Cayman Island News
Cayman Supports Tampa Tarpon Tournament: The Cayman Islands joined the big leagues for the Tampa Tarpon Tournament on June 8 in Tampa. The tournament is a fundraiser for the University of Tampa’s Marine Science Department and the continuing effort to bring Tampa Bay back even closer to its previous healthy condition. The event took place 7am - 3pm with the winner being declared by most releases. The allowable fishing area is the entire Tampa Bay and its tributaries, plus a limited area offshore of the Skyway Bridge. Each team of anglers will have a “certified observer” aboard to attest to legal releases and tournament format compliance. The maximum fishing line rating is 80-pound test and the maximum length of leader is 15 feet. Once a fish is hooked, no one but the angler himself can fight the fish or even touch the rod. A legal release is the standard hand on swivel method. This is a good opportunity to rejuvenate the Cayman Islands presence in the Tampa market with four times weekly flights from Cayman Airways and this affluent fishing audience. Cayman businesses in support of this tournament include Cayman Airways, Southern Cross Club Resort, Little Cayman Diver II, Little Cayman Beach Resort, Pirate`s Point Dive Resort, Carib Sands, Capt. Marvin’s, Indies Suites, Island Air, the Dept. of Tourism and numerous other sponsors.
New Underwater Web Cams at the Turtle Farm: Cayman Turtle Farm and Tower Marketing, designers and operators of the new Turtle Farm website www.turtle.ky, have recently announced the transmission of the first live images from an Underwater NetCam? to the Internet. The live images showing the activities of sea turtles in their most comfortable environment are sent to the Internet using StarDot Technologies NetCam’s? built in network server. The Turtle Farm also has several NetCams? positioned for viewing the other areas of the Turtle Farm. These new web cams replace the older ones, which were destroyed during Hurricane Michelle last November. Anyone interested in these fascinating creatures can visit the Turtle Farm’s award winning web site at www.turtle.ky. Web site viewers will be able to see green sea turtles ranging from 10 months to one year old on the Underwater NetCam?. The website also contains a wealth of information on the Turtle Farm, including the its history, turtles facts, the release program, sponsorship packages, general tours, scientific research, as well as an extensive photo gallery and new online store, featuring turtle gifts and souvenirs. For more details on turtles and to view the NetCams?, visit www.turtle.ky or call the Cayman Turtle Farm on 949-3894
Ron Kipp receives Internationally Acclaimed DEMA Award: Local businessman and long-term Cayman resident, Ron Kipp is being honoured with the Reaching Out Award by the Dive Equipment and Marketing Association (DEMA).Through this award, DEMA recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the diving community by “reaching out” to bring diving to people throughout the world. The Reaching Out Awards were first given in 1989 and have been awarded annually ever since. Through this award, Ron Kipp will join the ranks of previous recipients such as Jacque-Yves Cousteau, Lloyd Bridges, Dr. Silvia Earle and Cayman’s own Cathy Church.When hearing about winning this acclaimed award, Ron Kipp, said “I am equally thankful to the people of the Cayman Islands for allowing me to make my contribution to diving in the Cayman Islands and to the international dive industry as represented by the DEMA Board of Directors for selecting me to receive this award”. Mr. Kipp will receive his Reaching Out Award at the Dive Industry Gala on October 24, 2002 during this year’s DEMA Show in Las Vegas. This black-tie event is generally attended by over 500 guests. The Awards Presentation will follow cocktails and dinner and will include a film clip about Mr. Kipp, after which receive his statue, and give his “acceptance speech”.
Little Cayman Field Station: The Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI) announces plans to open Little Cayman Field Station. The CCMI unveiled its plans for their new facility at Pedro St. James last Thursday, May 30th at Pedro St. James. CCMI’s mission is to sustain and improve marine resources for future generations in the Cayman Islands. CCMI plans to build a state-of-the-art facility to perform tropical research, to provide educational opportunities for the youth and to carry out its marine programmes. In designing and building the field station, CCMI will apply sustainable design principles, which include climate responsiveness, resource efficient and recycled content construction techniques, energy efficiency and responsible storm and waste water management.
The Cayman 500 Website: www.cayman500.ky, was recently launched. This site will be the major source of information for next year’s Quincentennial Celebrations. The website not only details the events for next year, but also contains a history section featuring interesting little known facts about Cayman, a kids section featuring artwork, stories and poems by Cayman’s school children, as well as the latest news and press releases. The Celebrate Cayman Shoppe is also online, allowing people from all over the world to purchase Quincentennial merchandise and local arts and crafts.
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