Cayman Aggressor V

Cayman Islands

The Cayman Islands is one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world. The water is crystal clear, warm and has the most beautiful turquoise color. Scuba divers will explore the walls and shipwrecks of Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac (weather permitting).

The Cayman Islands is a British Crown Colony which lies 480 miles south of Miami, nestled in the turquoise waters of the western Caribbean.

Diving Details:

Sharks, Turtles, Stingrays, Eagle Rays, Wrecks, Lobster, walls and reefs with abundant marine life
All dives from yacht.
Water temperature:
78 – 82F, 25 – 28C
3mm wetsuit recommended
7-night charters: up to 27 dives
10-night charters: up to 42 dives

The Yacht:

Port: George Town, Grand Cayman

The Cayman Aggressor V is built and maintained to the specifications of the local regulatory agencies and the regulations of the country of the flag.

Length: 120 ft.
Beam: 25
Passengers: 20
Staff: 7
Saturday to Saturday trips
Boarding: Saturday 3 p.m.
Check out: Saturday 8 a.m.

The Cayman Islands has been an Aggressor destination since 1984.

The Cayman Aggressor V is a 120’ yacht with a wide beam. Built and powered for comfort, safety and stability, she is diesel-powered, cruises at 10 knots and has 110-volt power onboard. Accommodations include two balcony suites, five Deluxe staterooms, each having two single beds or a king, and three twin staterooms each with two single beds, all side by side. All staterooms have climate controls, TV’s and private bathrooms.

The Cayman Aggressor V sleeps 20 guests in privacy and comfort. She features a roomy, air conditioned salon and dining area, sun deck complete with a hot tub, lounge and deck chairs, stereo and CD player (has an iPod plug-in), shaded wet bar and grill, a complete photo center with a digital video and still photo editing computer. Diving amenities include Nitrox (unlimited Nitrox is $100 per week or $150 for 10 night trips), camera table with low-pressure air hoses, and two hot, freshwater showers. The Cayman Aggressor V staterooms each have a safe aboard to store valuables such as passports, cash, credit cards or anything else you would like to store. The yacht is not responsible any lost, damaged or stolen items. We highly recommend extreme caution and care be taken if you plan to travel onboard with electronic equipment. This equipment should always be stowed after use to avoid the risk of damage.

All staterooms are air-conditioned and fitted with private toilets, showers and sinks. Breakfast (cooked to order), buffet lunch and an elegant meal at dinner with tableside service are served in addition to fresh mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. Beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are complimentary while onboard. The yacht is equipped with hairdryers in each stateroom. Linens are changed mid-week upon request and fresh towels are placed in each stateroom as needed. Filled tanks, weights and weight belts are included.

Food:

The menu onboard is varied and plentiful, with a variety of American feasts, barbecues and local cuisine. If you have any special dietary requirements, please be sure these are noted when completing the GIS. You will awaken to fresh fruits, hot entrees, cereals and juices. Lunches are buffet-style, featuring hot soups, homemade breads, salads and sandwiches and/or entrees. Chef prepared dinners are seated and served each evening including salads, vegetables, seafood, beef or chicken with a fresh homemade dessert. Once onboard, please speak to the chef about any special needs. Certain special dietary and beverage requests may not be available due to the remote nature of this location.

Beverages:

The Aggressor’s selection includes fruit juices, soft drinks, iced water, iced tea, coffee, and a limited selection of local beer and wine, which are complimentary. Due to the high duty charged on liquor, we suggest you bring your special brand from the U.S. or last duty free point. Due to local regulations; the bar will be closed while the boat is in port. Drinking and diving do not mix. Once you consume alcohol, you become a sunbather until the next day.

Packing:

Please plan to travel light, as on all liveaboard dive yachts, space is limited. We recommend that you pack your gear in soft luggage such as a duffel bag for easy stowage and to add to your comfort in your cabin. Clothing should be lightweight, comfortable sportswear; sunscreen and swimsuits are a must. A light sweater or jacket is ideal for evenings. Dress is always casual and informal. Additional items you may want to bring are sunglasses and walking shoes for your time on shore.

Entertainment:

There is a variety of nightly entertainment, including diving, fish identification presentations, movies, games and more. If you have a favorite movie, digital presentation or a video to share, we encourage you to bring it along. The staff especially loves new releases of DVD’s, movies, recent magazines and books. A small library of books for exchange is maintained onboard as well as fish identification books for reference.

Diving Conditions:

You will be diving in water that averages 82°F in the summer months and approximately 78°F in the winter months. Most guests make as many as 5 dives each day, so some sort of protection is needed. A 1-3mm wetsuit or shorty is recommended year round, however some people prefer a 5mm in January/February. All diving is from the mother ship.

Diving:

The staff of the Cayman Aggressor V, with their unique combination of talents, offers the ultimate service. While onboard, you may pick a buddy of your choice, or dive with one of the staff members. The yacht offers up to five dives per day (2 on the last day) including night dives. The Cayman Aggressor V provides 80 cubic ft. tanks, weight belts and weights. The stern and platform area is very spacious. The boarding ladders were designed for convenience to allow divers easy entries and exits. Enjoy freshwater showers on the back deck after your dives and dry off with a warm towel. All diving onboard the Cayman Aggressor V should be within the limits and standards of the training agency that certified you. All dives should be planned no decompression dives.

Diving Supervision:

You’ve chosen a Liveaboard vacation for the diving freedom that it offers. While in the water, you and your buddy are in charge. Every dive starts with a dive briefing from the yacht staff. However, as a certified diver, you and your buddy are responsible for planning and conducting your own dives within the limitations set forth by the briefing. The staff will be on the dive deck providing surface support for divers. They will also have staff in the water offering support, u/w photography and videography, and critter spotting services as well. On some dive sites a staff member will offer to lead a group and assist them in locating specific points of interest. However, the yacht does not offer direct supervision of dives. If you start out with a group, as long as you and your buddy remain in contact with each other and are ok – you may follow your own dive plan. Divers who desire more personal attention and structured/supervised dives should consider taking one of the yachts numerous specialty courses. An underlying skill featured in all of specialty training is planning, executing, and debriefing after your dive in order to build a more confident diver.

Dive Gear Suggestions:

We suggest you pack the following: mask, fins, snorkel, regulator with pressure gauge, depth gauge, buoyancy compensator, dive computer, dive light, mirror, safety sausage, Dive Alert and/or other safety devices. Dive computers are mandatory for each guest. Each piece of gear should be marked with waterproof paint or tape.

Top Dive Sites-Cayman Islands:

3 Fathom Wall (Mixing Bowl)

This is the crossroads of Bloody Bay Wall. Here, the “shear” wall, meets the “gentle slope”. This site offers more fish than any site in Little Cayman. Schools of Bermuda chub, 3-spotted goatfish, snappers and grouper of all sorts can be identified here. The rubble of the shallows is home to an array of creatures, including the timid yellowhead jawfish. If you are more adventurous, make a cut through the coral fingers and end up on the wall (there are several passages covered over by coral formations). Lobster are frequently seen on the wall area. Turtle, spotted eagle rays and an occasional reef shark or nurse shark can be spotted at any time.

Angelfish Reef

Coral fingers, and small coral heads make this sight truly enjoyable for night diving as well as a day dive.

Balboa (wreck)

Located in only 40ft. of water, this site is usually done as a night dive; however, it provides some magnificent color and life during the day light hours. Channel clinging crab, lobster, squid, octopus, and much, much more call this wreck “home”.

Big Tunnels

Highlighted by three (3) swim-through’s ranging from 80ft-130ft. Tarpon are sometime found in and around this site.

Bonnie’s Arch

70ft. Maximum, this site has a beautiful arch that provides wonderful photo/video opportunities. Seahorses are sometimes found here. Angelfish frequent this area. Channel clinging crab can be spotted under the edge of the outlying reef system.

Bullwinkle East

The site gets its name from the large elkhorn coral that forms the top of this shallow reef.

Cumbers Caves

In this portion of the reef, a “sand avenue” separates the shallow wall from the deep wall. To get to the “deep blue”, simply locate one of several passages through the reef. . . you might ask upon seeing the “inside” of the reef, “is this what Bedrock looks like?”

David Nicholson (wreck)

This “front end loader” was name for the late Dave Nicholson who was a diving icon of the Cayman Islands. Lying just offshore of the Sunset House Hotel, one can sometimes find lobster and large grouper under the stern of the wreck. A great “photo op” is also available at the statue of the Mermaid (designed by Simon Morris).

Devils Grotto/Eden Rock

“One of the dives that made Grand Cayman so famous”, is how many describe this site. Located just off the shore outside of George Town, one can explore the passages of these two (2) dive sites. Maximum depth is 45ft.

Doc Poulson (wreck)

Sitting in an open sandy area, with coral reef nearby, the small cable laying vessel was sank for the purpose of a wreck site. Good growth on the wreck provides a home to many juvenile fish including the pygmy file fish. Look for bristle worms on the green tube sponge located on the vessels spotlight.

Eagle Ray Rock

Found outside of Smith Cove, Eagle Ray Rock is noted for the “L”-shaped passage on this large coral formation.

Eagle Ray Roundup

This site is a continuation of Jackson’s Wall/Reef and offers many of the same features. It is not unusual to see a spotted eagle ray “snooping” for mollusk in the sand.

Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman provides a wide variation of reef life and fish – everything from juveniles to spotted eagle ray and sometimes a shark.

Pending the side of the island you are diving, you will find dramatic walls starting from 50ft-70ft. The shallows will feature a “spur-and-groove” coral formation or sites that are more noted for their swim-throughs.

More noted for its small reef life, don’t be surprised to spot a turtle at any time find a southern stingray feeding nearby.

Great Wall

The name says it all. The CAIV is moored in 15ft. of water, and the wall begins at 18ft. – and it is a shear drop. This portion of Bloody Bay Wall is full of pristine vegetation growing off the wall – gorgonians, soft and hard corals and all types of rope sponges. Turtles are often seen munching on a sponge or just swimming by at 40ft. Look for juvenile spotted drums and juvenile smooth trunkfish here.

Jackson’s Wall/Reef (also known as The Meadows)

The mooring pin is set in the middle of several coral heads, which can be traversed. Various snapper call this portion of the reef “home”. Cosmo the grouper can also be spotted in and around this site. Jackson’s Wall is highlight with swim-throughs onto the wall. Once again, look out for Caribbean reef sharks. In the sand area of the shallow, a spotted eagle ray can be seen feeding.

Jax Dax

Similar to Angelfish Reef, a diver can spend time around the coral reef, or venture to the sandy area where garden eels call home. In the rubble of this reef, look for yellowhead jawfish.

Joy’s Joy

The mooring pin is set in 25ft. of water, but the highlight of this dive are the many passages and swim-throughs found in the 70ft. range.

Kelly’s Cavern

Water conditions throughout the years have helped form this section of Cayman reefs; specifically, all the passages which wind in-and-out of the hardpan coral. You will find the top of this reef rich in vegetation. Look for the elusive batwing coral crab hiding in the coral.

Lea Lea’s Lookout

If you descend and head toward the mooring ball, you will come across a “cut” in the reef. Starting at 35ft., this narrow cut leads to the wall. Keep an eye out for channel clinging crabs and lobster hiding in this cut. A pinnacle marks the entrance onto the wall (you can turn left or right). Making a right-hand-turn and swimming about 30 yards, you will find the entrance to the “Great Room” (entrance around 80ft). The diver makes their way through the “room” and will exit on a very large opening. . . being spit out at 30ft. At night, take note of the colors (reds, oranges, greens, purples) that are visible throughout the room.

Lighthouse Reef

This reef gets its name from the Lighthouse Restaurant in Breakers. This wall site serves as home to turtle, spotted eagle ray and the occasional reef shark.

Little Cayman

To summarize, the majority of the diving in Little Cayman takes place within the boundaries of the world-famous Bloody Bay Wall. This marine park offers a combination of dramatic walls, swim throughs, mini-walls (in the shallows) and pristine coral reefs.

When weather dictates, the CAIV will move to the South side of Little Cayman for diving at Windsock Reef, Grundy’s Wall or the Soto Trader (wreck).

Lost Treasure

This reef is a flourishing tongue-and-groove coral formation. Nearby (pending the wind direction), you will find the dive site, Spanish Anchor. Anywhere in the area, take time and explore the shallows for some magnificent and unusual juvenile life.

M/V Keith Tibbetts

Formerly known as the Russian Destroyer #356, this wreck has become a fixture for wreck dive of the Caribbean. Today, the boat lies in 40-90ft. of water. It provides a great backdrop for photos/videos and offers some great penetration for the avid wreck diver. For more in depth information about the M/V Keith Tibbetts, go to www.jharp.net/brac_ktib.htm

M/V Kittiwake

Sunk as an artificial reef in 2011 The Kittiwake, a former submarine rescue vessel (ASR-13) rests 64 feet deep at the bottom and only 15 feet from the surface making her ideal for both divers and snorkelers. You can swim overhead and see the main decks and topography of the ship, plus take a look down the smokestack that opens straight down to the bottom of the hull and the engine rooms. There is no end of rooms to explore within this wreck.

Marilyn’s Cut

A simple slice into the reef of Bloody Bay Wall is sometimes home to reef sharks. All types of reef fish inhabit this area.

Nancy’s Cup of Tea (Magic Roundabout)

This area is just outside of the bight of BBW and provides a more solid coral formation. On the shallows around this site, you can find a pair of old anchors, known as Paul’s Anchors.

Neptune’s Wall

With the mooring sitting in 60ft. of water, this site is a gentle sloping reef formation that leads over the wall. Like many of the West Side wall sites, keep an eye open for the passing turtle.

Ore Verde (wreck)

A staple of Grand Cayman diving, this wreck today lies in pieces against a section of coral reef and provides a home to many fish, both during the day and at night (midnight blue parrotfish). Hordes of chub, jacks, and snapper are spotted during the day. Always be aware of spotted morays or a green moray eel.

Pedro’s Pinnacles

Watch Your Depth! Huge pinnacles from the bottom sprout upward to make this site what it is. Lying on the edge of the wall, be careful to monitor your depth gauge and you will find this most enjoyable around 80-90ft.

Randy’s Gazebo

“One of the most spectacular dives”, commented one diver. This site is home to some wonderful swim-through’s and some of the largest barrel sponges in the Cayman Islands. A wonderful “photo op” awaits at the “gazebo”. Be on the alert for spotted eagle rays just off the wall and turtles at any time. “The chimney” is a narrow passage that begins at 80ft., and “burps” you out at 30ft. Take it slow! And you can enjoy this experience.

Round Rock/Trinity Caves

This site features a nice swim thru small passage at about 70ft. Just down the reef you will find the famous Trinity Caves, highlighted by several lengthy swim throughs. Trinity Caves has been the focus of many photo shoots for various dive magazines.

Rum Point Dropoff (White Stroke Canyon)

Coral plates make up this site just outside the cut of Grand Cayman’s Rum Point. As all North Wall sights go, spotted eagle rays, turtle, channel clinging crab and lobster can all be found in this region.

Sensation Wall (Hammerhead Hill)

Found in the middle of the North Wall, this site was named for the coral formation that the mooring pin is set. Yes! You might see the elusive hammerhead here, but certainly keep an eye out for spotted eagle rays.

Stingray City

An introduction of this site is not needed – The World’s Most Famous 12ft. Dive. Stingray City is home to the many Southern Stingrays that pass the time away performing for divers. It is a “must” dive.

Tarpon Alley

Large sand passage slice through the coral fingers, leading out onto the North Wall. Between two (2) of these fingers, you can find tarpon displaying their buoyancy. Barracuda sometimes pose as “imposters”, lurking around, looking for a meal. On the wall, the beautiful spotted eagle ray is often cited as well as an occasional reef shark. If you are lucky, you might spot a hammerhead.

Teachers Caverns (Bats Cave Reef)

High coral wall formations help make these passages a beautiful site. Elkhorn and staghorn corals are found in the shallows. Families of lobster have been spotted on nearby coral heads.

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