Quick Guide to Fish ID: 10 Favorites

The following quick guide to fish identification will hopefully help you identify not only some of the usual suspects out on the Cayman reefs, but also some of the more elusive favorites as well. This guide is in no particular order and hopefully will help you in your diving and snorkelling adventures here in Grand Cayman. Once you are ready to get out there check out our past post Grand Cayman's Snorkelling Secrets, which should help you to find the very best the island has to offer.

#1 Yellow Tail Snapper - Very common and very friendly this guy can be seen solo or in loose groups around the reef. They tend to be curious and may come close to check you out. 

#2 Nassau Grouper - Cayman's sweetheart, these friendly fish are more like underwater puppies than a fish filet. Unfortunately due to overfishing they are more and more scarce on the Cayman reefs. Everyone wants to help the grouper and not only is the Department of Environment doing its part but you can too. Check out our past post for more information: 

Cayman Grouper Need Our Help and Groupers Galore

#3 Southern Atlantic Sting Ray - These guys are also a favorite among everyone! STING RAY CITY!! Fun for all ages and one of Cayman's only designated Wildlife Interaction Zones, which means you can feed and touch the stingrays. Going to see these animals in the wild is not only a wonderful day out on the boat, but also a cool experience getting close to these beautiful creatures.

#4 Grey Angelfish - These beautiful and common reef swimmers are curious and fun to dive with. You may also see their cousins out there the French Angel and the Queen Angel.

#5 Tarpon - You don't even have to get wet to see these large silvery guys. Sure they swim around the reefs, but they are also fed at various Waterfront Watering Holes such as Rackams. They start to gather around dusk and wait patiently until they are fed the fishy kitchen scraps. In the wild they tend to hide out in caves during the day, coming out at night to hunt around the reefs.

#6 Parrot Fish - These colorful reef dwellers are some of the most common fish you will encounter in Cayman waters. Not only do they swim around the reefs in decent numbers, they are also in the shallows and rubble. There are many different kinds, sizes and colors of parrotfish, however you can easily identify them by their parrot beak like mouth.

#7 Sergeant Major - Another very common reef fish these guys are abundant in Cayman waters. Watch out though, they have become accustomed to humans, some people actually feed them (which is highly frowned upon!!) and that can make them a little too friendly at times!

#8 Mutton Snapper - This species of snapper is a bigger fish seen on the reefs. They are mostly silvery with a hint of red and yellow, and have a black dot on their back side body. They are also very friendly and will tag along with you while you are exploring the underwater world.

#9 Spotted Drumfish - These beauties are very elusive and seldom seen. They tuck themselves into the cracks and holes in the reefs and can only be seen if you have a keen eye. The above pictured drum is a juvenile, characterized by its long stripy fins which it waves gracefully back and forth like a ribbon. Once it is fully grown its fins shrink, it turns black and developes its name sake white spots.

#10 Seahorse - Last but not least, and certainly the most rare of the bunch, these odd shaped swimmers are the favorite of many. They are masters of camouflage and if they do happen to be clinging to something on the reef, chances are you will miss them. 

Photography Credit: Heather Holt Photography

Plant of the Month: The Miracle of Aloe Vera

This will be the first in a series of featured Silver Sands flora. These grounds have so much going on it is time to explore!

The Silver Sands grounds is not only a beautiful place filled with lush flowers and tropical plants, it is also useful! Scattered around the property there is Aloe Vera growing for all to use. Aloe has several medicinal uses, but probably the most important for Silver Sands guests is for sunburns! Just pick a stalk, split it open, and slather that gooey magical aloe all over your sun kissed skin. It is even better if you put some in the refrigerator, when it is cold and you apply it, it cools down the burn immediately, as well as heals from the inside.

An Evening Dip

A little evening dip sure looks inviting! Come visit us and swim in our beautiful Silver Sands pool.

A Fine Evening for Fine Dining

Cayman has become a foodie's playground. From casual beach dining, to our ABC's of where to eat, you can get just about anything you want from the island's selection of restaurants. And sometimes what you want is the very best. Here are our top 3 recommendations for the finest of them all.

Osetra Bay
This stunning restaurant is more of a dining experience rather than a meal. From the moment you sit in the elegantly decorated sea side dining room, with white curtains gently blowing in Morgan's Harbor breeze, your senses are filled with flavors and tasters that are unforgettable. 

Luca
Located at The Caribbean Club on 7-Mile Beach, Luca has the food and wine to make any foodie's heart content. And if you are really looking to live it up, Sunday Brunch here is top notch. From the omelet station to make your full breakfast complete, to over flowing sushi and seafood, and then onto a full roast, topped with dessert that will make your mouth water, oh and did I mention free flowing champaign? Yes that is Luca.

Blue
This super high end restaurant is located inside the Ritz Carlton. It specializes in seafood but has something for everyone. This restaurant is nothing but class, as is usually the way from Eric Ripert.

Photos courtesy of:

Osetra Bay Website

Luca Website

Ritz Carlton Website

The Charming Houses of Cayman

The old traditional Caymanian houses are a colorful and unique part of Caymanian heritage. Although there are quite a few around still, they are disappearing quickly. What once were the standard residence, now are scattered few and far between. Many are being torn down for the building of condos or other more profitable construction and many are crumbling in disrepair. 

The National Trust is active in trying to document and keep track of these old wooden houses, however as they are privately owned there are no laws protecting these buildings. 

This is one of the more famous houses still standing and it can be seen at the Queen Elizabeth Botanical Park.

Unfortunately this one that stood on South Church St. in South Sound, was torn down but it is a great example of the unique lattice work each house used to have. The particular design was the woodworker's personal signature style.

Another reason why many of these old houses have disappeared was Hurricane Ivan that struck Grand Cayman in September 2004, knocking down the already fragile homes. 

Check out what Ivan did to Silver Sands here.

Photography by Heather Holt Photography

The Sites of Georgetown: Fort George

"What remains of Fort George stands on the corner of Harbour Drive and Fort Street in George Town, Grand Cayman. The Fort once stood overlooking the harbour, but development has landlocked this historic site. Today's visitor will see its low stone walls adjacent to the Royal Watler Cruise Terminal and may wonder when it was built and why so little is left of it!

The origins and early history of the Fort are uncertain. It is known that in 1662, the new Governor of Jamaica, Lord Windsor, received royal instructions to take charge of the "Caimanes Islands ... by planting and raising Fortifications upon them."Although there was some settlement, however, the task of fortifying the small outpost was not undertaken until sometime around 1790."

This information was taken from The National Trust website, please check out their page on Fort George for more interesting historical facts.

It is always nice to do some island exploring while you are staying at Silver Sands. It is very easy to take a morning or afternoon away from beautiful 7-Mile Beach and check out some of these historical sites in Georgetown. Although do keep in mind, we are a quaint little island and these sites, although very interesting, are very quaint too and a half day exploration, plus a lunch stop will leave you historically satisfied and ready to get back to the beach!

Photos by Heather Holt Photography

The Sites of Georgetown: The Clock Tower

For such a small island, Grand Cayman has quite a few historic sites, and taking the time from your stay at Silver Sands to check some of them out is well worth a half day in Georgetown.

 The clock tower was built in 1937 in memory of Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather King George V.

Photos by Heather Holt Photography

The Silver Sands Gazebo: Serenity, Sunsets and Socializing!

The Silver Sands Gazebo is a perfect place in the shade to take a break from the hot sun. Here you can play a game of cards, read a book or bbq some steaks.

It has a prime location on the property, the line between the famous 7-Mile Beach and the grounds and easy access for everyone.

It is a pretty killer view during the day and at sunset. During the sunset guests and owners alike gather under the gazebo to share a drink and some nibbles and watch the sun go down over the Caribbean Sea.

...and for that time of year it is the perfect place to have the Christmas decor and parties!!