Thursday 16 June 2011

New location for this blog

As it seems so difficult for people to know when there has been an update to this blog we have decided to move it to another location. The blog is now on the Cayman Active website (www.caymanactive.com). We would like everyone who is following the blog to sign up for updates on the Cayman Active site.

Thanks

Saturday 11 June 2011

Low tide, tough landing, and Penny Palfrey's swim

Our swim tomorrow morning (Stage 4) will be going in to low tide. The landing spot we had planned on will be dicey. We can swim further to the next available beach landing. But most of us want to drive out to the East End to watch Penny Palfrey come ashore - she is attempting to set a record by swimming 68 miles between Little Cayman and Grand Cayman. She is predicted to finish tomorrow afternoon. So we may have to re-figure Stage 4 so we don't miss this historic event.

Sunday 5 June 2011

Phase 3- South Sound dock to Smith Cove - 5th June 2011

Today Kate, Kerri, Laura, Jane, Andrea, Alex and I (Lexie couldn’t make it today) swam from South Sound dock round to where we finished last time, Smith Cove, which totalled about 2.5 miles in a straight line but with all the detours we did, it added up to more like 3 miles.



At the start there was a strong current that went with us so we felt like we were drafting Michael Phelps! The first part of the swim was in relatively shallow water and we had to swim around the coral heads that were just inches below the surface. This week we did not see much marine life due to the overcast conditions but we did come across this very large Starfish. It was about 10” across. In addition we sighted a couple of Southern Rays and a Spotted Eagle Ray.




As we approached the area near Caribbean Paradise there is the wreck of the Pallas clearly visible. The Pallas was a Norwegian sailing ship of 1,351 tons that was wrecked on the 13th October 1910. Naturally we went to explore! The fish there were amazing, but we also saw a lionfish and a report will be made to the Department of Environment tomorrow. The problem with lionfish is that they are not native to these waters and have no natural predators. They are veracious eaters of the native reef fish and can wipe all the fish in the area they are in. They are capable of laying 30,000 eggs every month. However they tend to be territorial and therefore this one will be easy to find again and hopefully will be captured and taken out of harm’s way. The good thing with lionfish is that they taste fantastic.

After leaving the wreck we headed for the ‘fourth’ Cayman Island, a small pile of sand and rocks just past the wreck which we named teeny tiny Cayman! There is a makeshift hut on the Island which is presumably used by fishermen staying overnight. There was also a colony of Terns that didn’t seem to mind us landing.


After leaving the island we swam back towards the shore as there was a strong current pushing us in the direction we wanted to go. We then approached ‘Pull and Be Damned Point’, where Surfers Paradise condos are. It is easy to see why they are called Surfers Paradise as the rollers were 3 to 4 feet and breaking some 50 foot from shore. We took the outside route and thankfully the rollers were present for a distance of about 150 feet before we come out to calmer waters. We finally completed the swim at Smith Cove and finished the way we started last week’s leg, jumping off the ledge!

Thanks to our kayak support Richard , who had to work hard with the strong currents, and our land support Karen and Ivan, who had to put up with the rain showers! It was a great swim and we can’t wait until next week! Now that it is officially the hurricane season, we have our fingers crossed for good weather and calm seas.

Saturday 4 June 2011

The third leg

The third leg is from the beach outside of the Rugby Club to Smith Cove along the South Sound. There is some concern over the depth of water as we will be swimming inside the reef. Apparently high tide is in the early hours of the morning and low tide is around 3pm. Hopefully we will be able to swim the whole way and wont have to walk.

A full report and photos will be posted Sunday night or Monday so keep posted and remember to share this blog with your friends

Sunday 29 May 2011

Phase 2- Smith Cove to Lobster Pot


On the 29th of May, we started the second phase of our swim around Grand Cayman. This week we had someone join us, Kerri's friend Jane so there were six of us plus Richard in the kyack as we crossed the harbour. We swam the course in reverse from Smith Cove to Lobster Pot so that we could end up on the reef we finished on last time. Kate thinks we may have been the first people to swim the harbour as it is not really allowed but we had the kyack there for safety and to give us water when we could not stand the salt taste anymore!


During the swim we saw lots of sea life including three turtles, two adults and even a baby one, a huge baracuda (I was a little bit scared at this point) and even a nurse shark which was surprisingly not frightening at all.



To kickstart our early swim Kerri, Laura, Lexie and I jumped off the ledge at smith cove and Richard got some great midair shots of us!





Karen Shield did the shore drive and was the photographer from the shore. She would like to add that she did the crucial task of handing out water at the end!
To end the swim we all gathered around the pirate ship and got our picture taken with it until a boat came to tie up to it.



It was a great swim and everyone had loads of fun! We can't wait for next week!

Monday 23 May 2011

The first leg from Royal Palms to the Lobster Pot

Phase 1- Royal Palms to Lobster Pot

On 22nd May 2011, Kate Alexander, Lexie Kelly, Laura McLean, Kerri Kanuga and Lois Moody started their swim around Grand Cayman. The idea was thought of and put into action by Kate. In total it will be approximately 54.5 miles and swam in 25 stages. This has never been done before and will be a historic swim.

The first leg was from Royal Palms to Lobster Pot. Five of us set off at about 8.15 on Sunday morning having given up our lie in in bed. Kate and Kerri both swam with orange inflatable safety buoys so we could be seen by any passing watercraft. During the swim we saw lots of tropical fish including huge tarpon, a barracuda, and many brightly coloured smaller fish too.

My dad, Richard Moody, walked along the beach by us while we swam and we have now appointed him to kayak alongside us as a safety measure.

We are looking forward to the next swim on Sunday 29th May from the Lobster Pot to Sunset House or Smith Cove.

Follow our blog to see how we get on!

Lois