German Engineering Mom

Look Mom, German Engineering!

People of my generation might think of Cayman as a place where corporations stash their money, especially if you ever watched the movie “The Firm.” Fortunately, some of us are divers and diving is what we think of when we think of this great island in the blue waters of the Caribbean.

This was my second visit to Grand Cayman, not as an older man but a somewhat older young man. Having been there as a young diver, it was one of my fondest memories of my diving youth, but going back I thought my memory might be bigger than Grand Cayman. You know that feeling when you revisit a place, structure or thing that as a child seemed so grand, and upon your return it was not what you remember. Well guess what, after a little research, I found that this memory tick does in fact affect us and has a name, it is the “false memory syndrome.” I am here to tell you that you have no worries about this taking a hold on your mind upon a second, or I imagine a third trip to Grand Cayman, but I will go back to find out.

Grand Cayman is just that, Grand. It is to divers what Disneyland is to every kind in America, and a few in Europe. I hear Euro Disney is not as good. :-) Cayman is a must see destination, that is a fact.

My favorite new found gold mine of this trip was Seven Fathoms Rum. Uh huh, if you know me, you know I am a rum connoisseur, and this rum is special. You probably will call BS on this, but we saw it first hand and so will you if you watch the Cayman episode. They age this stuff in barrels seven fathoms beneath the ocean’s surface, in caves no less. Why, you ask? Well, I will tell you that it makes a damn good rum, and to watch the episode for the details, it all makes sense after you hear the story.

From its tarpon-riddled underwater caves to its world-renowned local artist Guy Harvey, from its Seven Mile Beach to its famous rum cakes, from Hell to the legendary My Bar at Sunset House, Grand Cayman is a good spot to be 365 days a year.

Sunset House was indeed host for both of my trips, and while I am guessing there are more expensive places to stay, I can tell you that none of them will service you as a diver the way Sunset House does. It is a resort for divers by divers and they have been doing it longer and better than anyone. They and the island they call home will not disappoint.

We all fell in love with this place all over again, so much that we are already looking into returning for an episode about the Sister Islands.

If you have never been, go and get your ticket. If you have been to Grand Cayman before, do not worry about the “false memory syndrome” because I know first hand that Cayman is even sweeter the second time.

Randy C. Harris
EP