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A Different Look At Grand Cayman

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I took the family down to Grand Cayman just before the holidays for some kiting, diving and general hanging around on island time. The following describes a visit to The Kitehouse in East End, Grand Cayman, http://thekitehouse.com/cayman.htm.

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The Cayman Islands are a short flight south from Miami. I usually like to fly Cayman Airways due to the consistently favorable prices and luggage policies.

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An interactive map of Grand Cayman with restaurants, sites to be seen, links, etc..
Click image to link to active map

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Compass Pointe Resort, http://www.compasspoint.ky/, the home of the Kitehouse in East End. The Resort caters to divers and kiters with some nice rate packages.
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They run several dive boats out of the resort while the Kitehouse stages two boats setup with compressed air and other amenities for kiters.

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A look at East End and East Sound, Grand Cayman ringed by barrier reef containing sand bars with waves and deepwater just outside.

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Michael Minichiello owner of the Kitehouse Grand Cayman pulls up with the boat to take us out to the sandbar inside the barrier reef. Mike is also an instructor examiner for PASA and periodically has instructor training courses on Cayman.

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Part of the Kitehouse gear shop at Compass Pointe. This is the only kite shop anywhere on all three islands of the Caymans.

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One of the Kitehouse support boats out on the sand bar inside the barrier reef. I believe this is the boat Mike delivered to Grand Cayman from Key West himself via Cuba. That trip was an adventure in itself! He shipped the other down as deck cargo on a freighter.

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A look at one of the Kitehouse's riding sandbars.
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Diving with Ocean Frontiers, http://www.oceanfrontiers.com/

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Big on the outside, flat on the inside, getting ready to launch.

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Richie Rich giving kiting lessons. The Kitehouse is famous for quality kiting instruction.

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Riding along with two GoPro cameras, one in a chest mount and the other on the kite.

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Mike pumping up a kite. These guys really take care of you, pump up, setup lines, pass you boards and then tear down everything for you. It is easy to get spoiled!

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There is Mike coming up from behind captured by the GoPro mounted on the kite. Stay tuned for the video, should be real interesting!

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The Kitehouse office at Kaibo Marina, staffed by George Evans and Laura Clark.

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Riding through some swells while tacking out through one of the cuts through the reef to checkout some waves outside.

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Look at that water!

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Mike pops one inside the reef

A quick video pan across the riding grounds off East End.

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George, another instructor comes by with the second boat.

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Cruising along the drop off in excellent blue water viz.

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Both boats setup on the flats. Lots of room to ride, practice and have fun in all that warm, clear shallow water.

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The Kitehouse operation at Kaibo Marina on the northeasern part of the island below Rum Pointe. They run some insane nighttime standup paddles out into the phosphorescent bay.

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Checking out the reef. It is a good idea to wear booties here, not for walking on the rock reef but for sea urchins in the grass flats. I didn't see any live coral colonies where I was located but more of a relict cobble reef.

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Swinging by the public beach.

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Checking out some amazing reefs with Ocean Frontiers out of Compass Pointe. These guys run an efficient, diver service orientated operation. You aren't just another diver with these folks, the work to earn and keep your business with quality service.

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Lots of fun to be had out there.

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Paddling around Kaibo

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Landing the kite to Mike.

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Up hook and we're outta there, smiles all around.

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Passing by the house with a wind meter close to the riding grounds.

Here is the weather station link for Cayman Chillin, shown above:
http://caymanchillin.com/caymanchillin-weather.html

Grand Cayman is in the tradewind belt, with trade winds from easterly directions with some amplification with cold fronts cycling through in the cooler months. There is flatwater inside the barrier reef with waves outside. Usually, the more populated western end of the island, George Town and Seven Mile Beach have offshore winds much of the year. East End being on the windward side relative to the trades, gets the wind full on less the waves thanks to the reef.

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Ocean Frontiers, the excellent dive operation located at Compass Pointe has a livecam overlooking the ocean to the southeast. More about Ocean Frontiers at: http://www.oceanfrontiers.com/

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Heading back to the dock at Compass Pointe.

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Mike has some nice green drinking coconuts right by the dock. He even whacks them open for you.

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Comparing Cay-manian un-cola's

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There is a nice restaurant, Tukka, a short walk from Compass Pointe just to the east. They sport a creative selection of Australian-Caribbean dishes including some truly brilliant lionfish ceviche! I was so taken by it and concerned about this invading menace on our reefs, that I wrote an article just about this at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=10332

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A 360 degree panorama around the south end of Compass Pointe, the docks and dive boats. The Kitehouse boats are out.
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See you from Cayman for now. Have more images and video to put together including some intriguing video of kiting the flats, cut and area beyond the reef from a kite and chest harness perspective. Thanks to GoPro for putting out such nice, versatile cameras that can be placed almost anywhere!

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Great write-up Rick. Really shows what we consider an awesome spot. We try to make it easy.... one short flight and you are in an ideal riding spot and we take care of everything. Lessons, rental, storage and accommodation provided on site.

Our lessons are boat based, taking our students to shallow sandbars so they can learn ALL the important kite skills, then once riding we have miles long downwinders with an instructor following in a boat, using radio helmets and one of the most comprehensive teaching methods available.

Mike Minichiello
www.thekitehouse.com

It is a marvelous spot and island for some time away on, under and beside the water Mike. You folks sure do make it easy both in kiting and diving. Just show up and things are rigged for you. Kudos for your instruction as well. All success in your launching clinics. Looking forward to seeing what goes on.

Ocean Frontiers, Inc. http://www.oceanfrontiers.com/ just put up some intriguing aerial photos of the reef and island on Facebook.

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"The classic East End dive site can be seen just to the lower right of the center of the image. Compass Point Dive Resort and Ocean Frontiers are just a short boat ride away." Note the shipwrecks just outside the channel and all that prime kiting ground inside and outside the reef!

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"A great illustration of the reef zones in the Cayman Islands: Shallow lagoon; reef crest barrier, hard pan; mini-wall; spur and grove coral fingers; and then the drop-off in to the Cayman Trench!" Checkout the underwater images above in this post.

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"A clear view of the East End 'Sound' and fringing barrier reef."
What an incredible place to visit and explore!

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Yes Rick,

We are really lucky to have all that just on our doorstep. Never any crowds, either, (well I don't count 14 kites a crowd - the most I have ever seen out at one time)!

Fantastic photos Steve took - they really capture the perfect kiteboarding conditions the island has to offer for what is often such a short flight

Richie

The operation is now called ...

The Sweetspot Grand Cayman

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Riding on the outside of the reef

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Grabbing some nice air outside the sheltering reef in the waves.

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Lots more info on this world class kiting and watersports destination at:

http://www.gotothesweetspot.com/kiteboard/archives/1148

and on Facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-S...61934673925127

So, why not plan a trip and checkout this sweetspot, it is mighty fine!

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This just in ...

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Waves on the outside, calm on the inside with shipwrecks in the middle. That's East End, Grand Cayman for you, prime kiting territory.

"The Sweet Spot Kitebeach is now Open!
It is official. The Sweet Spot Cayman will be operating full time this windy season from our new Kitebeach.

The same group of people that brought you the Kitehouse Cayman, is now under a new banner. And it is an exciting banner to be under, as we are continually expanding our services we offer while maintaining the highest quality possible.

The big news this windy season is that we have the first kiteboarding dedicated beach on Grand Cayman. It is a large, sandy, privately-owned beach that is all about kiteboarding.
The Sweet Spot Kitebeach

Easy access and located right at the best riding area in East End, if not the island. Ideal location to learn and a fun place to hang out for all levels of riders.

It is not just a nice beach, it has kiteboarding amenities such as: compressed air for kites, assistance launching/landing, showers, bathrooms, gear storage and shop.
Kiteboarding lessons and gear make great Xmas presents!
Are you wondering what to get your loved ones this Christmas?

Kiteboarding lessons and gear make for great presents. The Sweet Spot can help with both.

We offer gift certificates for all our activities. Intro Lessons start at US$149 and Bio Tours are only $55.

Plus we have a shop stocked with kiteboarding accessories with things like: Thermal Tops, Rashguards, Harnesses, SeaSpecs, Booties, Kites, Boards and more.

So quit looking and start calling. Give us a call today to help with your Christmas shopping. Call 345-925-8129 "

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"Sweet Spot brings back LeRoy

The Sweet Spot Cayman kitesurfing shop in East End is bringing world-renowned professional kiteboarder Damien LeRoy on island for the fourth annual Adventure Camp in the new year. The camp will be held at Sweet Spot’s kitebeach in East End on Jan. 18-23.

LeRoy is one of the most respected kiteboarders in the world, appearing on multiple magazine covers, voted 2011 Association of Wind and Water Sports Industries Kiteboarder of the Year, and dominating in a variety of the sport’s disciplines. With sponsors like GoPro, Oakley, Cabrinha and Lululemon, LeRoy is one of the most celebrated kiteboarders to visit Cayman and he loves it so much this is his fifth trip here.

LeRoy recommended Grand Cayman to Outside Magazine as one of the top five kiteboarding destinations in the world. LeRoy said in it, “The East End of the Caymans is a beautiful place. Lots to do, whether it’s diving, kiting, or surfing. The water is magical.” "

Continued at: http://www.compasscayman.com/caycomp...I-Mog.facebook

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MORE about this year's Adventure Camp at: http://www.gotothesweetspot.com/kite...p-cayman-2014/

A video covering last years great time at East End, Grand Cayman:

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"The Adventure Camp is fast approaching and spots are filling up.. only 3 spots left for some of the best kiteboard instruction available!!
Coming in January, more info here:
http://www.sweetspotwatersports.com/...p-cayman-2015/ "