Cayman Brac The Island 
“The Brac” is how most divers fondly speak of Cayman Brac. A limestone outcrop rises steadily along the length of the island up to 141 ft above sea level at the eastern end. The island is named after this prominent feature, as “brac” is a Gaelic name for a bluff. It has a desert island feel with a lot of dense scrub vegetation known as Karst forests. These are flora and fauna that grow out of the limestone topography. Caves and caverns draw attention to spelunkers who trek to see their fragile and delicate underground formations. One cave, Rebecca’s Cave, contains the grave of a young girl lost in a struggle against the ravages of the great 1932 Cuba hurricane. It is a Cayman National Heritage Site.
The Resort
Toucan Dive arrived in Cayman Brac this past January. We stayed at the Cayman Brac Beach Resort. This small enclave was a desired reprieve from the frozen tundra of the Midwest. The rooms are quaint and modern with a Caribbean motif. The resort is on the ocean. The infinity pool was a fantastic way to while away our surface intervals. The meals in particular were phenomenal! There was always plenty to eat. Toucan Dive made sure to keep their chefs working overtime. In particular, the big barbecue at the end of the week, was a great way to send us back to Illinois!
The Diving 
What can you say about the diving? It’s the Cayman Islands! Certainly, Caymanians make sure to due their part for the reefs. The divemasters made sure to give complete briefings on the dive sites. Also, clarifying the importance of protecting the reef and good buoyancy. The reefs were gorgeous! The visibility was 100 ft plus. Water temperature was in the low 80’s F. Lots of fish life everywhere. Large schools of grunts and snapper all along the reef demanded the attention of our photographers. Turtle sightings on almost every dive. Southern stingrays buried in the sand, and the occasional eagle ray moved along the wall. One of the highlights was our dives on the wreck of the Keith Tibbetts. This Cold War Russian Frigate was intentionally sunk in September 1996. It’s most outstanding feature are its guns! Moving along the wreck and the adjoining wall nearby was truly memorable.
The Final Analysis
There is a reason that we continue to include Cayman Brac on our itineraries over the years. It is truly an exotic getaway. Divers can escape, enjoy the great accommodations and food, and dive some of the best reefs in our hemisphere. We’ll be back! Check out the photos!
