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Lace Allenius: The Underworld of Grand Cayman

BY: Lace Allenius / 0 COMMENTS / CATEGORY: Articles

The island of Grand Cayman is a target destination for div­ers of all types. The Cayman Islands consist of three separate is­lands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. These islands host amazing underwater dive sites, and the water conditions are great all year round! Here, an abundance of diving opportunities can be found for novices and experts alike.

Caymanians all over the island en­joy the fantastic seafood and warm hospitality found in this region. It’s a real pleasure for divers to be steps away from the beautiful submerged sanctuaries Grand Cayman calls its own. The reefs and shipwrecks pro­vide a place for a multitude of beau­tiful fish to live. Divers can join this underwater world, and experience the colorful splendor for themselves.

Wreck, reef, and shore dives are of­fered throughout Grand Cayman, and the Sunset House Resort has an excel­lent reputation for being outstanding in this field. Sunset House offers un­derwater exploration such as trips to Sunset Reef. They have five custom dive boats to choose from. Cruising over the water has never been so ex­citing as when you’re heading toward your own personal diving adventure! Whether vacationing or looking to expand professional diving horizons, visiting the Caymans is an experience worth pursuing.

If one ventures to Sunset House and is interested in underwater photogra­phy, this is the place to be. If a diver doesn’t have an underwater camera, one can be rented at Cathy Churches Photography Shop located on site. In fact, several of the photographs within this article were taken by Jimmy Nel­son with the equipment supplied by this location. High-quality pictures are of paramount importance when capturing the images seen in Grand Cayman. These memories will last a lifetime, and excellent photos will en­hance your entire experience.

The Dive Shop at Sunset House pro­vides superior service, and the staff is more than happy to help you get geared-up for any kind of dive you de­sire. They offer morning dives with a tasty lunch break before heading back out into the Caribbean water again. Night diving is an option here as well! The certified pros will give you equip­ment and buoyancy checks in the shallow water right from shore, ensur­ing a safe and enjoyable dive.

The Cayman Islands have 250 dif­ferent dive sites. This number is ex­pected to increase to 365 in a short period of time. Stingray City is a well-known spot to swim with the massive stingrays found in this area. During most of the year, the water is approximately 80 degrees. All around the Cayman Islands, divers can peace­fully swim with gentle sea turtles. Eels and lobsters can also be seen in this tropical underwater setting.

Scuba diving in Grand Cayman is one of the most exciting things to do on the island! Many divers visit Sunset Reef. Here, 30 to 50 feet down, you can swim with game fish such as grouper, snapper, and tarpon! Also gracing the coral are reef fish like tangs, butterfly fish, damsels, and many others. When your boat arrives over Sunset Reef, it’s only a matter of gearing up and plung­ing into the water before you feast your eyes upon something truly special.

The experi­ence at this dive spot is nothing short of incred­ible. At the foot of the reef, there is a breathtaking statue of a mer­maid molded out of bronze. This is no ordinary mer­maid! She stands every bit of 9 feet tall, and exudes a striking beauty throughout the water. Here, div­ers can achieve once-in-a-lifetime photo opportuni­ties, and cherish this memory for years to come.

Heading out a little deeper, the LCM David Nich­olson landing craft can be seen resting in the sand. At 60 feet, this location is quite a sight! Scuba divers visiting this spot get the chance to wave at passengers on the Atlantis submarine when it happens to be passing through! If divers don’t wish to scuba to this dive site, they can get to it by boat. There is a buoy directly on top of the location, provid­ing a clear marking.

No matter where divers chose to explore, Grand Cayman offers natural aquatic beauty at its best. The water is always warm and the visibility is excellent, providing a second-to-none experience in the world of diving.

Many people flock to the Cayman Islands in order to pursue an unforget­table diving experience. This is a place where divers will continue to tell the stories of their adventures. Making the trip to this Caribbean destination is always worth the journey. Wreck div­ing, reef diving, and shore diving are certainly in store when you enter the scuba realm in Grand Cayman. And, it’s just waiting to be explored!

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