Clearly Cayman
The Buddy Line Summer 2017
Clearly Cayman Newsletter | Summer 2017
Kid’s Dive & Stay For Free
Save Up To $1,400 Per Family*
Photo Credit: Dirk Peterson
At our resorts, young divers of all ages can perfect their skills and just have fun.
- World‐class diving in calm, Caribbean waters
- Valet diving service that takes the work out of diving
- Family‐friendly environments that inspire lifetimes of memories
Call us or consult your dive travel professional to learn more.
The Perfect Fit (for a Dive Vacation)
If you’ve been diving long enough, you remember when scuba gear came in any color you wanted—as long as it was black. Many resorts are still stuck in that one‐size‐fits-all mode (some fit better than others), but not Clearly Cayman Dive Resorts. We have three unique resorts—each with its own personality to enable you to select your perfect vacation spot.
Little Cayman Beach Resort is an intimate Caribbean oasis on an island with only 150 residents (when everyone is home). You’ll enjoy world-class Reef Divers Valet Diving in renowned Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park and dine on sumptuous chef‐prepared meals. Spend evenings just counting stars in the sky or enjoying the conviviality of other divers and locals at our outdoor Beach Nuts Bar. Karaoke, anyone?
Cayman Brac Beach Resort provides guests with a modern, casual ambiance. Enjoy daily menus of delicious foods prepared by Chef Gregory and his team, with creations designed to entice and delight diners of all ages. Reef Divers Valet Diving makes exploration of local marine life and the M.V. Captain Keith Tibbetts wreck easy and fun. For something different, try hiking, rock climbing, or spelunking on Brac’s eastern end, with its hilly terrain and easily accessible caves. At night, enjoy stargazing from our hot tub or from the poolside Tipsy Turtle Bar as you relive your day’s dives.
If you’re undecided between wanting a peaceful diving getaway, or the excitement and crowds that only Georgetown and Seven Mile Beach can provide, Cobalt Coast Resort may be right for you. It’s tucked away in the West End of Grand Cayman on a lovely, tropical property – just a 20-minute cab or van ride to all the action you could want, and a short ride aboard a Reef Divers’ boat to popular dive sites like the Kittiwake and Stingray City. All Cobalt Coast dive packages come with shore diving (weather permitting) on our beautiful house reef or the fabulous North Wall, which is within sight and a short swim from our resort. Choose from popular and sumptuous à la carte meals served beach side or at Duppie’s, our outdoor pub.
Calendar of Events
August
- 2 National Ice Cream Sandwich Day
- 4 International Beer Day
- 14 National Creamsicle Day
- 25 National Banana Split Day
September
- 4 Labor Day (U.S.)
- 12 National Chocolate Milkshake Day
- 19 Talk Like a Pirate Day
- 22 Autumn Equinox
- 30 Yom Kippur
October
- 4 National Vodka Day
- 5 World Teachers’ Day
- 9 Columbus Day (U.S.)
- 21 Sweetest Day
- 31 Halloween
November
- 9 Cayman Pirates Week (thru 11/13)
- 11 Veterans Day (U.S.)
- 19 International Men’s Day
- 23 Thanksgiving (U.S.)
- 28 National French Toast Day
You’ve Got a Friend (or Two)
Look for these friendly faces to help you feel at home on your next visit to one of our resorts.
Meet Gregory, Cayman Brac Beach Resort Chef
For Chef Gregory, this is an encore performance at Cayman Brac Beach Resort. He first graced our kitchen in 2003 and returned in March to whip up more food magic for guests. Chef is known for crowd‐pleasing creations like lobster bisque prepared by simmering lobster heads, onions, garlic, celery, and carrots. After straining it, he adds tomato paste, white wine, a little tarragon, chili flakes, and seafood stock, finishing it off with some heavy cream.
“I first learned cooking from my Mom back in Jamaica, who taught me that food is about more than nourishing bodies—it feeds souls. I want resort guests to feel this love in my food and when they go home, to take with them a refreshed energy and spirit that great diving and great meals can fuel.”
When not working, Chef Gregory enjoys taking it easy by spending time with his family and young daughter Akhila. Don’t be surprised if you see him on your boat, since he also loves diving.
Meet Colin, Cobalt Coast Resort Bartender
Work isn’t a four‐letter word for bartender Colin who comes to Cobalt Coast Resort from County Tipperary, Ireland. His stage is our outdoor bar, Duppie’s, where he’s a beverage wizard with the beautiful Caribbean Sea as his backdrop. Besides keeping thirsts quenched, Colin is known for filling the air with laughter as shares playful conversation and stories that make people happy they’re at his bar.
“I get my energy from guests staying at our resort,” says Colin. “They entertain me with many of their own stories as I’m telling them mine. As guests are leaving, I love seeing their smiles, knowing in some way I’ve contributed to vacation memories I hope they will cherish their entire lifetimes.”
Colin came to the Caymans because he fell in love with the weather and the water. He’s a diver, although spending time with his two young children and wife take priority in his life these days.
Helpful Hints to Make Dive Travel Easier
No Tools in Carry-On Bags Passing Through CI Airport Security
If you have dive gadgets that look like tools, remember to pack them into your checked bags. Cayman Island regulations prohibit anything in carry‐on bags that looks like a tool, including the tiny Allen wrenches you use on your GoPro and other photo equipment.
Airport screeners may confiscate tool‐like devices or give you the option to go back to the ticket counter and put them in your checked luggage. Unless it’s easily replaceable, we suggest saving yourself the frustration by just checking it.
Note: Some air carriers are changing their check-in requirements for flights from international airports back to the US. Please check with your air carrier to reconfirm how much in advance of your return flight they want to you arrive at the airport.
If you have a great tip to share, please submit it to editor@clearlycayman.com.
Clearly Cayman Dive Log
Find out why these are some of our staff’s favorite dives
Little Cayman Dive Shop manager Sharon came to the Caymans from Cape Town, South Africa, and has worked for our company for nine years. Jackson’s Reef and Wall are near the top of her list as favorite dives off Little Cayman. They’re located on the north side of the island off Jackson’s Point in Jackson Bight, thus the reef’s name. Sharon usually finds turtles, stingrays, horse-eye jacks, barracuda, hogfish, and garden eels in the shallower areas of the reef (25’–45’) and loves the scenic vistas and swim‐throughs off the deeper wall—whose top is about 50’—where she looks for tarpon, eagle rays, and even sharks.
I’ve Seen That
Photo Credit: John Kotovsky
The adorable balloonfish (Diodon holocanthus) is an odd‐shaped swimmer that belongs to the Porcupinefish family. These fish (aka spiny puffers) have the unique ability to draw in water to greatly inflate their bodies as a defense against potential predators. Balloonfish have long spines, which are always in an upright position or become upright when they inflate.
Ballloonfish:
- Are generally very shy and will retreat into the reef if they sense you’ve spotted them
- Instead of teeth, have fused plates on the top and bottom of their jaw, which they use to crush and then dine on marine snails, sea urchins, or small crabs
- Are poor swimmers as result of strangely shaped bodies, so they generally are out searching for food at night
- Are a benthopelagic species, meaning they both rest on the sea floor under the “shade” of soft coral or slowly swim in the water column just above the reef
- Are preyed upon by larger piscivores (fish eaters), such as the great barracuda, eels, and sharks
Learn more about the marine environment from Katie Correia, Science Programme Coordinator at Central Caribbean Marine Institute, Little Cayman Research Center. For more info on the CCMI, visit www.reefresearch.org.