Dive 183 : Lone Star Ledge, Grand Cayman
Dive No. 183 of 236Date Dec 17, 2002
Bottom Time
To Date133:01
This Dive0:36
Cumulative Time133:37
Location Lone Star Ledge, Grand Cayman
Time IN 16:17Time OUT 16:53
SI
0:42		 PG
 PG
52'
DEPTH		 0:03
15ft STOP
0:36
Air Temp 77F
Water Temp 81F
Visibility 90'
Buddy Lily, Howard
Dive Chart
Notes
After a short surface interval it was time to dive at Lone Star Ledge was our highlight dive of the trip. This time we were given a dive briefing about the dive then left to explore on our own.

We were the first group in the water and the first thing we saw was a modest sized Southern Stingray swimming by below us. It swam away as we approached it and we thought we wouldn't see it again. A few minutes later as we swam along the reef I spotted it just sitting in the sand with a Bar Jack swimming above it. It wasn't even spooked by our presence.

After that we swam around the reef and found one of the first ledges that this site is known for. It was nothing special, just a cutout in the reef with an overhang. Still a decent swimthrough. After we returned to the boat I looked for the other ledge in the opposite direction which I found quickly. We did that swimthrough as well.

After that I looked out into the sand and was surprised to see hundreds of Garden Eels in the sand. I hung out and watched them for several minutes. I've never seen them this shallow before so I really took time to enjoy them. Just as we were watching them a small Flounder swam by. Unfortunately during this time my camera's flash decided to act up and wouldn't sync with the camera so all the pictures of the Garden Eels turned out blue since they were taken with only natural light. Bummer.

We swam back towards the ship and looked at the usual stuff for the remainder of our dive time. Just as we were about to ascend I spotted a small Hawksbill Turtle eating something on the coral wall nearby. I swam up to it and it barely noticed me. Howard swam over and swam with it for a while and even that didn't spook it. After a couple minutes of that we decided it was time to get out of the water to make sure we got back in time to catch the tender back to our ship.

The below video gives you an idea what the ledges look like. The highlight however is near the end where there is decent footage of the small Hawksbill.

Video available: 56Kbps Modem RealVideo Stream (8 minutes 20 seconds)
250Kbps Broadband RealVideo Stream (8 minutes 20 seconds)

Click on thumbnail for a full-size picture.

Small Southern Stingray with it's friend.
Viewed: 79 times.
Grouper with strange shadow because I took this hanging upside down.
Viewed: 57 times.
Viewed: 37 times.

Another Jack swims by.
Viewed: 45 times.
Probably a Soapfish.
Viewed: 54 times.
Very bright Tube Sponge.
Viewed: 45 times.

Spotted Trunkfish.
Viewed: 37 times.
A Lobster in the reef.
Viewed: 55 times.
This Lobster was barely hiding.
Viewed: 66 times.

Lots of Garden Eels.
Viewed: 179 times.
Tried to get a close-up of one Garden Eel.
Viewed: 78 times.
I really need to learn to aim the camera someday.
Viewed: 115 times.

Small Hawksbill Turtle at the end of the dive.
Viewed: 117 times.		  

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