Nature's underwater jungle

ReefLady · 11-18-2003, 10:39 AM

Posted on Thu, Nov. 13, 2003

DIVING

Nature's underwater jungle

Clear waters of Cayman Islands provide unique diving

SUSAN COCKING
scocking@herald.com

"CAYMAN ISLANDS, British West Indies -- For relaxing, warm-water scuba diving with little current, nearly unlimited visibility and plenty of critter antics, the Cayman Islands are tough to beat. Swim a little way off the beach or dive from a boat and encounter coral-and-sponge jungles teeming with fishy residents. Swim out deeper to the edge of coral walls and you might see really big creatures passing by in the midnight-blue depths. All put on a show, whether they mean to or not.

Underwater photographer Maggie Martorell and I recently dived with marine artist Guy Harvey, a four-year Grand Cayman resident, on one of his favorite reefs known as Tarpon Alley. This spur-and-groove formation got its name from a particular cut that is home to as many as 100 juvenile tarpon -- most in the 10- to 15-pound range.

We swam right up to them, around them and through their ranks as they hovered motionless, and they never scattered. Some would move a couple of feet in one direction or the other when we got close, but not one fled the area."

Read full article here

tankgirl · 11-21-2003, 09:40 AM

This forum is Too Cool!!! Thanks, Teri & Trav!!!
Cayman is my favorite dive destination!! I get away from the hustle of town and stay at the Cayman Dive Lodge (East end of the island).

This is Stingray City; voted the best dive in the world under 20'.

tankgirl · 11-21-2003, 09:41 AM

The divemaster from CDL, feeding a big green eel;

essmaker · 11-21-2003, 09:42 AM

I am so ready to go diving. With winter coming on in Colorado, it makes being away from the ocean doubly worse!

tankgirl · 11-21-2003, 10:02 AM

I think this guy felt a little overwhelmed;

tankgirl · 11-21-2003, 10:04 AM

Hi ess!
What's your favorite dive?

Here's another from Cayman;

tankgirl · 11-21-2003, 10:06 AM

This was Bora Bora;

essmaker · 11-21-2003, 10:06 AM

Frog fish night diving in Bonaire was excellent, though wall diving in Roatan was pretty cool.

Other than that, Ice diving is one dive I will never forget! Notice I said "one" dive. ONe is enough for me.

I throw some pics up later.

tankgirl · 11-21-2003, 10:16 AM

ess,
Cool - I want to get to Bonaire!! Have heard so many great things about it from divers.
My hubby is going to Roatan (Anthony's Key) in January. I don't think I want to go on that one because I don't want to board our dog yet. He's rescued.

wooddood · 11-21-2003, 10:26 AM

great pics tg thanks.dave.

Mary · 11-21-2003, 10:55 AM

TG, those are some great dive pics! I've heard so much about Cayman Islands and hope to go there next summer for a vacation.

tankgirl · 11-21-2003, 07:52 PM

Thanks, wooddood & Mary!

Mary, that's awesome!!! Will you be diving?

Teri, I couldn't resist putting up the pics! Would love to hear more about your diving on Cayman?

mwrager · 11-21-2003, 08:30 PM

Great we have a dive forum. I want to go diving, but i can not i have to wait until my shoulder heals up.

jks1 · 11-21-2003, 08:32 PM

Kelp beds off San Diego Ca are awesome

NaH2O · 11-21-2003, 08:34 PM

TG - great pics. I loved stingray city until one climbed onto my back...it was too close for comfort!

11-18-2003, 10:39 AM	#1 (permalink)
ReefLady Golden Moray Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 2,029 View Gallery Karma Komment	Nature's underwater jungle Posted on Thu, Nov. 13, 2003 DIVING Nature's underwater jungle Clear waters of Cayman Islands provide unique diving SUSAN COCKING scocking@herald.com "CAYMAN ISLANDS, British West Indies -- For relaxing, warm-water scuba diving with little current, nearly unlimited visibility and plenty of critter antics, the Cayman Islands are tough to beat. Swim a little way off the beach or dive from a boat and encounter coral-and-sponge jungles teeming with fishy residents. Swim out deeper to the edge of coral walls and you might see really big creatures passing by in the midnight-blue depths. All put on a show, whether they mean to or not. Underwater photographer Maggie Martorell and I recently dived with marine artist Guy Harvey, a four-year Grand Cayman resident, on one of his favorite reefs known as Tarpon Alley. This spur-and-groove formation got its name from a particular cut that is home to as many as 100 juvenile tarpon -- most in the 10- to 15-pound range. We swam right up to them, around them and through their ranks as they hovered motionless, and they never scattered. Some would move a couple of feet in one direction or the other when we got close, but not one fled the area." Read full article here

11-21-2003, 09:42 AM	#4 (permalink)
essmaker Midas Blenny Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 110 View Gallery Karma Komment	I am so ready to go diving. With winter coming on in Colorado, it makes being away from the ocean doubly worse! __________________ ~~There was once an empty spot in the living room, and now....

11-21-2003, 10:06 AM	#8 (permalink)
essmaker Midas Blenny Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 110 View Gallery Karma Komment	Frog fish night diving in Bonaire was excellent, though wall diving in Roatan was pretty cool. Other than that, Ice diving is one dive I will never forget! Notice I said "one" dive. ONe is enough for me. I throw some pics up later. __________________ ~~There was once an empty spot in the living room, and now....

11-21-2003, 10:26 AM	#10 (permalink)
wooddood the wood dude Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: CARMEL. INDIANA Posts: 3,450 View Gallery Karma Komment	great pics tg thanks.dave. __________________ 120 gal/in wall tank/starboard substraight/2 250 watt 10k xm metal halides/ 4 55watt 03 actinics/150lbs lr/scwd on return/scwd on a closed loop/aquaclear aquatics 200 pro wetdry w/skimmer. ask all the questions you have if we cant answer it we'll make up some thing. remember patience is the key to a kick ass reef. dave.

11-21-2003, 10:55 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mary Evil Angel Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: SE Michigan Posts: 269 View Gallery Karma Komment	TG, those are some great dive pics! I've heard so much about Cayman Islands and hope to go there next summer for a vacation. __________________ *~ Michigan Reefers ~* *~ My Photos ~*

11-21-2003, 10:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
tankgirl Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: So. Ca Posts: 1,476 View Gallery Karma Komment	ess, Cool - I want to get to Bonaire!! Have heard so many great things about it from divers. My hubby is going to Roatan (Anthony's Key) in January. I don't think I want to go on that one because I don't want to board our dog yet. He's rescued.

11-21-2003, 07:52 PM	#12 (permalink)
tankgirl Reef Lobster Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: So. Ca Posts: 1,476 View Gallery Karma Komment	Thanks, wooddood & Mary! Mary, that's awesome!!! Will you be diving? Teri, I couldn't resist putting up the pics! Would love to hear more about your diving on Cayman?

11-21-2003, 08:30 PM	#13 (permalink)
mwrager Elegance coral Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Gilbert AZ Posts: 1,068 View Gallery Karma Komment	Great we have a dive forum. I want to go diving, but i can not i have to wait until my shoulder heals up. __________________ Mark Some days I realy feel old! http://www.reefsanctuary.com/Banners/RS_banner3.gif

11-21-2003, 08:32 PM	#14 (permalink)
jks1 Achilles Tang Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Jacksonville, Fl Posts: 876 View Gallery Karma Komment	Kelp beds off San Diego Ca are awesome __________________ John Tank: 29g glass Pumps: Mag5.0 return - (3) rio 100 PHs Lighting: (1) 150w XM 10K/(2) 30W actinics Equipment: Aqua C Urchin skimmer- CPR Fuge, Titanium Heater -Red Sea wavemaster Pro Tank: 210g 1/2" Acrylic, dual overflows, 75g glass sump w/ 20g fuge. Pumps: Mag24 return - (2) MAG24s running 2 closed loop systems. Lighting: (3) 400w XM 10K/(2) Custom Sealife 96w PC - 25w dimmable incandescent Moonlight Equipment: Aqua C EV180 skimmer - CR500 calc reactor - Titanium Heater - AquaLogic single Stage Temp Controller - Aquanetics 1/5Hp Chiller - Neptune sys aquacontroller

11-21-2003, 08:34 PM	#15 (permalink)
NaH2O Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 1,928 View Gallery Karma Komment	TG - great pics. I loved stingray city until one climbed onto my back...it was too close for comfort! __________________ ~Nikki~

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