Cayman Brac trip report - November 2016

[KathyV]

That is somewhat perturbing. I just got back from Bonaire and the reefs were healthy with lots of fish everywhere. I'll be on Brac in a few weeks. I hope that the contrast will not be as severe as it sounds.

Go to the "Cayman Picture of the Day" thread at the link below and then search "This Thread Only" for "Brac" to see very many underwater photos taken by Scubaboard members while diving Cayman Brac. I don't think you should worry about finding healthy reefs and lots of fish around Cayman Brac.

Cayman - Picture of the Day

I love Bonaire and the Caymans, they are each wonderful in similar/different ways. I can tell you that you are likely to see more turtles, rays, and groupers on Brac then on Bonaire and you have a better chance of seeing sharks.

I was just looking at some articles published by reef research organizations. Bonaire, Little Cayman, and Grand Cayman have been studied extensively and have documented their determination to protect their reefs and natural beauties. I saw references to Bonaire as the "biodiversity hotspot of the Caribbean" and to Little Cayman as one of the best places in the Caribbean to "try for a Century Dive" to spot 100 species on a single dive.

Brac hasn't been studied as much as these other sites - mostly just to confirm that they have a large, healthy, breeding, grouper population. But Brac is only 5 miles from Little Cayman and they are governed by the same environmental protection regulations so you are likely to find healthy reefs and fish IMO.

The water in Cayman is colder during January than in Bonaire, I don't know if there is a seasonal variation in fish numbers in the Caribbean due to water temperature? Maybe somebody else has the answer to this question?

But if the weather cooperates - which is big factor for any dive vacation - I think that you will have a lovely dive trip to Cayman Brac; and it is such a small, funky, friendly little island - with natural beauties both above and below the water - that you may come to love it, too.

I will be interested to read your trip report!

 

[diver0008]

Expect nothing and you won't be disappointed. If you enjoyed Bonaire best stick with what worked.

I have been to both and hard to compare the two. They each offer their own/different types of reef environment . My dive buddy doesn't even dive Caribbean anymore, he goes to the SE Asia. He likes to see a lot of stuff.

My observation of divers over the past 40 years of diving is their great expectation of what lies beneath and the resultant letdown when reality hits. Take what nature gives you and be thankful you are there and not here in Michigan in the frozen cold. Cheers

My perturbation (can I say that?) in hearing that the reef is not bustling with life, is not due to the possibility of me being dissapointed personally, but more a little sadness that maybe something wonderful is fading. There are many reefs that have been overfished, abused, unprotected, or neglected. I hope that is not the case here.

 

[vincent54]

My one destination in the Caribbean, just to the North of Brac, is Cuba. People say it's what Brac was 50 years ago. As a Canadian, it would be the top of my travel destinations in the Caribbean. I'm not certain I am able to travel without some special permit. But Brac has short, inexpensive flights to Cuba everyday. Might be a good side trip???? Enjoy the Groupers, they are coming back like gang busters!!

 

[diver0008]

My one destination in the Caribbean, just to the North of Brac, is Cuba. People say it's what Brac was 50 years ago. As a Canadian, it would be the top of my travel destinations in the Caribbean. I'm not certain I am able to travel without some special permit. But Brac has short, inexpensive flights to Cuba everyday. Might be a good side trip???? Enjoy the Groupers, they are coming back like gang busters!!

Cuba is very nice for a quick and cheap holiday in the sun. But the diving is very lacklustre from my experience, although I have heard some good things about one particular live-aboard.

 

[releck97]

Stake Bay is awesome. I love Lynn's Reef and Greenhouse just west of Radar and Atlantis, or Sylvia's, Nina's Miniwall in NE bay. All fun dives. When it calm's down, the dive at King's Point Condo(southside) and Public Beach are always epic. Always have success finding Reef Sharks there. Easy ladder access at King's and a shower at PB..

Frankly, all dives are easy in and out. The little miniwalls are about 100 yards out and the swim across the sand flats to the wall is always entertaining. North wall has a nice slope, south wall more dramatic. February is full of grouper, awesome.

The boat dives are morning and one afternoon. Dive the shores at night, evening and early am and you might find Brac actually has quite a bit of life. Nothing wrong with the boats, but I seem to see more stuff on my own. Excluding a few extreme West end dives, all boat dives are accesable from shore. Just find a calm area, hoist the dive flag and jump in.

Cheers

Thanks Vincent!

 

[AggieDiver]

My perturbation (can I say that?) in hearing that the reef is not bustling with life, is not due to the possibility of me being dissapointed personally, but more a little sadness that maybe something wonderful is fading. There are many reefs that have been overfished, abused, unprotected, or neglected. I hope that is not the case here.

One thing I have noticed over the years diving both Little Cayman and Cayman Brac is that your perception of the reef, the fish life, etc. can be heavily affected by the conditions. When it is bright sunshine above, the wind is calm, and the water is gin clear, you get amazing color down below, and even the smaller fish range high off the reef, resulting in the appearance of a lush and vibrant ecosystem. When the skies are cloudy or overcast, the wind is up, and the water vis is impaired by surge and faster currents, the reef appears darker, the fish hug the reef to avoid the current and surge movement and are harder to see, and the colors of the corals and fish alike are muted; giving the overall appearance of a half-dead reef. Also, diving the south side of either island due to choppy conditions, means diving sites that are generally deeper and as such will have fewer vibrant colors due to the lack of red and yellow wavelength light transmission.

I always feel sorry for folks that go to the Sister Islands during the late fall and/or early winter and wind up only diving the south side of the islands in surging, mediocre visibility. If that had been my only experience with the diving there, I would probably have a vastly different perception of the sealife and diving quality as well.

 

[Flutter]

We are headed back to the Brac for our 3rd year in a few weeks. We were in Bonaire in early Feb, and Curacao a year ago. We enjoy returning to each destination because of their differences. I would agree with @vincent54 , expect nothing but a new adventure, be appreciative for everything. We are among the few who ever see the amazing creatures we see under the sea - that alone amazes me. And not being young anymore, I realize my diving days are limited. Each one is a treasure. And as @AggieDiver mentioned, when the sun shines, the colors are always especially brillant. (Our first year shore diving at the Brac was cloudy, windy, with rain, low viz, & surge - everyday. I even heard JAWS music playing in the background - in my mind). Yet, poor weather can happen anywhere. We returned because we are shore divers; the Brac offers something different, and the people there are really welcoming.

 

[rbahr]

We have been to Little Cayman 2x, Cayman Brac 2x, and Bonaire 8x. Overall We prefer Bonaire and Saba over the Caymans. Have seen shark in both places, frog fish, and lots of stuff in general. I just feel the diversity and the life in general is better in Bonaire. Probably one of the best dive we had in the Caribbean was a 2 hour dive with Dee Star in Bonaire in the shallows what a diversity! If I want to go deep, there are plenty of places in both locations. If I want to see a wall, I can spend an hour with a 10ft square section and be thrilled...