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Silversides in the Cayman Islands

Schools of swirling silversides appear on the walls, shallow reefs and wrecks of the Cayman Islands each summer, creating a spectacle you must see to believe.

Silver Rush at Eden Rock from iDive Global on Vimeo.

The summer months bring something truly unique to the walls, shallow reefs, and wrecks of the Cayman Islands — silversides. These tiny fish, (Jenkinsia Lamprotaenia), gather in massive schools while trying to shelter form the many predators that inhabit these islands. One of Mother Nature’s most spectacular underwater events, the Silver Rush attracts divers from all around the world. One dive site stands out as a favorite among the small shimmering fish — Eden Rock. Located in the George Town Harbor, this reef has the perfect topography for the herring. These shallow grottos are full of tunnels, swim-throughs and overhangs. Sunshine penetrates in from the surface, illuminating the school and bouncing light in all directions, as if thousands of tiny mirrors were dangling from the reef.

About the Author: Jason Washington is the managing director of iDive Global Ltd. and the co-owner of Ambassador Divers, a PADI Five-Star facility located at the Comfort Suites Resort on Seven Mile Beach. Living and working on Grand Cayman as an underwater photographer and scuba instructor for the past 20 years, Jason’s work has been featured in numerous documentaries and feature films. Follow him on Instagram here.

Guest post by Jason Washington

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