Cayman Islands-Reefs recovered??

[Beaner]

I remember hearing the Cayman Islands & surrounding reefs were slow to recover after a few hurricanes in 2005.
Can anyone report on the recent/current dive conditions of Little Cayman/Grand Cayman?
considering a July dive trip if conditions are good.

[cdavis]

Can't help you on Grand Cayman, no personal experience. What I have "heard" is that coral in Grand Cayman is in substantially worse shape than Little Cayman.

Reefs on Little Cayman were unaffected by storms in 2005 or since. We dove it in 2006 and 7 Generally the coral is in decent shape. Mid-depth heads are fine, Stag and elkhorn have suffered like everywhere, parts of the wall have some diver damage that you can see if you think about what you are looking at. If you started diving in the last 10-15 years, it looks great. If you dove the Caribbean in the 60s, the difference is all too apparent. In general, I can recommend it, very highly. Some of the best Caribbean diving available today.

There is a thread in freediving stories with quite a lot of underwater video on LC, "Little Cayman, cdavis and unirdna reporting" or something like that. Also has lots of other info about LC. Might even give you the freediving bug.

Connor

[Beaner]

Connor,

Thanks for your info. Will come in handy before we plan our next dive trip.
Beaner