Gregory PiperGrand Caymans Beautiful coral growth is some of the healthiest anywhere. Lush greens, oranges, reds, purple and blue fill my lens everywhere I look. Conservation and forward thinking keeps this island layered in lush healthy coral growth.
Gregory PiperA Nassau grouper getting a cleaning at Round Rock.
Gregory PiperTurtle at Trinity Cave after a trip topside to catch a breath. With a turtle farm on the island releasing 30 percent of their turtles every year back into the wild, you are always guaranteed to see these guys hanging out of every site in Grand Cayman.
Gregory PiperThe most beautiful sea fans are always found on sites here in Cayman. A sea fans biggest enemy is divers. I have seen more fin kicks destroy sea fans then anything. Do what every good diver does, be aware of your surroundings. Getting a picture is not worth destroying anything down here. Before you get a camera, work on your buoyancy skills. Insure what your looking at today is here tomorrow.
Gregory PiperThe wreck of the Doc Paulson, a former cable laying vessel.
Gregory PiperThe wonderful sea fans on the stern of the Doc Paulson wreck.
Gregory PiperA diver swims through the wreck of the Doc Paulson.
Gregory PiperA southern stingray out for meal of garden eels on the bow of the USS Kittiwake.
Gregory PiperThe imposing bow of the USS Kittiwake shipwreck.
Gregory PiperThe bow deck and bridge of the USS Kittiwake.
Gregory PiperEpic Divers divemaster checking herself out in the mirror located in the officer's head, in the midship of the USS Kittiwake.
Gregory PiperEpic Divers, one of the best dive operations on the island. If you're looking for small groups, lots of space and a great dive vacation give them a call.
Gregory PiperA Brazilian Basslet in an elephant ear sponge on Governors Wall.
Gregory PiperA slender Juvenile filefish on Governors Wall. I love shooting these, in fact they are one of my favorite Macro subjects on the island.
Gregory PiperA yellowhead jawfish carries and cleans his eggs at Killer Pillar.
Gregory PiperA nurse shark patrols the ocean floor at Aquarium South.
Gregory PiperA female yellowhead jawfish checking out my dome port on Sunset House's House Reef.
When I can no longer control the urge and I must feel the warm waters on my skin there is only one cure, Grand Cayman. Maybe it’s the short flight, the friends I have made over the years, or maybe there just isn’t another destination in the Caribbean that has so much to offer. The why is not important, its the cure I crave so I pack up my gear and the next morning I’m off.
Banking left and looking down at Sunset House, we pass the coast and the excitement builds. The door opens and that warm island salt air fills the cabin. I am first off, first through customs and 30 minutes later I am doing a giant stride off the sea wall into sunset house reef. The cool water engulfs my body and my soul smiles as I start my dive heading out over the sand chutes and into the coral reef. This is one of the best shore dives in the world and my decision to dive before assembling my camera gear slaps me in the face as I spot a yellowhead jawfish with his eggs, doing a little house cleaning. Shortly after a banded jawfish with his eggs also taunts me with yet another missed photo opp. Its funny diving without a camera, I almost don’t know what to do with my hands.
As fate would have it the opportunity is not missed, over the next three days I spot more then a dozen different yellowhead jawfish with eggs on a variety of dive sites up and down the west side of the island. “Killer pillar” offers the best show with three different males showing off and cleaning their eggs. “Hammerhead Hole” turns out to be another sweet spot for shooting these proud papas, as well as “Aquarium South” and the wreck of the “Oral Verde”. These guys seem to be everywhere and if you prove your patience the payoff is incredible.
On Saturday I hook up with Freddy and his crew from Epic Divers. He graciously agrees to take me out with a few Cayman friends to a couple of my favorite sites. Epic has one of the best dive boats in Grand Cayman and their boutique operation means unmatched service and my favorite, no crowds.
We start the afternoon off with the “Doc Paulson” while we wait for the crowd to disperse from the USS Kittiwake wreck. The Doc is one of my favorite sites in Grand Cayman. Covered with the most beautiful purple sea fans and coral growth you always seem to come across the usual suspects –a giant green moray, a turtle or two, garden eels, a pair of not so camera shy French angle fish and my favorite a juvenile queen angel that I get to watch grow up on every trip. The highlight comes when I spot a leopard flatworm cruising across the sand, one of only three that I have ever seen outside the indo pacific.
After the Doc, its back aboard and off to the now empty Kittiwake. I love diving here and getting to see the transformation from wreck to reef. Already coral is sprouting up everywhere and we are greeted by a southern stingray shopping for garden eels off her bow. I spend some time in the officer’s head watching a grouper then one of Epic Divers dive guides grooming themselves in the mirror. Afterwards we head back to the deco chambers checking out all the incredible macro opportunities this wreck has. All the sudden we are surrounded by queen parrotfish, at least two dozen who are unusually curious and swim so close you could hug them. Epic Divers does not disappoint and I thank them with a Steak dinner at Copper Falls that night.
Sunday and Monday are equally as Epic. Logging 5 dives a day always makes for a great long weekend. As I head out Tuesday morning to the airport my winter blues have subsided for now. As always Grand Cayman never disappoints and it is never goodbye, it’s always just “see you later.” I take in one last breath of island air as I board the jet home, see you again for silversides in June.
