’ lives – he made it
happen.
The sinking of the ex-USS Kittiwake on January 5, 2011 was the biggest boost to the diving industry since Stingray City.
During a fishing tournament at Tropic Star Lodge in Panama, Andi
Marcher, owner of Ragazzi Restaurant, caught and released a 500 pound
blue marlin. The massive fish was caught using a live 5 pound bonito as
bait with a 20/0 circle hook and took 35 minutes to reel in and release.
It was the biggest of three marlin he caught during the tournament.
The Central Caribbean Marine Institute has a close working relationship
with KPMG, who are long term sponsors of its Ocean Literacy programme
and CCMI recently helped the company to co-ordinate its Make a
Difference Day. The MADD day is an annual initiative conducted by 150
KPMG offices around the world, all carried out in order to help their
own particular communities.
It was a titanic struggle between the big fish and the young angler, but
after some 20 minutes of fighting, Cline had managed to bring the fish
within gaffing range, and could finally take a well deserved rest.
John Donne told us that no man is an island and it appears that this is a
truism for all life on earth as no known organisms exist in isolation.
Over the past year we have learned a great deal about tiger shark
migrations in the western Atlantic and Caribbean. In a combined effort
by the Save Our Seas Foundation and the Guy Harvey Research Institute,
shark populations around the Cayman Islands are currently being
investigated.
Cayman Sessions
November 1, 2010 All you’ll need is “a pair of boardies, your towel, sun gear, and bags of motivation.” James Grainger’s words resonate in the minds of beginning windsurfers before they go out for their first session in Cayman.
Worms are not usually known for their beauty, but there is and always
should be, an exception to every rule and in this case it is the
Spirobranchus giganteus or the Christmas tree worm, a polychaete worm
that makes its underwater home in hard corals.
During the Second World War, Cayman was on constant lookout for German
U-boats, which were suspected to be lurking in the tranquil waters
around these Islands. The sinking of the Como Agua off Grand Cayman
proved that these fears were not unfounded.
The wahoo was the highlight of a father and son fishing trip which also
produced three smaller wahoo and a couple of dolphin. The wahoo was
caught with a ballyhoo deep on the downrigger and took 30 minutes of
fighting to board.
Bioluminescence is probably a better known phenomenon in the Cayman
Islands than most places in the world. The green light emitting from our
corals or plankton is experienced by many of us in the Caribbean as we
venture into the water at night.
Cayman is recognised as one of the best diving destinations in the
world. However, diving might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Fortunately
it is not necessary to miss out on the underwater wonders of the Cayman
Island entirely if you are not into diving.
The Jacks
September 1, 2010 On just about any dive site in the Cayman Islands, as you roll into the
water, the first type of fish you will encounter will be a jack,
probably a bar jack. Numerically the bar jack is the most common neritic
pelagic fish in the Caribbean and occupies a wide variety of niches,
both shallow and deep water. This species epitomises this large,
widespread and successful family of fishes, the Carangidae.
Record temperatures bring disturbing news reports of heat related deaths
and the familiar calls to seek shade, limit outside work and drink
large quantities of water.
The Cayman Islands has a very strong maritime tradition, which is not
surprising as these Islands were settled by sailors after all. The
Cayman Islands Sailing Club continues the tradition of enjoying the
ocean and harnessing the wind.
Summertime in Cayman means time spent at the beach. Although most people
have their beach day planning down to a fine art, there are always
elements that can be tuned to make everything run even smoother. After
all, a day at the beach can be anything but a stroll in the park, as
anyone who has gone home covered in sand and with an impressive sunburn
will testify.
For a ringside seat for a competition that promises all the glitz and
glamour of previous years, grab a ticket and watch local history unfold
at the 32nd annual Miss Teen Cayman pageant, Saturday, 28 August, at the
Lions Centre. The event is a popular fixture on the local calendar, so
get there early and stay late: gates open at 5.30pm and the pageant
starts at 6.30pm.
The ideal way to complete a staycation experience is to take to the
water. Whether it be taking a cruise on a catamaran, fighting a big fish
or just fooling around on a personal water craft, Cayman has options
for whatever level of adrenaline you can stand.
Cayman is famous around the globe as an excellent vacation destination,
not least for the attractions available once you are tired of merely
lying on the beach. However, those fortunate enough to live here rarely
get to experience many of the features that make Cayman such a
favourite.
Some people are looking for peace and quiet when they make a staycation
escape, and the Reef Resort in East End certainly provides this. Only
some 40 minutes from George Town and with a long stretch of beach all to
itself and all oceanfront rooms, the resort is perfect for a quiet
getaway.
Many folks commute up and down the Seven Mile Beach corridor daily, but
that is quite often as close as they get to the beach, at least during
the week. However, a quick staycation break at one of the resorts on the
Seven Mile Strip can fix any beach withdrawal symptoms quickly.
Living on a tropical island is something residents of the Cayman Islands
take for granted. Yet what many view as home is a vacation paradise for
visitors. Although the winter tourist season can be somewhat crowded,
summer is the perfect time to experience Cayman through the eyes of a
tourist.
Cayman is becoming a popular port of call for cruises of a musical
nature. In September, the Sailing Southern Ground cruise will take to
the water, leaving Tampa on 2 September aboard the Carnival Inspiration.
Splice the mainbrace! This year’s Pirates Week is gathering pace at a rate of knots and will be here afore ye know it. The 33rd year of the world-famous family festival takes place between 11
and 21 November and will comprise a blend of active, culinary, heritage
and above all fun events.
Getting out onto the water is a big pastime
for many people on Cayman.
Ocean science
is one of the most relevant and important topics we should learn; yet it is one
of the least studied topics during our formative school years.
“We were slow trawling naked ballyhoo baits at about four knots and saw
two frigate birds close to the water so I positioned the boat about 500
yards in front of the birds and slacked back the baits underneath them,”
recalls Carl Edwards.
In 1989 the world watched in horror as the Exxon Valdez disaster dumped
thousands of gallons of oil into the Alaskan seas.
The internet has become an integral part of our daily lives. Whether it
is access to e-mail, social media sites or online gaming, it has brought
the world to our living rooms like no other technology before.
It’s June and that can only mean one thing - time for Jet Around Cayman
again. This will be the 14th edition of the event, put together by
Monster Media and LIME.
“I started to head home fishless when I saw a single frigate bird. I
followed it for about 5 minutes and I saw the flying fish erupt from the
water. As I got there my spinning rod went off.
Cayman’s coral bleaching was noticeably widespread last year, and for
someone who has been diving in Grand Cayman for many years, it was the
worst I have seen. My first dive on the North wall in May would normally
fill me with awe at the lush underwater flora and fauna
For many, West Bay is the last place they think of going on a weekend.
Yet the district has much to offer and will surprise those who have
never ventured out there.
Rock the Boat
June 2, 2010 Sundays have become synonymous with brunch. However, what to do after
brunch? Most people are too chilled out to do anything other than lounge
around, but don’t want to see the last bit of the weekend go to waste
either.
Heading out to Rum Point is a regular weekend pastime for many. However,
the drive out, even though short, can be daunting, at least by Island
terms.
Angler of the Month: Cherie Auger - The wahoo is a highly prized sport fish, as it is capable of putting up a
good fight.
The perfectly calm waters off Seven Mile Beach may be a boon to swimmers
and snorkelers, but makes it impossible for surfers to have fun on the
strip. Yet a relatively new sport, or actually an old ...
With clear, warm water all around, Cayman is a paradise for anyone with a love of the ocean, whether it involves snorkelling, fishing or just spending a day out on the water.
Cayman’s environment, especially its oceans, is one of its greatest assets. Yet our everyday lives can have a major impact on this asset.
Prize won is a full day tour courtesy of Captain Marvin from 9.30am – 2.30pm. They will take our winner to Stingray City, Coral Gardens, a stop for conch (in season) then off to Kaibo where they will serve up the conch as an appetizer to a scrumptious beach cook out of fish, chicken, rice, salads and coconut bread.
When trolling doesn’t yield success and the fish are there but finicky,
try offering them something with a little life to it. Nothing can entice
a strike like a lively bridled bait, offering big tuna live bonito or
small blackfin tuna could make all the difference.
With wahoo season nearing its end it may seem like competitive fishing
is set to hit a lull. However this month sees the return of one of the sport’s biggest event.
Underwater CSI is being used to help identify and prosecute those who
continue to threaten the existence of our reefs and marine ecosystems.
Spending time on the water is usually about taking it easy. Of course,
even the tranquil catboat has been raced. Over Easter long weekend, the
normally tranquil waters off...
If you have a catch worthy of Angler of the Month, please
submit a photograph and details for the catch to eugene@cfp.ky. Prize
won is a full day tour courtesy of Captain Marvin...
Tuna at last
March 3, 2010 Finally we see the arrival of Yellowfin Tuna. It has been some time
coming. Schools of feeding tuna have been showing up over the last month
from time to time.
Trevor Amodeo’s career now could not be more different from the one he
left behind in Canada. For nearly the first half of his life his focus
was on cold and ice, yet...
Harness the wind
February 2, 2010 Extreme sport, by its very nature, might not appeal to everyone.
However, harnessing the forces of nature to propel yourself across the
surface of Cayman’s crystal clear waters has an appeal that is hard to
deny.
Skating is no longer a ‘boys only’ sport. As the skateboarding community
grows on Grand Cayman, more girls are taking up the sport at the Black
Pearl Skate and Surf Park. Ali Amos, manager of the Black Pearl, has been skating since 1986 and
has witnessed many changes in the sport. “When I first fell in love with skateboarding it was something that
girls just did not do,” she says.
Bringing together the high energy, hi-tech action of Jet Ski racing and
the traditions of Cayman, the East End Surf Challenge combines the best
of old and new. The event combines the best of tight circuit racing with offshore racing to produce heart-pounding action.
Fish tea is not really a tea as the name implies. This piping hot
concoction, seasoned with the hottest of peppers, is a soupy mixture
containing two of Cayman’s main staple dishes of long ago – fish and
ground provisions. Add a bit of thyme and some salt and you are well on
your way.
When trolling offshore in search of floating debris or feeding birds, which can be tell-tale signs of exciting action ahead, blind trolling and a little luck can sometimes pay off. Perhaps some large fish like marlin and dolphin may never have encountered a boat before and are drawn to ...
With no mountains to climb or rivers to raft, it might seem that Cayman has little to offer adrenaline junkies. Yet the warm waters and tropical breezes, that signify a relaxing day at the beach to some, are exactly what kiteboarders need to get their adrenaline fix.