And the Dive Gods Smiled

[BrackaFish]

After spending a few weeks cleaning up after Hurricane Milton, I decided to head down to Cayman Brac to do some diving diving and get away from all the election hoopla. As things turned out, the night of the election, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were hit by TS Rafael or Hurricane Rafael....and people wonder why I don’t buy Lotto tickets. Cleaning up again was getting old , so this morning I decided to go snorkeling and hunt the Sly and Tricky conch. Things started out at a fast pace and I got 3 within 10 minutes. Another couple of minutes later I bagged the 4th one. One more and then I would have my limit of 5. Piece of cake I thought. Pride goeth before the Fall. 30 minutes later still looking for #5, but I was not bored as I had a nice nurse shark swim me for a 1/2 minute, saw 2 big tarpon and a small yellow ray along with the usual fish. And many, many conch that were all too small. Then glancing off to the side I see a baggie floating along and thought I better get that before some turtle tries to eat it. Cursing the stupidity of some people and thinking I should get paid for this, I stuffed the trash into my catch bag. As I looked down, I saw the very large Conch #5. And the Dive Gods Smiled. Be Safe

 

[Still Kicking]

Nice job and good story!


I thought for a second you were going to say there was a wad of cash or other contraband in the baggie. Lol.

 

[BrackaFish]

Nice job and good story!


I thought for a second you were going to say there was a wad of cash or other contraband in the baggie. Lol.

lol Not with my Luck. And if I was so Lucky I don’t think I would be posting about it on ScubaBoard. No offense of course

 

[tursiops]

After spending a few weeks cleaning up after Hurricane Milton, I decided to head down to Cayman Brac to do some diving diving and get away from all the election hoopla. As things turned out, the night of the election, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman were hit by TS Rafael or Hurricane Rafael....and people wonder why I don’t buy Lotto tickets. Cleaning up again was getting old , so this morning I decided to go snorkeling and hunt the Sly and Tricky conch. Things started out at a fast pace and I got 3 within 10 minutes. Another couple of minutes later I bagged the 4th one. One more and then I would have my limit of 5. Piece of cake I thought. Pride goeth before the Fall. 30 minutes later still looking for #5, but I was not bored as I had a nice nurse shark swim me for a 1/2 minute, saw 2 big tarpon and a small yellow ray along with the usual fish. And many, many conch that were all too small. Then glancing off to the side I see a baggie floating along and thought I better get that before some turtle tries to eat it. Cursing the stupidity of some people and thinking I should get paid for this, I stuffed the trash into my catch bag. As I looked down, I saw the very large Conch #5. And the Dive Gods Smiled. Be Safe

It is indeed open season, I assume you did this on scuba, which I believe is not legal.

Conch Survey – Cayman Islands Department of Environment

doe.ky

"You may collect conch from the open zones, but you can only take 5 per person or 10 per boat per day, whichever is less, and not during the closed season which runs from 1 May through 31 October each year. In addition you cannot collect conchs using SCUBA."​

 

[tridacna]

OP wrote that he was snorkeling.

It is indeed open season, I assume you did this on scuba, which I believe is not legal.

Conch Survey – Cayman Islands Department of Environment

doe.ky

"You may collect conch from the open zones, but you can only take 5 per person or 10 per boat per day, whichever is less, and not during the closed season which runs from 1 May through 31 October each year. In addition you cannot collect conchs using SCUBA."​

 

[tursiops]

OP wrote that he was snorkeling.

Yes, I see that now. I apologize to the OP. His description of what he saw and did misled me.

 

[BrackaFish]

Yes, I see that now. I apologize to the OP. His description of what he saw and did misled me.

At least in Cayman Brac the rules on harvesting and no take zones are very strictly enforced and the DOE does a very good job here. The people also do a nice job of being watchful and on the lookout for violations. I cannot say what goes on in the rest of the islands. Be safe