Parrots Landing Dive Tips for the Grand
Cayman.
•Control your
buoyancy - be properly weighted to control yourself on the reef.
•Move gracefully underwater - don't grab the coral or
crash into it.
•Watch your console and octopus - trailing equipment
scrapes and breaks coral.
•Do not wear gloves - so you won't be tempted to touch
the coral.
•Watch your fins - do not stand on the reef, avoid
kicking up sand and sediment.
•Don't molest the animals - respect them and use your
good sense
•Don't climb into a barrel sponge (no matter how nice a
picture it would be)
•Holding a porcupine fish in your hands removes it's
protective mucous.
•Don't turn over rocks, you're destroying someone's
home!
•DO NOT cut up sea urchins for fish food. They are just
recovering from a near total wipe-out in the Caribbean. It's also illegal to do this.
•Do not molest the sea turtles, they are endangered, and
it is also illegal to hassle them. |
Parrots Landing
was founded as a shore diving facility in 1988, by a young Caymanian named Gregory Merren,
who saw potential in a piece of family property with easy access to four beautiful reefs.
The land had been in the Merren family, one of Cayman's oldest and most prestigious
families, for generations, but had only been used for fish cleaning and boat maintenance.
Local fishermen for years called it the Shark House property, because of a tumble-down
shack used for fish-cleaning and drying of shark skins.
The development of Cayman's dive industry tempted Greg to change careers and open up a
facility exclusively for shore diving. The name Parrots Landing was chosen for two
reasons: (1) for the abundance of parrotfish which frequent the waters just offshore and
(2) the wild Cayman parrots which lived in the almond trees on the property. If you take a
close look at our logo you can see that the Parrotfish/bird is our own special mascot.
Parrots Landing experienced tremendous growth during the early years, so Greg added a
couple of dive boats. The fleet kept growing, and today our dive operation features five
(5) custom-designed dive boats and a 60-foot sailing catamaran, the Cockatoo.
Known as one of the most progressive dive operations on Grand Cayman, Parrots Landing
offers a diverse dive program intent on meeting the needs of all divers...from beginners
to advanced divers. We believe in giving you as much, or as little, freedom as you need.
Today the dive shop and administrative office are housed in a white Caymanian style house
with traditional Caribbean gingerbread trim. The property has the look and feel of a
watersports park with sun decks and picnic tables surrounded by seagrape, almond and
casuarina trees. There are several parrots who live here including two Macaws, two Cayman
parrots (an endangered species) and two yellow-naped Honduran parrots. The parrots are
favorites with our guests, and they each have a name and distinct personality. This is the
best place on the island to have your picture taken with a parrot!
Grand Cayman sits on the doorstep of some of the best diving in the
western hemisphere. Blessed with calm waters and an estimated 60 miles of drop-offs
encircling the island, Grand Cayman boasts more than 130 dive sites, many less than 1/2
mile from shore. Visibility usually ranges from 100 to 150 feet, and up to 200 feet on a
good summer day. Best known for dramatic wall diving and Stingray City, Grand Cayman's
biggest attraction is the unparalleled variety of diving options that keep divers of all
levels returning year after year.
Four distinct walls surround the island, each with its own special features. They are West
Wall, North Wall, East End Wall and South Wall. Beginning at depths of 55-85 feet, Grand
Cayman's walls come in a surprising number of formations including vertical walls, great
canyons, massive pinnacles, vertical chimneys and huge caverns. Our marine personalities
include elegant eagle rays, silver tarpon, friendly grouper and moray eels. Grand Cayman
offers wonderful shore diving, much of it available from Parrots Landing.
Because divers come from all over the world to enjoy our fantastic
underwater world, we want to ensure that our diving remains both safe and spectacular. The
Cayman Islands government and the Cayman Islands Watersports Operators Association are
committed to preserving our reefs. In 1978, our Marine Parks were created when a series of
laws designed to protect our marine environment were enacted. This established three
preservation zones in Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Replenishment Zones
provide year-round protection for conch and lobster breeding grounds. An Environmental
Zone preserves part of Grand Cayman's North Sound Lagoon where mangroves grow. Marine Park
Zones provide permanent moorings were established to regulate anchoring and preserve our
reefs.
Most importantly, as dive operators we enforce our Marine laws on a daily bases, by making
sure our divers are careful to keep from damaging coral. These are guidelines offered by
the Protection and Conservation Unit of the Department of Environment to limit diver
damage.
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