The Financial Times sees Cayman in a new light

| 31/01/2010

Cayman Islands News, Grand Cayman local news, Cayman Kayaks, Bioluminescence(CNS): More often than not when the UK’s leading business broad sheet is writing about the Cayman Islands, it is the jurisdiction’s controversial role in the global economy and its so-called tax haven status that is the focus. However, this weekend the Financial Times has published an entirely different view of Cayman with an article focusing on one the islands’ incredible natural features. In the weekend travel section Jane Owen has written an impressive article about the Bioluminescence, or light created by plants and creatures, that can be witnessed in Grand Cayman’s North Sound. Owens notes that, while the phenomenon occurs all over the world, it rarely happens “in such spectacular concentration".  (Photo: Cayman Kayaks)

Owen is an award winning writer who has been published in most of the UK’s quality press, and her ringing endorsement of her excursion on to the water with her guide, Tom Watling of Cayman Kayaks, is likely to be warmly welcomed in the local tourism industry.

In her article she noted some of the lesser known unique natural elements of the Cayman Islands — an area that many people here are saying needs to be of much greater focus in the local tourism product. As well as noting the quality diving here, Owen points to “wildlife riches” from the Blue Iguanas to the islands’ incredible Ghost Orchids. “Yet few people seek out these treasures,” writes Owen. “Most visitors stay at Seven Mile Beach, where white sands and dazzling blue sea meet American-style hotels, cocktail bars and nightclubs.”

She notes that going beyond that Cayman offers another kind of wildlife. “I had already discovered the subtle pleasures of mangrove snorkelling in the waters around Grand Cayman, where sea horses drift in a lush forest of underwater greenery. But it wasn’t until last November that I heard about bioluminescence. I flew into Grand Cayman from neighbouring Cuba and drove straight from the airport to meet Watling,”she adds.

“It is a moonless Caribbean night and, apart from a few twinkling stars, the only light comes from the sea immediately around our four kayaks. The boats have a halo of pale gold and leave shimmering trails in their wake. Every time our paddles lift out of the water they drip molten gold as if they’d been touched by a watery Midas.”

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  1. Anonymous says:

    Enjoy this wonder of nature while it lasts

    Our Premier supports the dredging of North Sound and soon our beautiful North Sound will be destroyed by the Premier’s dredging to allow his super/mega yacht to enter the Sound because he thinks that billionaires want to bring their huge yachts in to dock in a canal.

    Cayman, wake up and smell the coffee before you loose the ecology of North Sound forever.

  2. 'nuff said says:

    Here’s a true story. A few years ago I was walking the beach (near public beach) late one evening – around 11.00pm. The night was relatively dark but I noticed a tiny but bright blue light at the water’s edge. I managed to pick up whatever it was but it was so minute all I could feel wasthe couple of grains of sand that came with it. After admiring that tiny brilliant blue light on my finger tip for a few moments the glow dimmed quite quickly. Putting it back in the water brought the brilliance back to life instantly.

    It was the only spot of bioluminescense in the water at that time. It was electric blue and like a tiny Xmas tree light, and there really seemed to be no substance to it. Anyone else seen such a phenomena?

     

  3. GR says:

    Well done Tom!

  4. Anonymous says:

    That photo is just beautiful.

  5. Apatheist says:

    As someone who has recently been on the bio bay tour with Tom I concur… absolutely breath taking, and run very by a very knowledgeable and professional individual. Well done, Sir.

  6. Frequent Flyer says:

    Well described; "The boats have a halo of pale gold and leave shimmering trails in their wake. Every time our paddles lift out of the water they drip molten gold as if they’d been touched by a watery Midas.”

    That is exactly what it is like. Great advertising for Tom. He provides an excellant experience.

  7. CaymanLover says:

    Ahhh what a breath of fresh air.  It’s nice to be able to take a break from all the negativity surrounding our islands and just reflect on how beautiful they are.  I’m so happy to be Caymanian and I love my country so much.  I know this is only a short-lived break and I’m sure there will be negative posts on here soon but for me this is a lovely, positive and refreshing story.  Thanks for posting this CNS.

  8. Confucioused says:

    I noticed biolami bilolan that sparkly stuff before I inhaled.

    Cayman is world renowned for it’s biamol bilamana

    oh forget it

  9. Anonymous says:

    This is great!  I Iove the picture!  Also try watching the stars and moon every night when they are visible and early in the mornings, what a beauty! The clouds are beyond imagination – GOD is the Greatest Artist of All – what splendour! {will comment again soon}  Good work Ms Owen!