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The Club, Little Cayman
Just off the north shore of Little Cayman, the wall of all walls plummets from a shallow shelf of 25 feet to a depth of nearly 6,000 feet, into a vertical world of abundant corals and massive sponges that is teeming with marine life. Bloody Bay Wall is one of those places divers mention with reverence, and has been called one of the Seven Underwater Wonders of the Diving World. The fact that it exists off a tiny island with a population of fewer than 200 people adds to its exclusivity. I first visited the island almost 20 years ago, and on my return visits over the years, the overall atmosphere has changed little. The diving remains awe-inspiring, and nature rules both above and below the water. A world-class reef deserves world-class accommodations, and The Club at Little Cayman provides just that.
Luxuriously equipped and decorated to the hilt, the one- to three-bedroom condominiums offer a sinful level of indulgence and privacy: a kitchen any chef would adore, bedrooms lushly decorated in rich tropical motifs, stunning bathrooms and spacious open living areas with views of the sea. The Club has a pool with a waterfall, two hot tubs, a five-hole putting green, a patio bar and barbecue area with gas grills, and an expansive dock that stretches out over the turquoise waters inside the barrier reef, with two hammock cabanas to idle away the nondiving hours in peaceful isolation.
Add to this the amenities available only a few steps or a quick bike ride down the road at sister property Little Cayman Beach Resort, where you'll also find the Bird of Paradise Restaurant (meal plans available), Reef Divers, Reef Photo and Video, the Mermaid Boutique, the Nature Spa and weekly activities and events around Beach Nuts Bar.
Diving can be done with either Reef Divers or Conch Club Divers (at the Conch Club, a sister property), both of which pick up guests at The Club's dock. They provide valet-style diving: They set up your gear, help you get it on and off, and more importantly, take you to some of the most exciting dive sites in the world in style. Renowned sites like Great Wall, Mixing Bowl and Marilyn's Cut are some of the Bloody Bay Wall sites visited regularly, along with sites in Jackson Bay such as Cumbers Caves, Jackson Bight and Nancy's Cup of Tea. All provide the signature sheer drop-off and regular sightings of eagle rays, sharks, friendly groupers and turtles. Don't forget to explore the shallows during your safety stop. You'll find them as rich with life as the drop-off. I've been mesmerized numerous times by sail-fin blennies that pop in and out of their holes in seemingly choreographed unison as if dancing to a tune I'm unable to hear.
The island of Little Cayman also provides plenty of opportunities to commune with nature. An early morning bike ride to Tarpon Lake is a must. There, schools of tarpon fin and feed in the early morning hours among huge colonies of seabirds amid acres of inland mangroves. It's a bird watcher's dream come true.
All in all, the sleepy island of Little Cayman has its share of excitement on a daily basis in the deep blue off Bloody Bay Wall. It is truly a spectacle worthy of celebration, and there is no better place to toast the day than the exclusive environs of The Club at Little Cayman.
