Author: Marisa Cecchetti
The best way to enjoy a diving holiday in the islands
Cayman is to get on a well-equipped boat and go there between December and
April.
Searching on the web I came across the American naval fleet among the most
equipped for divers that I already knew from a previous beautiful trip
to Coco Island: Aggressor Fleet (www.aggressor.com ).
To reach the Cayman Islands you can rely on the web by searching for flights,
or to an agency that deals with this location, in any case it is important to know that
If you need an overnight stay before boarding, it is best
do it outside the Cayman Islands as the prices are very high (for
example in Miami or other nearby cities where you land).
In the case of DIY, it is advisable to consult the sites regarding the validity
of the passport to transit through the USA and all the related regulations, because in the
The United States is very precise when it comes to controls and it is good that
any flight stopovers are spaced several hours apart.
The boat is obviously equipped with compressors also suitable for Nitrox mixes, it has
already has all the equipment for anyone who needs it, and has all the comforts
necessary for a holiday that is not at all tiring.
However, in the Cayman Islands there are also diving centers that operate from land.
The cruise itinerary starting from Georgetown to Grand Cayman, may vary
depending on the weather conditions, it is difficult to do all the activities in one week
the possible dives, but it is certain that those that are done give a great
satisfaction.
In the month of February when I went, only for a few
minutes there were rainy phenomena, a fair amount of wind, temperature between
27 to 30°C, mostly calm sea.
The sea water was around 26°C and there were no hot spots.
diving with particular sea currents. The maximum depth that is generally
it reaches -40 m and always remains in the curve with dives of approximately 45
minutes each.
Dives are unlimited (up to a maximum of 5 in a day)
including some nocturnal ones where it is possible to admire the slow walking of large
crabs.
It is a habit among Americans who are the majority of the guests of the
boat, carry out the predawn dive that is, dive in the early morning a little
before sunrise, and enjoy the sunrise underwater.
What do you see?
Wrecks to explore inside, large and surrounded by a lush fauna
Marine.
Lyon fish: it seems that due to human error the area
is infested with lyon fish which are devouring the food of the local fish,
for this reason it may happen that on some dives a guide uses a
trident to spear these beautiful fish to immediately feed them to the sharks in
so as to teach them to consider lyon fish as a main meal (so I
It has been reported). The possibility of tasting one of these cannot be excluded.
lyon fish masterfully cooked by the on-board chef (a delicacy!).
Sharks: those who just see divers get their mouths watering
in the mouth (it is not known whether for humans or for lyon fish), the fact remains that
Sometimes they get really upset when a more agile suitor steals their food.
and it may happen that they vent their "hungry anger" on some diver (for
for example with a headbutt as happened to an American while diving);
the important thing is to calmly admire their perfect shape with your back to the reef!
Lobsters giants everywhere ambushed in some crevice
coral or walking on the seabed.
Barracuda solitary, trumpet fish, swarms of
jacks that accompany the diver in a relaxing dance.
Turtles stubborn ones that remain a long time pitching on a rock
in search of food.
But let's get to the main attraction of the whole cruise: the
races.
The Aggresso Fleet, for those who will be able to book on their own, is organised
very good in this sense: before leaving send a pdf file with some very important things
important to know including the fact that diving does not allow
gloves to prevent divers from being tempted to touch everything and ruin the reef.
Well I realized a big contradiction during a dive in
-4 meters in a swarm of rays. We arranged ourselves in a circle on our knees on the
sand and while one guide passed us food, the other took tourist photos
divers feeding and petting the rays.
Some rays closed in on the divers, some others bit the closed hand
containing food (as happened to me).
The photographer insisted on taking pictures until I told him not to take any.
more: honestly I didn't like that immersion, and in fact after a while I
I was also bored and went for a walk in the surrounding area.
Americans love these “adventures” to tell and do not take into account the
the fact that breeds are not domestic animals like dogs. Those ones there were
already waiting for the boat that passes every week to give them food already
soon.
At the end of the dive I met other guests and a couple of
American ladies were of the same opinion as me, as well as the fact that in every
underwater boat it is good to instruct and educate tourists in the best way from the point of view
from the point of view of respect for nature and its spontaneity (which happens in
other boats I have frequented previously, e.g. in Thailand).
I reported this to Aggressor Fleet Headquarters despite
an American guest had already told me that she had been feeling the
company without achieving results. It's probably the captain's choice.
not disapproved by the fleet.
In close I highly recommend a holiday
scuba diving in the Cayman Islands, where I advise against making purchases, however.
A big thank you goes to the crew of the Cayman Aggressor IV where
perceives a total democracy in carrying out any type of work
regardless of the hierarchical rank occupied.
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partial, of the text and images in this article without the author's consent.
