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Guardian Of The Reef on Grand Cayman

Guardian Of The Reef is a bronze statue that was sunk in about 65 feet of water just off the coast and is easily accessible as a shore dive from Divetech’s front yard on Grand Cayman. In order to access the dive site from the shore, you have to start out in a man made ocean pool and then traverse a cut through the sea rocks out to the Caribbean Sea. It’s a lot of fun to do and my family and I can’t wait to do it again! Very very cool!

I’m in a hurry getting ready for a dive coming up in a couple of hours so, I’m being lazy and not including pics of the pool and cut that we used to enter the ocean on this shore dive. Will include that later for sure. Also, you’ll have to turn your head sideways in order to truly appreciate some of these pics. Sorry for the picture formatting laziness/lack of time. 😉

Viz wasn’t that great on this dive as the ocean was a bit choppy but, how fun! Check out the artist that made this statue, The Guardian of the Reef. More later!

-saltydog

in Diving, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Cayman Islands are calling to us! What do they have to say for themselves???

Do you like the feel when in the Cayman Islands? I do. I also like the jerk chicken and the super clear warm water and soft sand the islands there have to offer. Maybe I’ll gather up my lovely family and head south to the beautiful Caymans soon and escape the shitty Michigan cold? Yes, I think I will do that. Close your eyes and day dream with me a bit… can you smell the salty Caribbean Sea air as we sit at Calico Jack’s and order up half of the menu? I’m having the jerk chicken, fries, EXTRA EXTRA sauce pretty please. If the napkins taste as good as the fries and chicken there, I’ll also use those dry white starchy paper wafers as vehicles for that badass Jamaican jerk sauce goodness! If the meal doesn’t arrive quickly, I may just try out that napkin flavor fer certain. But, from thorough training and experience, I’ve learned to not rush things when in the Caribbean or while on vacation for that matter. It’s just not right to be in a hurry while on holiday and we should all remember that it’s not polite to be pushy either. Sometimes I forgot that you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar and I can get a little in a tizzy when it comes to wanting to get food in front of me fast. So, therefore one can deduce, that it’s good training for me to go on vacation frequently in order to keep my manners tuned up and to remind myself that patience is indeed a virtue and to not be a rush-round asshole. So, I will wait quietly for my jerk chicken, fries and EXTRA EXTRA sauce to arrive at the table in front of me. Though if there isn’t any Caybrew beer there to help me in this training endeavor, all bets are off the table! C’mon Cayman Islands! Can’t wait to get back to ya again.

Scientific Weather Reading:

Current weather in Michigan is… Shitty cold and snow on the ground with a good chance of the same tomorrow.

Current weather in Georgetown, Grand Cayman is… Let’s find out and let’s do some scuba diving with the family while we’re at it!

I’ll be sure to report back.

-saltydog

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cJODNxx9Ww

in Diving, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Ambergris Caye, Belize pictures and video of “Secret Beach”

Ambergris Caye, Belize is a really fun place to take friends or family on a dive vacation or any vacation!

Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island, measuring about 25 miles in length. What that means for you is tons of white sandy beaches.

The vibrant island paradise is located in the Caribbean Sea, just off the coast of Belize.

The island is known as "La Isla Bonita," as many believe that Madonna’s 1986 song by the same name was inspired by it. Whether it actually was or not, it certainly lives up to the title.

The island has been the center of maritime trade for centuries, even dating back to the Mayans.

It is lined with luxurious resorts and boutique hotels.

Scuba diving and snorkeling are huge here, since the second largest barrier reef in the world sits off Ambergris Caye’s east coast.

There's also a marine park, named Hol Can Marine Reserve, nearby, which offers some prime wildlife viewing.

The marine park is home to something called Shark-Ray Alley, a popular diving spot for seeing rays and sharks up close.

Also nearby is the world-famous Great Blue Hole, which Jacques Cousteau claimed was one of the world’s best dive sites. The 406 foot-deep, 1,000 foot-wide former limestone cave is a bucket list item and a diver’s dream.

Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is located on the northern point of Ambergris Caye.

Belize's food is hearty and delicious, like this traditional Belizean dinner of rice and beans with stew chicken, and a side of potato salad.

As is to be expected, fresh ceviche abounds on the island.

San Pedro is the heart of Ambergris Caye, and the island’s only town (though there are a few smaller villages and resorts). Despite being a small fishing village whose primary mode of transportation is golf carts, it features tons of tasty restaurants and lively entertainment.

Next to golf carts, water taxis are the primary mode way of getting around the island.

While not on Ambergris Caye per se, popular day trips from the island include visiting ancient Mayan ruins on the mainland, like Xunantunich.

You can also hop over to the mainland (15 min by plane, or a little over an hour by ferry) to explore Belize’s tropical rainforests with a ziplining tour or cave tubing tour.

Still, relaxing on Ambergris Caye’s many white sand beaches isn’t a bad idea either.

Thanks to Brendan Sullivan for making the following cool video on “Secret Beach”…

“Secret Beach” on Ambergris Caye, Belize.

in Diving, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

Scuba in Cuba! Non-stop flights to Havana from the USA

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First nonstop flights and frequencies to Havana. By the Cuba Journal

The above new flights are regular scheduled flights operated under a new agreement between the U.S. and Cuba. Previously, all flights from the U.S. to Cuba were considered “charter” flights. The charter flights have permission to continue flying but may decide to suspend service due to price competition.

Approvals for regular scheduled flights and routes to Cuba were separated by city. The first batch to receive approval were the non-Havana flights, the first of which was last month’s JetBlue flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Santa Clara.

Fares to Havana range from $59 to several hundred dollars.

For scheduled flights to and from each of the nine non-Havana international airports in Cuba, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has allocated up to 10 daily round-trip frequencies at each airport, for a total of 90 daily flights. Including Havana, the total number of daily flights between the U.S. and Cuba can be 110.

Here are the non-Havana airlines and routes.

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Schedule of Approved Flight Routes to Cuba

in Diving, Travel Posted by SaltyDogs

The best of Fiji?

VoliVoli Beach Resort

This family owned and operated resort offers a choice of twin queen rooms and studio villas, all with ocean views. The Nuku Bar and Restaurant overlooks the swimming pool and offers three meals per day. A variety of body and facial treatments are available from the Daulomani Day Spa. Volivoli Beach Resort is home base for the luxury live-aboard S/Y Fiji Siren. Kiteboarding and sport fishing are available at the resort as well.

Package includes:

7 nights oceanview accommodations
5 days of 2-tank boat dives
Daily breakfast
Roundtrip airport transfers
Hotel tax and service charges
Valid for travel April 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016 and January 10, 2017 through March 31, 2017

Price: $1,669
Valid: April 1, 206 through March 31, 2017
Travel must be booked by: March 15, 2017
Website: caradonna.com
Booking Email: [email protected]
Booking Telephone: 1-800-329-9989

Guardian Of The Reef on Grand Cayman

Cayman Islands are calling to us! What do they have to say for themselves???

Ambergris Caye, Belize pictures and video of “Secret Beach”

Scuba in Cuba! Non-stop flights to Havana from the USA

The best of Fiji?

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