The Cayman Islands National Museum is opening a new exhibition exploring underwater environments surrounding the islands, following a deep-sea expedition earlier this year.
‘Beyond the Reef: Exploring our depths, sharing our story’, will bring the findings of the Beyond the Reef Caribbean Expedition to the public.
It will showcase the diversity of life discovered during the team’s exploration of underwater mountains, ridges, seamounts and other offshore environments.
Eight Caymanian scientists joined an international team aboard the RRS James Cook to investigate the deep waters around the islands in February as part of a larger exploration around UK oversea territories in the Caribbean.
The exhibition aims to make the scientific findings accessible through an immersive experience, allowing visitors to discover marine environments and species rarely seen.
The showcase is a collaboration between the Cayman Islands National Museum and the Department of Environment.
Three events will also be held alongside the exhibition, offering opportunities to learn more about the expedition and engage with its themes.
A presentation, documentary screening and pop-up exhibition will take place at the Cayman Islands National Gallery on 28 October from 6pm to 7:30pm.
The event is free, but attendees should RSVP to [email protected].
The same programme of activities will be hosted by Ambassadors for the Environment at The Ritz-Carlton on 30 November from 6pm to 7:30pm.
Admission is free and there is no need to RSVP.
There is also a candle-making workshop on Friday, 23 October, from 6pm to 8pm at Mar Candles Studio at 282 Crewe Road.
The session costs $40 per person, and places can be reserved by calling (345) 936-6336.
Kelly Forsythe was the Cayman lead scientist for the Blue Belt expedition and onboard the ship for the entire six-week journey around Anguilla, the Turks and Caicos Islands and Cayman.
Forsythe said she made a promise to the Cayman community before the trip, to include them on the journey and share what they found and why it’s so important.
She told Cayman Independent: “It’s difficult to naturally have a relationship with the deep sea – it’s very much out of sight and out of mind and hard to get to.
“But through the exhibit with the museum we’re able to invite the community to join the crew and relish in the fact that our environment and the biodiversity it supports is incredible in these offshore environments.
“Much like their nearshore counterparts – they’re equally uniquely Caymanian and equally deserving of protection.”
Forsythe said she was very excited to see people learn about Cayman’s seamounts, ridges and deep-sea life.
“But I hope the exhibit is also able to instil a sense of inspiration and national pride – that Caymanians are still brave, resilient and tenacious and that the sea is still as important to us today as it has always been.”
More information is available at museum.ky
