Travel

A trip to Grand Cayman isn’t complete without a visit to the world-famous Stingray City. A dawn trip provided calm seas and beautiful light in which to photograph this highly underrated, yet iconic species, the southern stingray
 

The Cayman Islands have long been a much-loved dive destination for divers of all experience levels and passions. From wrecks to caves and caverns, to beautiful reefs, to big animals, to the tiniest macro critters, the Caymans have a little bit—or a lot—of everything. As a Cayman newbie, I was along for the ride, and just went wherever Ocean Frontiers, the East End’s premier dive oepration (celebrating 30 years this year), took me. We visited the world-famous Stingray City, did macro dives on seagrass flats, and even dove Little Cayman’s spectacular Bloody Bay Wall.

The Caribbean in general seems to be overlooked by more-experienced divers and photographers, especially from North America and Europe, who often desire to visit more “exotic” destinations. While I am no exception, having not dived the Caribbean for nearly 20 years, this region of the ocean will always have a special place in my heart, as it is where I did my first several dive trips, way back when.

These bright blue waters bring back a lot of nostalgia, and from a photographic perspective, they hold a wonderful diversity. The diving is easy, the scenery beautiful, and the marine life obliging. I spent a very short time in the Caymans and yet it proved to be one of my most productive trips as an underwater photographer. It may not conjure up a sense of adventure like Raja Ampat or the Galápagos, but being a short hop, skip, and a jump from where I live in Florida, I imagine I will be back many times in the future.
 

Light pierces a cavern in the reef: The Cayman Islands are sliced by caverns and cuts, caves and grottoes and they make for wonderful places to play with shapes, light, and shadows
 

Three juvenile bluehead wrasses hold position near a yellow tube sponge: Small reef scenes like this are abundant in the Cayman Islands, though finding a pleasing arrangement and some obliging fishes is not as easy!
 

One of Ocean Frontiers’ dive boats, easily visible, silhouetted against the bright blue Caribbean sky, from 40 feet below: Massive sea fans adorn many of Cayman's shallower reefs
 

While neither Grand Cayman nor Little Cayman will ever be accused of being a macro paradise, there are abundant macro subjects to be found if one slows down and looks a bit closer. This goldenphase roughhead blenny, about the size of a small matchstick, was peeking out from an old worm hole in a coral head
 

Spott’s Beach is a popular spot on Grand Cayman for both beachgoers and underwater photographers. This particular morning, a massive school of scad was being hunted by predators of every shape and size. The primary antagonists were a trio of crevalle jack, seen here ripping through the school on an unsuccessful attack
 

Spott's is famous for its population of green turtles. While they can be shy and difficult to approach, certain individuals are clearly unbothered by the presence of people underwater and just go about their daily business
 

While common, it is hard to argue against fairy basslets being among the most stunning of all fishes in the Caribbean. Their shocking purple and gold coloration is unmistakable, even down deep or beneath overhangs—their preferred habitat. Catching one swimming right-side-up proved to be a challenge but with patience, it could be done
 

An absolutely miniscule spotted drum: At this age and size (about the size of a dime), spotted drums swim like moths fly—not very well and all over the place! It takes some real patience to capture a nice image but the juveniles especially are such unique and beautiful fish, it is worth the effort
 

Hawksbill, loggerhead, and green turtles are regulars around the Cayman Islands and some of them are so unbothered by people, a calm and respectful photographer can just follow one around for an entire dive
 

There are so many big, beautiful sea fans in the Caymans that one just can't help but photograph them, especially in beautiful conditions
 

Little Cayman is famous for its friendly Nassau groupers. Not every individual is bold or comfortable, but the biggest ones certainly are and we found cooperative fish on every dive. This fantastically patterned grouper allowed a very close approach for some frame-filling wide-angle portraits
 

Another of Little Cayman’s aforementioned friendly Nassau groupers: This was the largest individual we came across, and he was unbothered by my presence, even visiting a cleaning station several times over the course of the dive. A small neon goby can be seen on the bottom part of his upper lip—looking for leftover scraps
 

The Cayman Islands aren’t the sharkiest place in the world but Caribbean reef sharks are seen with some regularity on both Grand Cayman and Little Cayman, and they aren't especially shy!
 

Flamingo tongues are ubiquitous around the Cayman Islands. On certain sites, it seems that every gorgonion and sea fan has its own flamingo tongue—or several. Their prevalence does not make them any less beautiful nor any less photogenic
 

One of Stingray City’s namesake southern stingrays: While this site can get busy, it is popular for good reason. For photographers, the constantly changing light and sandy bottom provide a nearly endless array of different compositions and aesthetics
 

The author would like to thank Ocean Frontiers for their hospitality and top-notch dive operation.