The Cayman Islands

Most say they are visiting Cayman Island when referring to our tropical vacation destination on Seven Mile Beach. In reality, the Cayman Islands represent a three-island group; Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman. The Cayman Islands are a British Overseas Territory in the western Caribbean. We drive on the left side of the road, we have the Queen Elizabeth II Royal Botannic Park here, and our currency displays images of the Queen alongside our rich marine life.

When visiting us at Harbour Heights, you are visiting Grand Cayman Island. It is the largest of the three-island group. Grand Cayman is about 22 miles long - with an average width of 4 miles, and is about 76 square miles. We are 150 miles south of Cuba and 165 miles northwest of Jamaica. It is the most populated island and a very popular vacation destination!

Cayman Brac is a smaller island about 90 miles northeast of Grand Cayman. It is about 12 miles long with an average width of 1.25 miles and is about 15 square miles in size. This island is a 30-minute flight away from Grand Cayman. It is known for its breathtaking limestone bluff which attracts many types of nesting seabirds. It is also famous for diving and its caves. The National Trust Parrot Preserve is located on Cayman Brac. There are hiking trails and wrecks to dive on Cayman Brac.

Little Cayman is the smallest island about 5 miles west of Cayman Brac. It is about 10 miles long with an average width of just over a mile. It is an area of about 11 square miles. Jacques Cousteau declared Little Cayman’s waters to be among the top three diving sites in the world. Reefs, shipwrecks, and Little Cayman’s Bloody Bay Wall are a must when diving around the island. Walk the trails or rent bicycles to traverse the island above water.

Getting to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman is easy, Cayman Airways.

(Think about extending your stay and visiting one or both of our sister islands after visiting us at Harbour Heights. You won’t be disappointed.)

Jack Augsbury, Divemaster and Underwater Photographer

For those of you who follow our Harbour Heights facebook page, you recognize the name Jack Augsbury. When Jack is on island, he is diving every chance he gets. Jack sends out an email every day showing his followers the wonders of the underwater world here around Grand Cayman. Each email includes a beautiful photo (or two) that Jack has taken, and an explanation of what we are seeing and why it caught Jack’s eye.

We thought you might like to know a little more about Jack and what he has seen here over the years.

When did you start diving around the Cayman Islands?
We came to the Cayman Islands in the mid-1990s and stayed at the Radisson (now the Marriott) and  I took up diving again. I started diving in 1968 before the requirements of PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) and dropped it for work and took it up again in 1985 when I got my PADI OW (Professional Association of Diving Instructors - Open Water certification). We started coming to Cayman yearly when I got my Advanced OW from Don Fosters, which had a shop at the Radisson.

In 1996, I trained and got my Divemaster certification with DM instructor Martin Barker who was the manager at Dive N’Stuff.

What makes diving in the Caymans so special?
The water temperature and visibility around Cayman are exceptional. The reefs are close to shore and each side of the island offers different diving opportunities. There is a professionally maintained chamber on island and the general safety is high.

Peppermint Shrimp, by Jack Augsbury

What is the most interesting thing you have seen while diving around the Caymans?
I saw my first Hammerhead off the North Wall at Lemon Drop off. My areas of interest have expanded as I saw a Channel Clinging Crab with eggs this past winter. Nudibranchs and other macro critters opened up an entirely new world of diving for me in Cayman. A group of 5 or 6 eagle rays together off of North Sound. I especially liked some of the large schools of Horse Eyed Jacks we used to get, and we you could swim with them in the center of the school.

Christmas Tree Worm, by Jack Augsbury

What kind of gear do you use to take your photographs?
I started with a film camera, a Nikonos RS (a very good camera). In 2005 I went with a digital Canon SLR with a Seacam housing and Ikelite strobes.

Is it hard to dive and take photos?
I got the dive skills first in my dive training and mastered buoyancy control. My DM instructor’s “no touch policy” has stayed with me and all my photos are taken with buoyancy, unless I am on the sand bottom. Many divers take up photography without mastering their buoyancy and the reef suffers.

Brittle Starfish on Rope Sponge, by Jack Augsbury

What sort of changes over time have you noticed while diving in the same areas over the years?
A dive site on the West side was called Eagle’s Nest because of the huge barrel sponges there - that they have died off is an example of the changes I have seen. OroVerde was the dive site I was required to document and map for my divemaster certification in 1996. My chart of that site is greatly changed from its present condition.

I dived for years on the West side of the island and now dive on the East End. The dive companies I have dived with have been small dive companies; many work out of the ground floor of the Lobster Pot now.  Dive companies and boats have gotten larger and less personal.

Yellowhead Jawfish, by Jack Augsbury

Are there areas that are environmentally sensitive around Grand Cayman? If so, what makes them sensitive?
The Marine Park system must continue to be supported by residents and visitors alike.  Education of people to the importance of following the limitations of harvesting lobster and conch and protecting the grouper during spawning season is critical. Many grouper spawning sites around the country have been lost due to over fishing. Education is key because some people still believe the fishing is limitless. Supporting the Department of Environment in their protection of the Marine Park is also important. Reporting poachers to the DoE, as I do, is also being a good steward of the environment. I don’t eat endangered fish at restaurants and I support the culling of lionfish.

I continue to see new things and learn new things and continue to be awed by the underwater world here. Jean Kirkpatrick, a long time visitor at Harbour Heights, used to be a regular on the Dive N’Stuff dive boat and was a reef.org fish counter. She often showed us marine life as she had an exceptional eye.

Bar Jacks with Shark, by Jack Augsbury

Thank you Jack for sharing a piece of your world with us!

How to Prevent Fogging in Your Snorkel Mask

It can be frustrating while diving here in Grand Cayman to be in the midst of amazing marine life with a foggy view. It is much easier to enjoy a snorkel dive with a clear mask! Fortunately, it is pretty easy to get your mask back to a crystal clear state.

From our friends at Tropical Snorkeling, here are some easy steps to follow that will keep your snorkel mask from fogging:

• Clean your mask often, and then don’t touch it inside. Clean it with toothpaste, and a toothbrush, not your finger. Apply a small amount of toothpaste, and scrub it in hot water. Rinse it completely in hot water. Do this often. (If your lens is not glass, use dish soap and a very soft brush or wash cloth so you don't scratch the plastic.)
• Use anti-fog every time you snorkel. The cheapest and easiest is a very mild solution of baby shampoo and water, or you can buy an anti-fog product. Spray it in your mask and swish it around thoroughly so it touches every surface of the glass. DO NOT RUB IT AROUND WITH YOUR FINGERS! Your fingers are oily and dirty. Then rinse your mask ONCE quickly with either fresh or salt water. (We use 10-12 drops of baby shampoo mixed with water in a 2 ounce spray bottle.)
• Then, put it on your face quickly. Shake out any water drops before putting it on. Try to have a relatively dry face. Once the mask is on with a good seal, try to keep from removing it and allowing moisture to enter. Try not to clear the mask by breathing inside of it unless you must (that adds moisture). We enter the water with a dry mask, over a dry face, and do not take that mask off at all during the snorkel, if possible. And it works.
• If all else fails and you are out on the water with a foggy mask, remove it, spit in it, shake the mask around to coat the glass (don’t rub it with your fingers), dump it out, and put it back on, this will generally fix the problem. If you don't have a lot of spit, dilute it with a small amount of salt water to coat the glass.
• If this process does not work for you, then you may need to have your mask burned at a dive shop. Sometimes new masks come with a coating on the glass that must be removed with fire. After that, this process should work great for you.

If you are not yet comfortable with your snorkel gear, but you really want to try it - take advantage of the heated swimming pool here at Harbour Heights. You can start off in the shallow area of the pool and adjust your mask and tube. Try a few laps around the pool with your gear on before heading out to try it in the sea. Getting comfortable with your gear will give you confidence for your first snorkel dive here in Grand Cayman. It is fun for all ages!

Trip Planning Advice - Harbour Heights, Cayman Islands

Are you planning your first trip to visit us here at Harbour Heights? Here are some things to keep in mind before you arrive.

Directions. Familiarize yourself with the directions on how to get to Harbour Heights from the airport. Many visitors keep their phones in airplane mode to avoid any overseas charges on accessing data. If that is the case, you will be unable to use the GPS function of your smartphone.

Rental Cars. We are a British Territory, and as such, we drive on the left side of the street. Cayman Island rental agencies offer cars that are set up with the driver side on the right. You can ask for a driver side left. To obtain a driver’s license here in the Cayman Islands, you will pay a small fee at the rental agency for a temporary license. Please check with your personal car insurance to understand if you are covered while driving here. If not, our rental agencies can offer insurance to cover you.

Driving. If you are unsure of which side of the road to drive on - watch for traffic to go by first, then follow the cars in the direction you are going. We have many roundabouts here in Grand Cayman instead of traffic lights, you will go clockwise in these roundabouts. Most entrance and exit access into parking lots are also reversed. It is helpful to have your passengers help watch for driving cues as well.

Currency. Most businesses here accept US dollars. When dining, most receipts show the cost of your purchase in both US dollars and Cayman Islands dollars. If you pay a bill with US money, you will receive your change in Cayman Islands currency.

Groceries. Grocery shopping on Grand Cayman Island is just like shopping anywhere else - except our grocery stores are not open on Sundays. Here you will find Foster’s Food Fair IGA, Kirks, and Hurley’s in Grand Harbor. If you are flying in on Saturday, you may want to make sure to visit one of these supermarkets and stock up for the weekend or the week. Beer and wine are not sold in our grocery stores.

Liquor. We are uniquely set up here at Harbour Heights to be able to sell liquor to our guests from our property office. You may buy liquor during our business hours only.

Dining Out. We have a wonderful range of restaurants here on Grand Cayman Island. Take a look online at the restaurants we have. You may want to make dinner reservations ahead of time, especially if you are visiting during our high season. One thing to make sure to notice - is the gratuity already included in your bill? Take a look at the bottom of the check before you finalize any payments. Again, you can pay with Cayman Islands currency or in US dollars.

Beach Access. The beaches around the entire island are public. Private beaches start at the high water line. Look for “Beach Access” signs along the road - park your car and follow the footpaths to our beautiful beaches. Along Seven Mile beach you will find Governor’s Beach, Public Beach, Cemetery Beach and West Bay Public Beach.

Snorkeling. Even if you do not consider yourself a diver, you may want to invest in a snorkel, mask, and fins. The Cayman Islands are surrounded by the crystal clear Caribbean Sea and is a premiere diving destination. We have wonderful marine life off our private beach and all around the island to enjoy. The dive shops here can help you with gear if you are not able to bring these things with you. You can also find fish identification guides to help figure out what you have seen while diving!

When Coral Spawns - an amazing night dive opportunity!

We have many coral reefs here in the Cayman Islands. They are a large part of the aquatic life here in our sea - providing protection and food for sea creatures, and beauty in just being themselves.

Once a year in the month of September, the corals here in Cayman spawn. The timing of this spawn is cued by the phase of the moon and it always happens at night. The window of the spawn is only 20 to 30 minutes long. During that time, the corals here release large numbers eggs and sperm into the the water simultaneously. This blizzard release increases the chances of fertilization. Once the coral egg and sperm unite, they create an embryo which will float in the sea for days or weeks before dropping to the sea floor. If the conditions are correct, the coral will start to grow - about 4 inches a year.

Is this something you would like to see? Think about planning your next dive vacation here in Cayman. (We would love to have you stay here at Harbour Heights!) There are dive shops/boats on the island that organize trips for divers interested in seeing this spectacular event.

Check out the video below by Ocean Frontiers Dive Shop - you get an idea of how amazing this time of year is for our coral!

Harbour Heights from ABOVE!!!

Recently, we worked with Perry Levy of Aerial Innovations to get some amazing photographs of our property from ABOVE via a camera-equipped drone.

The equipment Perry brought out to Harbour Heights is very sophisticated. One drone and two remote control units hooked up to two Apple iPads operated the drone and were used as monitors. This allowed Perry and and the shoot supervisor to see exactly what the drone sees when it is in the air. The best heights and angles for each photograph were determined before each photo was taken.

We had Perry out to the property twice. Once early in the morning and again in the afternoon. The lighting changes so much during the day. We wanted to make sure we captured that beautiful blue sea we have in the morning hours - and we wanted to capture our property without shadows in the afternoon.

It was a very windy day. Perry brought several batteries as they were drained quickly as the drone tried to stay steady in such a strong wind. But the view from above was SPECTACULAR. Don’t you agree??

Thank you Perry for all the fine work you did for us!!!

Winter at Harbour Heights?

No, this is not snow and ice - we have not been hit by a rogue storm. Our grounds continue to be lush and green.

Sheryl Lazenby, a photographer friend of ours, was visiting on holiday last year. She brought along her 720nm infrared-converted camera and lens to take photos while on the island. We did not expect to see such a departure from what we normally see when we walk the grounds - it looks like we are experiencing full-on winter here!

As she explains: infrared captures a spectrum of light we cannot see. The 720nm spectrum of light lies just beyond the “visible spectrum”. Colors, plants, people, and man-made objects reflect infrared light in very different ways - in ways that cannot be replicated in photoshop or captured by a regular camera unless using IR filters - or a camera that has been permanently converted to shoot infrared. Grass and leaves turn white and seas and skies look more dramatic.

Thank you Sheryl for sharing your photos with us.

What do you think?