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
Thursday 16 June 2011
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.
Monday 6 June 2011
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.
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
A full report and photos will be posted Sunday night or Monday so keep posted and remember to share this blog with your friends
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