Happy New Year to all!
2009-01-14 @ 09:51:49
As January is well and truly upon us we have been enjoying some phenomenal diving here in Grand Cayman, not only from the boat but also right in our backyard at Sunset House. The water is warm (80 degrees) and life is plentiful. The Blue and Brown Chromis (Chromis Cyanea & Chromis Multilineata) are out in force; it’s been a particularly active spawning time for them over the past month and clouds of them are littering the water on a daily basis, feeding in the morning currents as breakfast literally drifts by. Along the wall, sites such as Eagle’s Nest, Sand Chute, Trinity Caves and Eagle Ray Rock have become particularly vibrant with these small fish and their early morning activities. It is also pretty spectacular to see them repeating the process at dusk, gathering food before night time sets in. We have also been seeing a large number of Caribbean Reef Squid (Sepioteuthis Sepioidea) right here in our backyard. As many as 30 have been seen hanging out together, and they can generally be found enjoying the afternoon sunlight as they hover in the shallow water around the shoreline. It has been particularly exciting to see them at night when they will actively follow diver’s lights, opportunistically using the light to capture small fish.
There has also been the recent of arrival of the Indo-Pacific Lionfish (not a native species as the name suggests). Lionfish were not naturally found in the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea until the 1990s when, it is presumed, release from aquariums saw them inhabiting areas around the coast of Florida. Since then they have spread along the coast of the USA and into the Caribbean; arrival in Cayman waters had for some time seemed to be inevitable. With stories circulating of sightings in Little Cayman and the Brac during the last year, it appeared that it had reached that stage, although many were hopeful that Grand Cayman was still safe. It seems that they have finally arrived and sightings have now been made (and verified) along the west and north sides of the island. Whilst they are a beautiful fish to see, the Red-Lionfish is also a large threat to the local underwater environment. Because of their voracious appetite (it is said that they will consume anything that will fit in their mouth!) and the lack of predators they have here in local waters, they could prove detrimental to smaller fish species in the Cayman Islands. There may be grouper large enough to consume the fish, but their venomous spines are more than adequate to protect them. We hope that their impact isn’t as significant as it possibly could be and will strive to assist the local Department of Environment should the need arise.
Conditions right now are quite simply stunning. The sea is like glass and it is like diving in gin! What better time to come dive with us – and if you do stop by, ask Andy where you can get some manish water!
There has also been the recent of arrival of the Indo-Pacific Lionfish (not a native species as the name suggests). Lionfish were not naturally found in the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea until the 1990s when, it is presumed, release from aquariums saw them inhabiting areas around the coast of Florida. Since then they have spread along the coast of the USA and into the Caribbean; arrival in Cayman waters had for some time seemed to be inevitable. With stories circulating of sightings in Little Cayman and the Brac during the last year, it appeared that it had reached that stage, although many were hopeful that Grand Cayman was still safe. It seems that they have finally arrived and sightings have now been made (and verified) along the west and north sides of the island. Whilst they are a beautiful fish to see, the Red-Lionfish is also a large threat to the local underwater environment. Because of their voracious appetite (it is said that they will consume anything that will fit in their mouth!) and the lack of predators they have here in local waters, they could prove detrimental to smaller fish species in the Cayman Islands. There may be grouper large enough to consume the fish, but their venomous spines are more than adequate to protect them. We hope that their impact isn’t as significant as it possibly could be and will strive to assist the local Department of Environment should the need arise.
Conditions right now are quite simply stunning. The sea is like glass and it is like diving in gin! What better time to come dive with us – and if you do stop by, ask Andy where you can get some manish water!
