GUE Cayman Quest 2006

GUE Cayman Quest 2006

February

Ocean Frontiers, on the unspoiled East End side of Grand Cayman, was once again the host for GUE Cayman Quest in early 2006. GUE instructor Fraser Purdon and the entire staff at Ocean Frontiers catered to the guests, creating a warm atmosphere of sun and fun.

The GUE Cayman Quest was great fun in 2005 and we filled an entire boat with GUE divers. This year was even more of the same fun but with TWO boats full of the GUE crowd. Our group took over most of the Compass Point condos and between dives, the crowd was lounging on the beach, cooling off poolside, or running in and out of one another’s rooms like kids on vacation.

The Ocean Frontiers staff is like a hive of worker bees! Even though there was tons of “hustle and bustle” around the docks and equipment lockers, there were smiles everywhere. They are also a little like elves – each time something needed to be done such as switching my equipment over to the second tank, it would be taken care of before I could even turn around!

Diving in Grand Cayman is always a pleasure, however, diving on the East End is spectacular! The reefs are gorgeous and untouched, schools of fish abound, and the visibility leaves little to be desired. Cruising through the water with minimal effort but the occasional frog kick, a big smile came across my face at the sight before me…no, not the elusive whalesharkmantaraysuperturtleclownfish, but twelve other GUE divers in like kits, great form, and their occasional frog kicks. It was one of the closest things to “buddy nirvana” I can think of. We had photographers, videographers, tech divers, and fish watchers on board, but what we all brought to the table was an appreciation for becoming better divers regardless of our experience level.

The entire week was filled with great dives and great dive sites. Each site was unique and full of eye candy. We took a break from the “serious” diving and headed to the Sand Bar for some face time with a host of stingrays. For some, this was the first time with the stingrays. The small chop on the water wasn’t keeping anyone out of the water, though! Hands full of squid were waving all around and the stingrays disappointed no one with their flights around the group. Evenings around Compass Point were a lively mix of scheduled presentations and informal gatherings around the pool. As the sun sank on the Caribbean horizon, the tales got taller and the friendships deepened.

Chats between dives may have been the usual vacation stuff, but occasionally I would overhear a little tidbits of advice being doled out by Jarrod, David, Bob or Fraser. Buddies would seek out assistance and share information with one another – maybe it had been a while since diving in the ocean, advice on wetsuits versus drysuits, camera settings, or something as “serious” as sunscreen application. The discussions were interesting because even if we just met for the first time, the camaraderie was evident from the first day – we were a family of sorts just meeting on the reefs of Grand Cayman for a reunion.

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