A weekend in Grand Cayman!

Written by Sue.

On the 15th April I spoke to my daughter Katie,who is at the moment working in the Grand Cayman underwater filming with her husband Alex,she was telling me about the accident she had whilst on a night dive in which the sea decided to turn rough. Just as she was trying to get out of the sea she was banged against the rocks a few times resulting in a badly dislocated shoulder.She now has a sling on and some damaged tedons which is extremely painful, this also means that she cannot dive until she is better.

After a long conversation (like we girls do) she came up with the idea of me perhaps flying out for a visit as she was off work and it maybe the only chance I get to see her for sometime, as she is flying to Honduras on 2-5-08, to do yet more diving! Obviously, I jumped at the chance, the only down-side was Pete would not be able to come with me because of Amber ,our chocolate lab,so after a few minutes pondering, on my part,shall I? or should'nt I? it was yes, I will! Katie booked the flight on line for Friday 18th April returning on Sunday the 20th, that was it, i was going to the Cayman Isles!

Pete drove me to Tampa airport for the one and ahalf hr flight to Grand Cayman, which is 600 miles away from Tampa, and just south of Cuba (bit of info there). On arriving at a very small pretty airport,I spotted a very tanned young lady (I'm not jealous!) with her arm in a sling, its was lovely to see Katie after such a long time,we walked to the car where Alex was waiting,looking just as tanned,they both looked liked island locals

Grand Cayman Airport

As I had only took a backpack with me, we did not bother going to their small bungalow to unpack my things, we just went straight to a bar that was on the sea front, lovely!

We enjoyed catching up in this lovely beach front bar!

We caught up with all that they had been up to, which was quite alot, Katie had learnt how to film underwater alongside Alex (who is already trained at underwater filming & photography.) They both work for a company that take customers out on a dive boat to a place called stingray city,this place is on a sandbar a few miles out to sea.

Many years ago the story is that the Grand Cayman had a major problem with mosquitos, it was so bad that horses and cattle were being suffocated through their nostrils by them, so of course when the fishermen came to shore with there catch, they were covered with mosquitos.So they came up with the idea of cleaning the catch on the sand-bar, out to sea, where they did not get bit, but it did not take long for the stingrays to know were food was served,and low and behold, a buisness or two was formed. Take food and paying customers , feed ,pet the rays and film them,then let the paying customers buy the DVD to take home. Nice job, if you can get it!

After breakfast on Saturday Katie surgested going for a snorkle, which was lovely,such a good variety of fish ,even saw a young stingray,all these over a wreck, just off the beach,but I must be getting nesh ,I didnt think the water was very warm, but the air temperature was well into the 90,s and really humid, so it was nice to cool down in the water.

Alex came to meet us after he had finished work,and dropped us off at the surprise of the weekend which was a helicopter flight over the island,and WOW!was that something I didnt expect! The sea was the most amazing colours of blues and aqua I have ever seen ,and I was taking photos like crazy(with the new camera we had bought)we even saw stingray -city were Kate works,and the rays with the customers ,what a treat that was! Absolutley amazing, something I will never forget!

My daughter and I, Just after the helicopter tour

This is 'Stingray City' The black dots in the water are 6ft stingrays! look closely!

Such stunning colurs of the sea!!

A view towards Grand Cayman.

Grand Cayman Marina and Royal Yacht Club!

Like all good things,they have to come to an end,after a lovely walk along the beach Sunday morning ,taking batdog (Kate was puppy sitting, check out those ears!) for a walk too,she did not like the sea much!

Saw this boat as i was walking along the beach on Sunday Morning.

This was 8am on Sunday morning, a walk along the beach before heading off to the airport.

Batdog! The puppy kate was 'dogsitting'. Anyone seen Robin or The Joker?

We made our way to the airport,it was a sad farewell for us both,because we both know it will be a long time befor we see each other again, in such a wonderful setting.Thank goodness for the internet.

I can understand Katie having itchy feet,we should all go and do something like this.Why wait?

I just wish Pete could have been with me on this great weekend,but we are just beginning our adventures,and we will have lots of tales to tell!

Watch this space!!!