Brac night diving?

[ronski101]

we are going to Brac next week and were wondering if the night diving is worth it. We dove there in 06 and if i recall the tongue and groove reefs were not night dive friendly. Don't want to lug them heavy lights and not use them.

 

[keyshunter]

Night dives in the Sister Islands can be fun.

I don't know what type of heavy lights you have, but I carry a pair (one for backup)of small Princeton Tech 4AA lights which I pack in my carryon. They give plenty of light for night dives in the clear Cayman waters. I do see idiots who lug cave lights and blast them into the eyes of the critters (and other divers), and then complain about the night dives. With a small light, using only as much of the beam as necessary, it is possible to get up close and personal with the nighttime denizens. Many savvy photographers use only their modeling lights.

 

[ronski101]

I have no interest in discussing the virtues/negatives of heavy lites but I am still wondering if the nite dives at cayman brac are worth the extra $ and missing out on their great food? To be more specific, what are the typical denizens to be seen? With 55 lb weight limits I would like to avoid taking our Princton shockwaves if there is questionable nite diving.

 

[rickyd]

Ron,
I'll be there next week also ( arrive the 23rd) , with a group of 14; Whalers Dive Club. I know a number of us are also interested in a nite dive.

 

[Deac in the Wake]

I dive with a UK AquaSun which feels like an aircraft landing light (about as bright too). I had no problems packing it and using it on Brac night dives. If you're going out with Reef Divers, they do have a 10 diver (iirc) minimum for night dives so that may be a catch if you bring night gear but don't get to use it.

I'm biased because I love night diving but Brac and LC are phenomenal places to night dive. Especially if you and your buddy are comfortable enough to move away from the group and hover (or kneel in sand if possible) for a few minutes with your lights off.

And for what it's worth, we routinely take luggage, dive gear for three, and non-perishable food over to Brac without running afoul of weight limits. We have had to pick up a delayed bag but it has always come in later the same day or the next day. No biggie.

 

[AggieDiver]

I have really enjoyed the night dives I have done on Brac and LC, and usually haven't enjoyed them elsewhere we have dived. The Tibbetts is a good night dive location if they will take you around to it.

 

[scubadada]

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Two of the best night dives I've done were last summer on Little Cayman at Mixing Bowl and Lea Lea's Lookout. The latter dive was spectacular with lobster, octopi, turtles, hermit crabs. reef sharks, and a huge school of squid. Personally, I would take advantage of any night dive available.

Best, Craig

 

[caymaniac]

I've also enjoyed the night dives off the Brac. The last time I took my son along, it was his first night dive (it was entertaining and enjoyable) and here's a list of what we saw:
sleeping turtle
nurse shark
a school of squid
various sleeping reef fish
three octopus
several species of red shrimp
plenty of lobster