News
Red Sail Sports Named One of the Best Places to Work in Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands Society of Human Resource Professionals (CISHRP) at its Top Employer Award Dinner has recognized Red Sail Sports as one of Cayman’s top employers on Saturday night 24th May at the Grand Cayman Marriott Beach Resort. The award recognizes outstanding companies that help make the Cayman Islands a better place to work by creating a great workplace for its employees and by making significant contributions to the community.
With 153 current employees at its watersports operations and retail shops across the island, Red Sail Sports is also one of the largest employers on the island. The company went through a rigorous and lengthy application process that included a staff survey, staff interviews conducted by an independent party and a close examination of Red Sail Sports’ community involvement. The process examined Red Sail Sports’ work environment to determine respect, fairness, pride in the workplace, opportunity for advancement and happiness of the employees.
All Red Sail Sports’ employees were surveyed in the CISHRP survey and 90% responded: Are they happy with the company? Do they look forward to going to work? Is there opportunity for advancement? The compiled answers were considered as one of the components in the screening process.
“I came to Red Sail Sports 5 years ago to follow my passion – the beach and windsurfing,” says James Granger who started out as beach staff and has moved up through the ranks and various departments to become the Red Sail Sports Westin Supervisor where he helps maintain the company’s high standards. “I’ve always had opportunity to advance here and I’ve worked hard.”
Operations Manager Rod McDowall says Granger exemplifies the employees who are following their passion and having a great time at work while helping visitors have a fun in the Cayman Islands. This is good business for a company in the tourism industry.
“If you are in the business of showing people how to have a good time, it is important that the company supplies the environment for employees to be happy and advance in their careers.”
“Its about our customer service,” says Training and Development Supervisor Beth Hiryok. “Red Sail Sports employees are passionate about what they do and they share that passion with our guests, whether it’s at the beach, on the dive boats, on the catamarans or in the retail shops.”
Community involvement is also a key factor in the selection of a CISHRP Top Employer award winner. Red Sail Sports has long been a strong supporter of the local schools, especially with work experience. Five students have just completed 8 months of work experience with Red Sail Sports as part of the Cayman Islands Further Education Centre (CIFEC) programme. Red Sail Sports is also working with Cayman International School’s work experience placement by hiring a student in the retail department. The company is also supporting the government’s Passport to Success programme, which helps young people who have left school but have not found jobs. Through training and work experience, the programme aims to equip them to find work.
To further help young people break into the job market Red Sail Sports managers this spring held mock interviews with high students at Clifton Hunter. The goal of the exercise was to give them an idea of what to expect in real life interviews. After the sessions some students were invited to visit Red Sail Sports facilities for a day to learn about working in the tourism industry. The company has also reached out to Cayman’s youth by attending career fairs at John Gray High School.
Through direct donations and partnerships Red Sail Sports is also a strong supporter of the Special Olympics Cayman Islands and the Lighthouse School.
“I know Red Sail Sports does a lot for the community and we never pat ourselves on the back,” says Human Resources Manager Cashema Rankine, who initiated the application process. “I thought we’d be a great candidate for the award and I was right.” Rankine has been a member of the Cayman Islands Society of Human Resource Professionals for 8 years and she proudly accepted the award at the gala on behalf of Red Sail Sports.
About Red Sail Sports
Red Sail Sports, a member of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, is a leading resort based dive and watersports operator celebrating 25 years of excellence. Since 1987 it has been setting the standard by providing the highest level of guest service. On Seven Mile Beach Red Sail Sports operates locations at the Westin Resort (345.949.8732), the Marriott Resort (345.949.6343), the Grand Cayman Beach Suites (345.949.8745) and the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman (345.525-9768). At East End the company has a concession at Morritt’s Tortuga Club (345.947.2097), and it offers dive and catamaran services to The Reef Resort. On North Side Red Sail Sports offers watersports activities at the Rum Point Club (947.9203).
For more information:
Call toll free: (877) 506-6368
On Grand Cayman: (345) 623-5965
E-mail: info@redsailcayman.com
Web: www.redsailcayman.com
Facebook: www.facebook/redsailcayman
Twitter: @redsailcayman
The Shark Trust is excited to announce that, for two more days only, all donations, large or small, will be doubled in the Big Give Green Match Fund!
Donate to Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants
The Shark Trust is hoping to raise £10k which will be doubled to £20k. This will go towards Basking in Nature: Sighting Giants. And they need YOUR help to reach they’re goal.
The Shark Trust’s citizen science project is to monitor and assess basking sharks through sightings; encouraging data collection, community engagement, and promoting nature accessibility. This initiative aims to enhance health and wellbeing by fostering a deeper connection with British Sharks.
Campaign Aims
- Increase citizen science reporting of Basking Sharks and other shark sightings to help inform shark and ray conservation.
- Provide educational talks about the diverse range of sharks and rays in British waters and accessible identification guides!
- Create engaging and fun information panels on how to ID the amazing sharks and rays we have on our doorstep! These can be used on coastal paths around the Southwest. With activities and information on how you can make a difference for sharks and rays!
- Promote mental wellbeing through increasing time in nature and discovering the wonders beneath the waves!
Donate, and double your impact. Click Here
Jake Davies boards Ghazala Explorer for an unforgettable Red Sea diving experience…
The Red Sea is known for its range of dives, from bright, colourful reefs with a diverse array of reef species to world-famous wrecks scattered along its numerous atolls. The reefs and wrecks of the North Red Sea are one of the best ways to experience many of these.
Organised by dive tour operator specialist Scuba Travel, Ghazala Explorer was going to be home for the week for this exciting trip, a 37m steel-hulled vessel with top-class reviews by previous guests.
Departing from Hurghada, the plans were to head north for the first couple of days, including check dives on Global reefs, before then heading to see a few of the wrecks at Abu Nuhas reef. Then we would head across the Gulf of Suez into Ras Mohammed National Park to see what are considered to be some of the best reef dives in the Red Sea. From there, we would head to the Strait of Tiran for a day, then head back south to dive the world-famous wreck and one of the trip’s highlights: the SS Thistlegorm. This would include a night dive prior to heading back for the final day’s diving around Hurghada before heading back to port.
Arriving from Gatwick into Hurghada late in the evening, the Scuba Travel rep was waiting for arrivals ready to take us all to the Ghazala Explorer, docked in Hurghada’s New Marina. Stepping onboard, the high-quality and spacious deck spaces and interior provided an instant sense of comfort. There was a friendly welcome by the crew and guides. After some food, it was time for the boat briefing, which was detailed and covered all the important safety aspects of the vessel and procedures. The kit was then set up in the allocated spaces, and the spacious tables in the interior provided the perfect place to build up my camera ahead of the week’s trip. As soon as everything was done, it was time to head to the cabin to get some rest before an early start for a check dive.
The northerly wind provided a chop, but it wasn’t felt as the steel hull of the vessel cut through each wave. By mid-morning, we were moored up at the reef at Gobal Island, sheltered from the chop on the other side. With Ahmed providing a detailed briefing, it was time to kit up and get in the water to explore some of the reefs below during the check dive. It’s always exciting to stand on the stern of the boat, looking into the clear blue water before taking a stride entry to enter the colourful coral scenery below.
Like most of the dives on coral reefs in the Red Sea, the colours and busyness of the reefs were great to see. It was great to be back on the reefs, taking the time to watch the many species which make up the Red Sea ecosystems before picking out a few to film and photograph. The time flies by as you are constantly engaged with the surroundings, and then before I knew it, it was time to head back onboard, where everyone coming back from the water had big smiles and were full of excitement and anticipation for the rest of the week.
The next two dives, which included the night dive, were on the wreck of the barge, where very little remains act as an artificial reef for many species, which included a few perfectly hidden large stonefish and a crocodile fish camouflaging on the sand beneath the hull. Looking up though was the highlight of the dive, as a squad of squid could be seen mid-water, dancing around. Ascending slowly and calmly, I was able to position myself amongst the squad for the opportunity to get a few close-ups of this great species. Shortly after, the squid were then accompanied by a shoal of halfbeaks just below the surface. Everywhere was just full of life!
After some afternoon snacks, and as part of the safety protocols of the vessel, it was time to practice an emergency drill to put the briefings into action. The fire alarm rang, and we then had to carry out a full drill of getting the life jackets and using the closest emergency exits to then gather at the muster point on top deck where we would then have a run-through of the life rafts. The drill was great to do and I thought it was a really important part of the boat’s safety, as it was an opportunity to use the emergency exits to ensure a safe and effective evacuation, while also convening at the muster station to go through different scenarios and become familiar with some of the kit used during these emergencies.
Check in for Part 2 from Jake tomorrow!
To find out more about the Northern Red Sea reef and wrecks itineraries aboard Ghazala Explorer, or to book, contact Scuba Travel now:
Email: dive@scubatravel.com
Tel: +44 (0)1483 411590
Photos: Jake Davies / Avalon.Red
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