Map of the divesites I visited with Indigo Divers : Diving
1 Map of the divesites I visited with Indigo Divers
Sun rising over the West Bay dock as we get on the dive boat Feb 3, 2011 7:21 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
2 Sun rising over the West Bay dock as we get on the dive boat
I cannot recommend Indigo Divers highly enough. Chris and Katie Alpers run an incredible operation, six divers max, and often just four. The last two days I was solo with Chris. Jan 30, 2011 8:04 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
3 I cannot recommend Indigo Divers highly enough. Chris and Katie Alpers run an incredible operation, six divers max, and often just four. The last two days I was solo with Chris.
First divesite was Chain Reef, a Banded Coral Shrimp on a sea fan Jan 28, 2011 9:33 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
4 First divesite was Chain Reef, a Banded Coral Shrimp on a sea fan
Flamingo Tongue Snail, also on a sea fan. The markings are not on the shell, but on the snail's mantle that it extends to cover its shell as camouflage. Jan 28, 2011 9:33 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
5 Flamingo Tongue Snail, also on a sea fan. The markings are not on the shell, but on the snail's mantle that it extends to cover its shell as camouflage.
Chain Reef tube sponges Jan 28, 2011 9:37 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
6 Chain Reef tube sponges
Schoolmasters, a species of snapper accompanied by small Fairy Basslets and a section of the large encrusted chain that gives the site its name Jan 28, 2011 9:40 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman, Instagram
7 Schoolmasters, a species of snapper accompanied by small Fairy Basslets and a section of the large encrusted chain that gives the site its name
Vase sponge Jan 28, 2011 9:41 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
8 Vase sponge
Sea fan Jan 28, 2011 9:42 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
9 Sea fan
Dash Gobys scooting along the bottom on their pectoral fins Jan 28, 2011 9:47 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
10 Dash Gobys scooting along the bottom on their pectoral fins
Squirrelfish Jan 28, 2011 10:06 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
11 Squirrelfish
Another Flamingo Tongue Snail Jan 28, 2011 10:17 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
12 Another Flamingo Tongue Snail
A school of Blue Tangs on Chain Reef Jan 28, 2011 10:19 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
13 A school of Blue Tangs on Chain Reef
The Oro Verde was a ship intentionally sunk in 1980. Since then, many storms have broken up the wreck and spread it across the bottom. Jan 30, 2011 9:50 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
14 The Oro Verde was a ship intentionally sunk in 1980. Since then, many storms have broken up the wreck and spread it across the bottom.
A transmission housing Jan 30, 2011 9:51 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
15 A transmission housing
Jan 30, 2011 9:49 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
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Jan 30, 2011 10:23 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
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Jan 30, 2011 10:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
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What else but a school of Schoolmaster Snapper under a piece of wreckage Jan 30, 2011 10:29 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
19 What else but a school of Schoolmaster Snapper under a piece of wreckage
Encrusted pieces of the Oro Verde poke through the sand Jan 30, 2011 10:37 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
20 Encrusted pieces of the Oro Verde poke through the sand
A Yellowhead Jawfish poking out of its burrow Jan 30, 2011 9:55 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
21 A Yellowhead Jawfish poking out of its burrow
A feather duster worm Jan 30, 2011 9:55 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
22 A feather duster worm
It's snack time for this turtle Jan 30, 2011 10:00 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
23 It's snack time for this turtle
Turtle and French Angelfish Jan 30, 2011 10:00 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
24 Turtle and French Angelfish
Jan 30, 2011 10:03 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
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Yellow Stingray cruising the bottom Jan 30, 2011 10:12 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman, Instagram
26 Yellow Stingray cruising the bottom
Fileclam Jan 30, 2011 10:27 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
27 Fileclam
A French Angelfish cruises out from the wreck to stare me down Jan 30, 2011 10:35 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman, Instagram
28 A French Angelfish cruises out from the wreck to stare me down
The seabed away from the wreck is a carpet of garden eels extending from their burrows to feed Jan 30, 2011 10:36 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
29 The seabed away from the wreck is a carpet of garden eels extending from their burrows to feed
A turtle cruises past at North West Point Feb 1, 2011 7:54 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
30 A turtle cruises past at North West Point
Spotted Moray at North West Point Feb 1, 2011 7:56 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
31 Spotted Moray at North West Point
An intermediate Spotted Drum. As it gets older, the spots on its dorsal fin will grow to cover more of its body. Feb 1, 2011 8:01 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
32 An intermediate Spotted Drum. As it gets older, the spots on its dorsal fin will grow to cover more of its body.
Giant Anemone Feb 1, 2011 8:06 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
33 Giant Anemone
Arrow Crabs in a crevasse Feb 1, 2011 8:09 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
34 Arrow Crabs in a crevasse
Another Spotted Morray with a cleaner Goby Feb 1, 2011 8:09 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
35 Another Spotted Morray with a cleaner Goby
Reef system at Hepp's Pipeline Feb 1, 2011 9:23 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
36 Reef system at Hepp's Pipeline
Spotted Trunkfish Feb 1, 2011 9:27 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
37 Spotted Trunkfish
A Goldentail Moray, note the yellow spots and the yellow ring surrounding the iris Feb 1, 2011 9:29 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
38 A Goldentail Moray, note the yellow spots and the yellow ring surrounding the iris
Lionfish are a prolific invasive species that are killed on sight by Caymanian divemasters. This photo was moments before Chris speared the fish, cut off its venomous spines with a pair of shears and then left it to be immediately gobbled up by ravenous groupers that were hovering nearby. Feb 1, 2011 9:31 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
39 Lionfish are a prolific invasive species that are killed on sight by Caymanian divemasters. This photo was moments before Chris speared the fish, cut off its venomous spines with a pair of shears and then left it to be immediately gobbled up by ravenous groupers that were hovering nearby.
A Peacock Flounder camouflaging itself on the bottom at Hepp's Pipeline Feb 1, 2011 9:41 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
40 A Peacock Flounder camouflaging itself on the bottom at Hepp's Pipeline
French Grunt Feb 1, 2011 9:53 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
41 French Grunt
Chris holds a tiny Decorator Crab Feb 1, 2011 9:56 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
42 Chris holds a tiny Decorator Crab
The Decorator Crab attaches little bits of debris and foliage to disguise itself Feb 1, 2011 9:56 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
43 The Decorator Crab attaches little bits of debris and foliage to disguise itself
Yet another Flamingo Tongue Snail Feb 1, 2011 9:58 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
44 Yet another Flamingo Tongue Snail
An inquisitive Goldentail Moray Feb 1, 2011 10:00 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
45 An inquisitive Goldentail Moray
Porcupinefish Feb 1, 2011 10:03 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
46 Porcupinefish
Bow of the USS Kittiwake, a US Navy salvage ship intentionally sunk only a month before our trip Feb 2, 2011 9:12 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
47 Bow of the USS Kittiwake, a US Navy salvage ship intentionally sunk only a month before our trip
Official Kittiwake website:  http://www.kittiwakecayman.com  Feb 2, 2011 9:13 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
48 Official Kittiwake website: http://www.kittiwakecayman.com
The bow showing the anchor winches Feb 2, 2011 9:50 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
49 The bow showing the anchor winches
View of the stern Feb 2, 2011 9:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
50 View of the stern
The rudder and propeller of the Kittiwake. The sandy bottom here is approximately 65 feet. Feb 2, 2011 9:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
51 The rudder and propeller of the Kittiwake. The sandy bottom here is approximately 65 feet.
The main deck of the USS Kittiwake Feb 2, 2011 9:26 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
52 The main deck of the USS Kittiwake
Another view of the main deck Feb 2, 2011 9:30 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
53 Another view of the main deck
The top of the stack is only at 15 ft, making it a good site for snorkelers as well Feb 2, 2011 9:37 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
54 The top of the stack is only at 15 ft, making it a good site for snorkelers as well
A school of squid flying overhead in formation. One guy seems to be heading the wrong way, there's a rebel in every crowd... Feb 2, 2011 9:29 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
55 A school of squid flying overhead in formation. One guy seems to be heading the wrong way, there's a rebel in every crowd...
Every Navy ship has to have a pants press to keep those creases sharp Feb 2, 2011 9:42 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
56 Every Navy ship has to have a pants press to keep those creases sharp
The bathroom mirrors- the only underwater shot I have ever taken of myself! Feb 2, 2011 9:43 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
57 The bathroom mirrors- the only underwater shot I have ever taken of myself!
The mess hall Feb 2, 2011 9:47 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
58 The mess hall
Feb 2, 2011 9:48 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
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Dedication plaque on the outside of the wheelhouse Feb 2, 2011 9:49 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
60 Dedication plaque on the outside of the wheelhouse
Inside the wheelhouse Feb 2, 2011 9:50 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
61 Inside the wheelhouse
Schooling jacks overhead Feb 2, 2011 9:12 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
62 Schooling jacks overhead
Chris Alpers taking a photo of the school of jacks Feb 2, 2011 9:55 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
63 Chris Alpers taking a photo of the school of jacks
Turtle cruising the reef at Orange Canyon Feb 3, 2011 7:51 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
64 Turtle cruising the reef at Orange Canyon
Feb 3, 2011 7:59 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
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Feb 3, 2011 7:59 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
66
The reef at Orange Canyon Feb 3, 2011 8:01 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
67 The reef at Orange Canyon
Bonnie's Arch is a natural arch formation in the coral Feb 3, 2011 9:08 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
68 Bonnie's Arch is a natural arch formation in the coral
Leopard Flatworm Feb 3, 2011 9:14 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
69 Leopard Flatworm
Feb 3, 2011 9:15 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
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The Leopard Flatworm swims off to find a landing spot Feb 3, 2011 9:16 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
71 The Leopard Flatworm swims off to find a landing spot
Peacock Flounder Feb 3, 2011 9:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
72 Peacock Flounder
Peacock Flounder Feb 3, 2011 9:24 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
73 Peacock Flounder
Bonnie's Arch Feb 3, 2011 9:39 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
74 Bonnie's Arch
Feb 3, 2011 9:42 AM : Diving, Grand Cayman
75