by Sport Diver Staff

The famous dive sites in the Cayman Islands have been written about for decades. But despite being recognized as the birthplace of recreational diving and boasting legendary dive sites, these magical islands still had some secret spots, known only to locals.

In 2008, an ambitious initiative called Dive 365 was launched. The goal: to name and add mooring buoys to 68 new dive sites so there would be a total of 365 in the islands, one for each day of the year. Dive 365 was also designed to enable dive operations to temporarily close sites so the reefs could have a chance to recover from diver pressure.

“It is an example of not only our commitment to providing new and challenging experiences to the dive community,” says Cayman Islands Department of Tourism director Shomari Scott, “but also our dedication to sustaining the environment.”

In addition to high-profile sites such as the Kittiwake, the islands’ plethora of stellar dives includes Big House off Grand Cayman’s East End. (The photo above of a mutton snapper surrounded by silversides was taken at Big House.)

In November 2012, a mooring ball was added to the final site: Broadbelt’s Bommie, a pinnacle located in Grand Cayman’s South Sound area.

For more information on the Dive 365 program and diving in the Cayman Islands, visit divecayman.ky

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http://www.sportdiver.com/article/news/cayman-islands-dive-365-project-completed

Photograph by Elly Wray