Dive In: Cayman’s World Ocean Day Events (Today!)

Daphne Ewing-Chow (Cayman Compass) writes about the many activities taking place today— Saturday, 8 June, World Ocean Day—in the Cayman Islands! Ewing-Chow reminds us that the theme this year is ‘Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us.’ She underlines that “the question facing Cayman is: How do we protect what defines us?”

With more than 46,000 square miles of sea and just 102 square miles of land, the Cayman Islands is a nation overwhelmingly defined by its ocean. The country’s maritime territory accounts for approximately 99.7% of its jurisdiction – one of the highest ratios in the world – meaning Cayman’s identity, economy and food systems are inextricably tied to the health of its marine environment.

That makes the responsibility to protect Cayman’s waters not merely an environmental obligation, but an existential one. With World Oceans Day approaching on 8 June, under the theme ‘Wonder: Sustaining what sustains us’, the question facing Cayman is: How do we protect what defines us?

This year, a wave of events offers the opportunity to learn, reflect and act on that reality. Coral restoration dives, interactive marine science fairs, free documentary screenings and real-time underwater classrooms are giving the public opportunities to engage directly with the work of protecting Cayman’s marine ecosystems.

Coral restoration

On Saturday, 8 June, take part in a special Coral Restoration Seminar and Dive at Divetech’s Lighthouse Point Dive Resort in West Bay.

The day kicks off at 9am with a coral restoration seminar, followed by a 10am guided dive to Lighthouse Point’s Coral Nursery Garden – home to garden eels and the 20-foot bronze ‘Guardian of the Reef’ statue.

Participants can look forward to hands-on reef restoration with expert guidance from Cayman Eco Divers Reef Foundation.

Divers must be open water certified and bring or rent their own dive gear. Complimentary tanks and drinks are included.

To take part, RSVP by emailing Steven Fanning at steven.fanning@cdg.ky or messaging 325-3525 on WhatsApp.

Ocean science meets the cinema

If you can’t dive, you can still deep dive – virtually. On Friday, 6 June, at 10am, the Central Caribbean Marine Institute is hosting a free, immersive screening of ‘Reefs Go Live: Climate Change and Our Ocean’ at the Camana Bay Cinema.

The event blends science, storytelling and real-time underwater footage from Little Cayman to explore how marine heatwaves are impacting local reefs, and how the ocean’s natural ability to absorb carbon and regulate climate can help us fight back.

Viewers can interact with CCMI’s dive team live, submitting coral reef questions during the broadcast.

Space is limited and registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance. Donations are welcome and support CCMI’s critical conservation and education work. Register at reefsmail@reefresearch.org or online.

Meet ocean scientists

On Friday, 6 June, between 11am and 5pm, the Department of Environment is taking over the UCCI campus courtyard for its first World Ocean Day Fair.

Meet the scientists behind Cayman’s cutting-edge marine research and explore interactive booths on everything from coral nurseries to deep-sea ecosystems. This is a chance to ask real questions and get answers from people who are actually doing the work.

Inside the Cascade Lecture Theatre, catch screenings of two new documentaries: ‘Our Global Ocean: The Planet’s Blue Heart‘, produced by the CIG Office-UK, highlighting global ocean resilience through Cayman’s lens, and ‘Tagged & Tracked: Shark Diaries of the Cayman Islands’, offering a behind-the-scenes look at shark research and tracking tech. Both films will also screen for free at Camana Bay Cinema on Sunday, 8 June, at 2-6pm for World Ocean Day.

Visit www.doe.ky/doefair for more info and showtimes.

The Turtle Crawl

If you’re the 6:30am-workout type (or just like a good cause), the Cayman Turtle Conservation and Education Centre is hosting its 5th annual Turtle Crawl 5K Walk/Run on Sunday, 8 June, at 6:30am.

Starting and ending at the Turtle Centre, the scenic route takes participants to the West Bay Dock and back.

Registration is $25, with all proceeds going directly toward the conservation of green sea turtles in the Cayman Islands.

The event is part of the month-long Sea Turtle Festival, combining fitness, fun and purpose in support of one of Cayman’s most iconic marine species.

Sign up now at turtle.ky and be part of the movement to protect turtles.

Ocean movie night marathon

Those who don’t want to leave home to get close to the ocean can host a homegrown ocean explorer movie marathon. Fire up these Cayman-based documentaries:

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