Grand Cayman

[ScubaLady]

This morning we visited Gary's Reef (on the leeward side of the island) and I spotted five lionfish, including one that was really big. This reef was a wall dive where the deep blue was absolutely wonderful to just float and view. I am always tempted to just keep diving deeper and keep going further out.

The second boat dive this morning was to Bullwinkle West where the swim throughs were incredible. I seem to be part fish because I can move through the depth changes of the swim throughs with very little trouble and rarely needing to equalize. As I talk them through with my buddies afterwards they are shocked that I can move through them so effortlessly. I feel very thankful to have such a good time diving and that it comes naturally for me. After all, I am on the gill transplant list. Any day now, I hope to get the call!!

Yeah, shore diving reopened this afternoon. So, I got five dives in today. Besides the morning boat dives, we did two afternoon dives and a night dive.

On the first afternoon dive we went out to the landing craft just past the mermaid. The Atlantis submarine went down just before we entered and we had hoped to see it, but no such luck. We did see some good sized snapper and I spotted a very tiny lionfish. The surge is still pretty strong.

On the second afternoon dive, I started out with one DH regulator giving me trouble, so I moved to my backup DH regulator. I discovered it had a hole in the intake hose, so I fixed it with electrical tape and, much to everyone's amazement, headed out. Unfortunately at about 800 psi out, my regulator started spitting quite a bit of air out, so I headed back with Super Mario. The guy was great. He never left my side and kept his hand on his alternate air supply the entire time. He took his buddy responsibilities very seriously and I am glad that he is the one who chose to escort me back to the sea pool.

This evening we returned to the landing craft and unfortunately, one of our guys was running short on air and was slightly nervous about the return trip to the sea pool. So, ScubaLady with her lightening speed and mighty kick, towed him back to the sea pool against a very strong current. Given that I got a high five and a quick hug for my efforts, I think I did the right thing.

Tonight I have been working on gear and have the primary DH regulator going again (I think). Will test tomorrow morning on the first boat dive.

I talked a nice Canadian (named John) into doing a pre-dawn dive with me, so we are going to hook up about 6am for another jaunt to the landing craft.

While I didn't see much as far as new and exciting critters today, the coral, the diving in general and the challenges have made for a great day of diving!!

[Robohips77]

No doubt you have the fever! I think the Indiana crew and Ohio crew should get together at a half way meeting point over the winter and share lies,stories, photos and videos. I am sure there are at least 10 or 12 of us. Safe diving to all.

[ScubaLady]

On Thursday, I was hoping for six dives.

John was scheduled to meet me at 6:00am. The time came and went, no John. I was getting a little anxious and the sea pool was tempting me. Given they keep repeating that NO SOLO diving is allowed, I just kept pacing and wishing he would get there. At 6:15am I was trying to figure out if a lady could knock on a gentlemen's door and decided that since it involves a date for diving, that wouldn't be considered too forward. I did see a shooting star which helped pass the time and the stars were so very bright! Finally, at 6:20am he showed up and we were in the water by 6:25am. We went out past the landing craft to the wall. I did a 108' dive and was having a really great time until I saw three yellow tailed snapper. That immediately made me start thinking about breakfast, so I was ready to head back to the sea pool.

We did two boat dives yesterday morning. The first was Great House Wall. It was a wonderful dive. We were finally back to the wayward side of the island with very, very smooth seas. We had a great dive and saw a sea turtle as we were returning to the boat.

Our second dive was Devil's Grotto. Incredible dive. The dive master took us through one of the finger reefs which they fondly call "The Nursery." He told us that we would see baby fish of every species in the Cayman Islands. He was right. It was an absolutely fabulous dive and the sea was just teeming with life. There were also cathederals where the natural sunlight cast a beautiful band of light on the rock and coral. I would recommend Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto to anyone visiting Grand Cayman and looking for an incredible dive.

We did two afternoon shore dives. I did another 100' dive and when we came back in the seas were starting to roll. It was dark off in the distance and we could tell a storm was coming in. We had a quick surface interval and then did a very shallow 40 minute dive to finish up the day. The joke's on me again....my buddies are saying the way to slow me down is to get me to my fifth dive. I hear I was clocked at normal diver speed on my second afternoon dive. Had a great time shooting video and just playing around in the shallows (40' and less). When we got in the seas were really rolling and we learned our night boat dive had been cancelled. Unfortunately, they closed shore diving; so I only got five dives completed. One of the dive masters here has seven dives in a single day, so that's my new goal.

On Friday, we started off with a double rainbow and churning seas. The dive master told us the boat had to crest 10' waves getting it over to the leeward side this morning. We were back to the calmer side of the island for two morning boat dives. We did Bullwinkle East again and then we did Greg's Reef named Sloping Beach Reef. We had several great swim throughs, lobsters and crabs. It was a splendid morning of diving and a good way to wrap up the week. We were scheduled to go to Stingray City again in the afternoon, but that was cancelled due to the weather.

In total, I got 23 dives in this week. I was scheduled for six more that specifically got cancelled and would probably had done another morning dive to make the number an even thirty if the weather had prevailed.

The dive op was great, the food was good, the weather was good and bad. We had a great time and I will probably be back soon.

I am off to Florida again in 11 or 12 days and looking forward to my next diving adventure with the Vintage folks at Ginnie Springs in January.

[ScubaLady]

Sadly, ScubaLady is heading back to the cold Indiana weather. But, more warm weather diving will quickly get here for her!! Low tomorrow will be two degrees farenheit in Indiana. Florida, here she comes!!

Karl, I have your rum cake in my bag. Did you know it was made in Florida?

[Emilio Largo]

Scuba Lady,
Thanks for the excellent travelogue. Sounds like a most excellent dive trip.

[1969ivan1]

Becky is a smuggler!

[JES]

Scuba Lady,
Thanks for the excellent travelogue. Sounds like a most excellent dive trip.

Ditto! Safe travels and we look forward to seeing you in Florida.

[ScubaLady]

Becky is a smuggler!

Oh, she's more than a smuggler. Get PeanutKing to tell you about her Computer hacking capabilities aptly demonstrated in Bonaire during the July of '10 dive shop trip.

[1969ivan1]

Welcome back to the Snowy Tundra.

[ScubaLady]

This is terrible. From 78 to -4. I spent 90 minutes shoveling snow on Monday morning and just kept thinking .... there is something wrong with this picture.

My only consolation is that I don't live in Wisconsin or Minnesota where they got 22 inches of snow. I'd still be shoveling.

[swimjim]

I was in the sweet spot for this last storm. Just to the North of me, with in 10 miles they got 12+ inches of snow. We got a lot of rain and then only about a 2 inch snow fall. I sent the boy out to shovel this one. With the bottom falling out of the thermometer were getting a good iceburg build up on Lake Michigan.
I was thinking the Florida Springs would be nice, but I hear they even have temps in the 30's. Now, that's not right!

[Bryan]

57 right now. Tomorrow 70, Friday 75....The news of our demise is greatly exaggerated.

[simonbeans]

Right, Florida, Sunshine State and . . . . .

[Bryan]

You are aware that the weather in Florida is not the same throughout the state and that Oranges grow in many areas....But there I go again with that crazy talk.

[1969ivan1]

So is this the Global Warming that AL promised us?