Tony Land: The Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are known as a premier diving destination. Located in the western Caribbean, between Cuba and Central America, the Cayman Islands comprises 3 islands - Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman.
The Cayman Islands are known for their abundance of sea turtles - Christopher Columbus first named them “Las Tortugas.” Hawksbills and greens are the most common, with the occasional loggerhead. The underwater topography, the abundance and diversity of marine life, and the warm, clear tropical waters offer fantastic diving and underwater photographic opportunities for persons of all levels and abilities. Grand Cayman’s North Sound is known for its plethora of curious Southern Caribbean Stingrays, and the shallow waters here offer amazing over-under images during sunrise. Caribbean Reef Sharks are frequently seen on Grand Cayman’s east-end, along with the occasional hammerhead. The north side’s main wall features a fantastic drop-off, while West Bay is known for its superb and colorful sponges.
However, I spend much of my time on the mini walls. The mini walls are exactly what they sound like - a reef section starting between 25 and 45 feet and then descending down to about 70 feet. The sandy patches adjacent to the mini wall are where I find most of my macro critters. The depth lends itself to excellent long dives and plenty of chances to discover tiny subjects. One of my favorite activities is to conduct rebreather dives on the mini wall with the Nauticam EMWL lens. I use my rebreather as the lack of bubbles allows me to get closer to marine life, and it lets me perform dives that are hours long.
The main deck guns of the MV Kieth Tibbets, Cayman Brac.
A composite image of the USS Kittiwake at night, West Bay, Grand Cayman
Juvenile Shortfin Pipefish (Cosmocampus elucens), off the house reef at Lighthouse Point, Grand Cayman.
A shy feather duster (Megalomma sp.)and the Guardian of the Reef, Divetech house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman
A spinyhead blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) peeks out of his burrough on the Divetech house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman.
A longfin damselfish (Stegastes diencaeus) checks out his reflection in the camera, Princess Penny’s Pinnacle, North Wall, Grand Cayman
A juvenile striped sea hare (Navanax inermis), found in the sand off the Lighthouse Point main wall, Grand Cayman
A goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) in a school of silversides, USS Kittiwake, West bay, Grand Cayman.
A green moray eel (Gymnothorax funebris) hiding inside the Guardian of the Reef statue, Divetech house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman.
A flagfin blenny (Emblemariopsis carib) sitting on a sponge, Divetech house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman.
Fluro image of a small great star coral cluster (Montastraea sp.), MV Kieth Tibbets, Cayman Brac.
A swallowtail headshield slug (Chelidonura hirundinina), off the mini wall on Divetech’s house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman.
A spotted moray eel (Gymnothorax moringa), off Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman.
Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) swooping past, Little Cayman
A shortfin pipefish (Cosmocampus elucens) off the main wall in West Bay, Grand Cayman
Lettuce leaf sea slug (Elysia crispata) taken during a night dive, Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman
Flabellina engeli, taken on a sea sponge at night, off Bloody Bay Wall, Little Cayman.
Squid (Sepioteuthis sepioidea), taken during a night dive off Divetech’s house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman.
A spinyhead blenny (Acanthemblemaria spinosa) awash in his blue sponge home, Divetech’s house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman.
Profile of the Guardian of the Reef statue, Divetech’s house reef in West Bay, Grand Cayman.