TESTUDO'S SNORKELING GUIDESTM

Rum Point Coral GardensGrand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Large Lobed Star Coral, Rum Point Coral Gardens, Grand Cayman

This is the spot I am most intimate with and the reason I fell in love with Grand Cayman. Our littleCayman abode is located on the beach at the point and I try to snorkel it at least once a day. It isamazing to witness the transitions of the marine life during the different tides coupled with thedramatic effect the angles of sunlight has as they shift throughout the day. My favorite time tovisit is about an hour before sunset. It is then that I find the lighting most serene and theabundance of marine life at its peak.

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LOCATION INFO: The first coral bed is approximately 225 yds of the actual ‘point’ at Rum Point,by the Retreat Condominiums. The second coral bed is located 25 yds across the sand channelthat begins at the far end of the first bed (You can usually see some rays and conch hanging out onthe bottom).

This spot is definitely seeing an increase in visits by the various Wave Runner tours; as evidencedby the multiple excursions stopping by, even on light cruise ship days. There is now only onemarker buoy anchored at the site making it a bit harder to spot from shore.My best advice for locating the prime coral beds is to refer to the satellite images below and thenorientate yourself standing at the ‘point’ of Rum Point. Look for the two large Marine Zone buoyscloser to shore on your right. Look out and to the right of the far buoy to locate the smallermooring buoy of the site. If water conditions are favorable, you should also see the dark patchesof the corals about 225 yds slight off to the left from the point and about 10 yards to the left of thesmall mooring buoy.

Overhead view to get orientated.

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View of coral bed location from sign at the point. Boat is moored on marker buoy. Notice larger marine zone buoy on the

right.

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Coral Garden location with Waverunners moored at marker buoy.

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ENTRY: I usually enter the water from a small opening in the iron-shore, about 30 feet to the rightof the Marine Zone sign post. There is a sandy-ish bottom and pieces of iron-shore on each sidethat make for good, albeit sharp, flipper rests or hand holds. You can also head-off from the beacharea if the iron-shore is too intimidating.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: On the snorkel out, you will pass some small corals directly off thepoint and then begin to enter a zone with little coral and few fish. The depth approaches 20-25feet at this point. As you head out, off to the left you should see a ridge rising from the sea floor.I use this geographic feature as a reference to keep my baring. Approaching the main garden, youwill begin to see some soft corals interspersed with a few hard corals on the floor below; continuingonward, they will start to become larger and healthier. The water here is still about 20 ftdeep. This is not the main garden. Depending on visibility you may be able to see dark shapes offin the distance, ahead and closer ones to the right. Off to the right are isolated large coralformations. They will be surrounded by a sandy floor. These are located closest to the fartherMarine Buoy on the above image (tapering dark patches to the left) . You may not see them if youare closer to the ridge. I usually skip these, but they may be worth a look. The water level willbegin to become shallower, the corals will start to jump in size and more fish (usually Damselfish,Grouper and Dog Snapper) can be seen below around the corals. Try to keep close to the sandybottom on the right and continue on. Yes, it does seem longer than 225 yds out, but trudge on;you are getting close to the good stuff. Ahead, about 25 yds, you should now see some largeboulder corals. Head there and begin exploring, this is the entrance to the garden. A Moray Eelsometimes hangs out here. The area along the right with the sandy bottom is where the largestand most dense concentrations of corals and fish will be. Water depth is between15-20 ft. Amongthe many species of fish darting around and about the corals, large schools of snapper and gruntsfrequent this area closer to the bottom. Rays can be found hidden in the sand and barracuda willsometimes shadow you. As you explore the area to the left (away from the sandy bottom), thewater level will become shallower, as you float above the ridge incline. This area is predominately

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covered with soft corals, sponge and sea fans. If you continue out towards the reef, the coralgarden will end and you will reach a sand bottom channel. Swim across the channel to reach thesecond coral garden. Large outcroppings and clusters of boulder coral begin in about 30 yds. Floatover them and explore right to left. The water at this garden is a bit shallower making some of thecorals and sea fans appear more vibrant. Grunts and Snapper abound here as well. Theoccasional Trumpetfish can also be seen.

CONDITIONS THIS VISIT: The winds were blowing northeasterly for most of the week, whichmade visibility on the North Side of the island sub-optimal (all the crud that pools in the NorthSound gets blown back out towards sea, but ends up trapped by the barrier reef). You will seemany of the images (especially from the Sting City Dive Site) have greenish hues or castes tothem; this is as a result of the higher than usual concentrations of algae.

WHAT I SAW THIS VISIT:I was thrilled NOT to find any Lion Fish around my regular floating grounds this trip. There was anabundance of the usually fish: various species of Grunts, Snapper, Damselfish, Tilefish,Squirrelfish, Wrasses, Large Parrotfish and Spiny Lobsters. There was a noticeable increase in:Triggerfish, Trunkfish, smaller barracuda and predatory Bar Jacks. There was a noticeabledecrease in Larger Snapper, Large barracuda, Grouper, Rays and Conch. I did see one GreenTurtle and snapped a few shots before he bolted. The turtles in the Rum Point area tend to spookeasily.

Lionfish

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Green Sea Turtle Resting Southern Sting Ray

Lobed Star Coral Mass Schooling Grunts

Lobed Star Coral Field Moray Eel

Coral Garden from above Jolthead Porgy "Camouflaged"

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Juvenile Parrotfish find protection from predators by shadowing the biggest fish around (me)

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French Grunts and Yellowhead Wrasse

DOWNLOAD THE SNORKEL GUIDE HERE:http://snipurl.com/w92nzImages from this location can be found here:http://picasaweb.google.com/testudo92/GrandCaymanSnorkel...ImagesRumPointAndBarefootBeachApril2010#http://picasaweb.google.com/testudo92/GrandCaymanSnorkelingRumPoint02#

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