Cayman Expands Marine Protection and No-Take and No-Dive Areas

[Doctorfish]

I too dived Babylon with Cayman Diving Lodge about 1990, then again with Wall to Wall 2009-10 and most recently from shore. Surprisingly, the site has not changed very much over the years apart from less obvious black coral. One of the great Grand Cayman dives. I suspect this site is in good shape because of less diving pressure than most others.

I personally am delighted that the Marine Protection rules are going to be more extensive. Hopefully they can be enforced.

Based on the map, is White Stroke one of the sites near Rum Point to be eliminated? If so, too bad.

 

[KathyV]

I too dived Babylon with Cayman Diving Lodge about 1990, then again with Wall to Wall 2009-10 and most recently from shore. Surprisingly, the site has not changed very much over the years apart from less obvious black coral. One of the great Grand Cayman dives. I suspect this site is in good shape because of less diving pressure than most others.

I personally am delighted that the Marine Protection rules are going to be more extensive. Hopefully they can be enforced.

Based on the map, is White Stroke one of the sites near Rum Point to be eliminated? If so, too bad.

As far as I can tell, the Dept. of the Environment has not yet published a list of the specific dive sites planned for closure. A lot of folks are looking at the DOE maps and trying to figure out which sites will be affected, but the overlapping zones make it difficult to interpret the maps. There's a lot of speculation going on but nothing official that I have found - not yet anyway.

I've heard mixed comments about diving Babylon as a shore dive, how was your experience? Was it a long swim out to the reef and were there any issues with currents? Who did you rent the tanks from for the dive?

 

[scubadada]

Hi @Doctorfish

When I saw the map, I also immediately thought of White Stroke Canyon, a favorite of mine too. Did a swim/drift from White Stroke to Pinnacle Reef once and did a DPV dive from White Stroke to 3B's Wall. I guess we will see

 

[Doctorfish]

It was quite a long swim out but we were lucky to have a no wind, no current day. The tanks, as I recall were from Sundivers but they generally do not like to rent tanks for offsite use. We were lucky that nothing kicked up but I don't think I would do this as a shore dive again. You are on your own in the middle of nowhere. Better as a 3 tank boat dive with one of the west side operators or a regular boat dive with OF.

 

[scubadada]

It was quite a long swim out but we were lucky to have a no wind, no current day. The tanks, as I recall were from Sundivers but they generally do not like to rent tanks for offsite use. We were lucky that nothing kicked up but I don't think I would do this as a shore dive again. You are on your own in the middle of nowhere. Better as a 3 tank boat dive with one of the west side operators or a regular boat dive with OF.

Did it a few times with Wall to Wall on their 3 tanker before I stayed at Compass Point and dived with Ocean Frontiers

 

[KathyV]

The Cayman DOE has now published maps listing the public moorings that are within the no-dive zone on GC and LC and that will be closed due to the new marine park expansion.

Public moorings affected by new marine parks areas : Grand Cayman Department of Environment

 

[scubadada]

9 Grand Cayman sites

 

[Joneill]

9 Grand Cayman sites

Map shows 8?

 

[scubadada]

Funny, I see two at Rum Point, four in the west, two in the south, and one in the east. Did you count the 2 pin mooring in the west, shown in yellow, Lost Treasure Reef?

 

[KathyV]

Funny, I see two at Rum Point, four in the west, two in the south, and one in the east. Did you count the 2 pin mooring in the west, shown in yellow, Lost Treasure Reef?

I missed that one also, so it is 10 total as the news originally reported, 9 on GC and 1 on LC, thanks!