Exploring Cayman: The Flip Flop Tree

While staying at Silver Sands get out and explore the island! Along South Sound Road, right next to the sea, lies a casuirine tree covered in shoes of all shapes, sizes and colors, the Cayman Shoe Tree is a favorite stop if you are on your way to Rum Point or the East End.

Photography by, Heather Holt Photography

Cayman grouper need our help, here's why...

A few weeks ago I did a post, GROUPERS GALORE, on a few of the different species of grouper found in the Cayman waters and why they should not be consumed. Really I just wanted to show off my pix, but it also helped to bring up a topic very important to not only myself, but ocean lovers in Cayman and everywhere!

The silversides were out in full force this summer at Devils Grotto dive site right off Eden Rock Dive Center. With all these little fish bring a whole lot of big fish interested in having an easy meal. The above is a pretty good size Nassau Grouper. These guys have been fished out pretty good on Grand Cayman and it is always a rare treat to see one of this size.

 They are also very friendly and expressive with divers. This guy let us go right up to him and take a few photos. He seemed just as curious about us as we were to him. So while I love sharing my pix, I feel it is a good opportunity to share a little educational info about these threatened fish.



In the last post I touched on the topic of how people want to eat local food when they visit the island and grouper is usually the favorite choice, despite it being threatened due to overfishing. In reality there is not much grouper to be caught, and the desired fish on offer has been replaced in the restaurants by a SE Asian, freshwater catfish known as the Swai fish, originally found in the Mekong River. This change has been made in the serving of the meat, and not a change that has been reflected on the menu.

This is a huge problem for 2 main reasons... 
1. people should not think it is ok to eat grouper in the first place. 
2. People should know what they are putting in their mouths! The restaurant has a responsibility to tell the consumer exactly what they are serving! There is a massive movement against GMO, big companies refusing to properly label their products etc... well this is the same thing if you ask me!

This is a photo that I just took in Vietnam of a Swai fish (also known as Basa, among other names) in the market at Hoi An. This is the "grouper" that is being served up at many Cayman restaurants.

Some interesting facts on the Swai Fish, the farming, the growing popularity and its origins can be found on these website links... 

Here is a link with some farming techniques: FARMING

In the last 10 years this fish has become widely distributed and farmed and has made it to fish farming industry closer to home, Puerto Rico. Check out this link: SWAI FARMING IN THE WEST

Swai fish is a much more sustainable fish for consumption so I am not against this fish at all, I just think people should know the facts.

So what you can do is be sure to ask the restaurant what the fish really is being served that is being called grouper. Most waiters don't know so make them ask the kitchen. Then when they come back and say it is indeed Swai, then let them know that no one should be eating grouper in the Cayman Islands so they should just take it off the menu. If everyone does this I really think it will make a difference and take the pressure off the lovely grouper and get them off the menu completely.

For more sustainable fish to eat instead of Grouper check out Cayman Sea Sense

3 Restaurant Favorites - The A B C's

Cayman has its fair share of restaurants to choose from and has become quite the destination for foodies everywhere. Here are our favorites to help guide you in the right culinary direction.

A is for Alfresco: Just a 5-minute drive from Silver Sands,  heading north towards West Bay lays this cheap and cheerful restaurant with a killer location and local food that will make your mouth water. Its menu is broad with both local dishes as the main attraction, as well as other international dishes. It is a great place to enjoy a relaxing drink or light snack served on the beach side deck while taking in a fabulous view of Seven Mile Beach.

B is for The Brasserie: Hidden away from Grand Cayman’s main strip,  the Brasserie is committed to local produce, sustainable farming and fishing, and most importantly, out of this world cuisine. The Brasserie is about a 10 minute drive from Silver Sands and located in Cricket Square in downtown Georgetown.

The eclectic, modern cuisine is prepared with the highest quality ingredients including fresh fish delivered daily to the kitchen from their very own fishing boat and fresh produce grown from the garden in the back of the restaurant.

Order off the menu or take part in the week night special menus. Some of the favorites are Wednesday's Burgers N Beer and Thursday's Taco Night

C is for Calypso Grill: With its casual atmosphere overlooking Morgan’s Harbour and the top knotch Caribbean and seafood cuisine, you cannot go wrong with an evening out at the Calypso Grill. You can dine in the comfortable air conditioned dining room or outside on the breezy deck, either way the food is good from the bread before the meal to the final course of dessert... make sure to try their famous Sticky Toffee Pudding. Reservations are strongly recommended as everyone has caught on to this amazing restaurant.

Above photo courtesy of Delta Sky Magazine, see what they have to say about Calypso!

The Botanical Park Blues

The Cayman Blue Iguana is native to Grand Cayman and can be found on no other island in the world! 

Most of the iguanas seen on the island are the Common Iguana, identified by the black rings on their tails. They are an introduced species and have been taking over the Blues' habitat.

The Blue Iguanas are certainly beloved by all. There has been a very successful breeding program that has helped rehabilitate the population.

The best place to spot these guys is at the Queen Elizabeth Botanical Park where they roam free and pose for photos. This makes a fantastic day trip from Silver Sands.

Not only can you enjoy the company of these relaxed reptiles, there is an easy walking trail with native plants and wildlife, a lake, a pond and an orchid walk to explore.

The Park costs US $10 for adults and is free for kids under 12. It is opened from 9-5:30 daily (be sure to confirm holiday hours) and located on Frank Sound Road.

Fun with the Sun!

What an amazing sunset we had here at Silver Sands last night! It was one of those summer sunsets where the clouds light up and make that sun pop!

Starfish Point, Well Worth the Trip!

Starfish Point is located just past Rum Point and Kaibo on the Northside of Grand Cayman. It takes about an hour to get up there from the 7-Mile Beach area, but well worth the adventure and scenic drive. 

Our Lush Silver Sands Grounds

The beautiful ground here at Silver Sands.

Summer Storm

Saturday Sunset at Silver Sands

We be Chillin under the huts

Another perfect day at Silver Sands

The Sun is Shining at Silver Sands!

Taken yesterday at Silver Sands. Kayak, hammock and beach, ahhhh.

Groupers Galore!

Grouper are an essential species on the reef systems not only in Cayman waters but all over the world. They are a main predator near the top of the food chain and help control the populations of smaller reef fish, as well as add diversity to the reef.

Unfortunately they are also a tasty fish and in high demand for human taste buds. This high demand has lead to populations of grouper, especially Nassau Grouper, to dramatically decline in the last 10 years. As a diver here in the waters of Grand Cayman it is very rare to see a mature Nassau on the reef. If one is seen it is usually a juvenile.

How can we help the Grouper?? DON'T EAT THEM!! Or specifically ask the restaurant if it is really grouper. Most of the time it will be Swai Fish, a freshwater farmed fish that has a similar white flaky mild taste. They call it grouper since people want to try the local dishes. They do this also because the dwindling populations of grouper are just not available to meet the demands of the public, there is just not enough to go around. 

A great guide to help you make smart seafood choices is the Cayman Sea Sense guide, or you can go online and check out the Monterey Bay Seafood Guide, which is what the Cayman guide is based on.

These photos are of a Nassau Grouper of pretty decent size. I saw this guy on the reef a few weeks ago and was so elated because I have not seen one this size in Grand Cayman in years.

This is a Yellow Mouth Grouper. He obviously got his name for the outrageous yellow lipstick he wears! These grouper so not very common at all. I have only seen a handful in all my days of diving.

This is a Tiger Grouper and seen fairly often on the reef.

The below photo is a Coney Grouper. These guys are quite a bit smaller than the above species of grouper, and are commonly seen on the reef.

Interested in seeing these fish on the beautiful reefs of Cayman? Stay at Silver Sands and dive with DNS!

The Grey Angel at Sunset

There is a VERY friendly Grey Angel fish that is hanging out at the Sunset House reef. He followed us from the mermaid, to the wreck, to the wall and back! Made for a great subject for photography tho!

If you are going to visit us here at Silver Sands Condos the Sunset House shore dive is a great afternoon activity. Tanks and gear are available at the Sunset Divers shop, entry and exit very accessible and the reef is right there, for diving or snorkeling. When you are done with the water, come topside and you can enjoy a mudslide and conch fritters on the patio at My Bar.