Micro Life Spotting: What to Look for in Cayman Waters

One of the most exciting parts of diving in the Cayman Islands is the vast diversity of marine life you can encounter.  The vibrant underwater world never disappoints. From graceful sea turtles to inquisitive sharks, there’s always something amazing to spot.

 But... In this post, I’ll share some of my favourite Micro creatures to look for and a few tips on where you might find them. If you're curious to see more what these underwater moments look like, I regularly share my dive photos and experiences on Instagram—feel free to check them out here !

Micro Life 

Pederson Cleaner Shrimp 

Peterson cleaning shrimp for me are the most fascinating tiny creatures you’ll come across while diving in the Cayman Islands. Known for their striking, transparent bodies with bright blue and yellow bands, these shrimp are usually found tucked into crevices or nestled among anemones.

Despite their small size, they play a crucial role in the reef ecosystem by “cleaning” fish. You might spot fish, like groupers and moray eels, lining up at a cleaning station, allowing the shrimp to pick parasites and dead skin off their bodies. It’s a great reminder of how even the smallest creatures contribute to the health of the reef. 

They might even hop onto your hand to give you a gentle cleaning!- this is so fun

Lettuce Sea Slug 

Lettuce Sea Slug, Elysia crispata (transl. ‘Crispy Blissful Heaven’)

     

These Vibrant, leaf like slugs are named for their ruffled edges, which resemble the frilly leaves of lettuce. Rolling Harbour even states that that unless you see one moving, it could be easily be mistaken for a plant, which is so true.

These are solar powered slugs... with out getting to scientific, by partially consuming algae, they incorporate chloroplasts into their own cells, allowing them to photosynthesise like plants. SO in effect they can live and move around without food for very long periods.

I always look out for these creatures, I think they are very pretty and so cool. 

At Ironshore Gardens, A dive site, they are quite common- I once saw 16 of them all together. 

Juvenile Smooth Trunkfish 

  
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Most divers say that Juvenile Smooth Trunkfish are some of the most adorable and unusual creatures you'll come across while diving in the Cayman Islands. 

Juveniles are round and have a fluttering swimming style that’s looks very clumsy. Juvenile Smooth Trunkfish are basically babies. If you watch the video, there is a comparison between a juvenile and a adult Trunkfish 

Even though they are quite hard to find/rare. When looking you’ll often find them hiding among coral heads or near the sandy bottoms of shallow reefs.

Fun fact: Trunkfish are extremely toxic. 

When threatened, it releases a toxin into the surrounding water. While it is harmless to divers, this toxin can affect other marine life nearby, so it’s always best to observe these fascinating creatures without disturbing them.

 

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If you think I’ve missed any fascinating micro life, I’d love to hear your thoughts! Feel free to leave a comment and share your favourite tiny creatures spotted during your dives.