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
Marine Life & Conservation
IUCN Spotlights Green Fins at Bali Ocean Days 2025, Calling for Stronger Business Model in Marine Conservation

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Global Ocean Director, Minna Epps, has spotlighted Green Fins Indonesia along with a call for stronger business models that sustain marine conservation. Speaking at the inaugural session of Bali Ocean Days 2025 held on 7-8 February, Epps emphasised the need for sustainable financing to support and scale marine conservation initiatives such as Green Fins.
Activities earlier in the week with the Coral Triangle Center in Sanur and Ceningan Divers in the Nusa Penida Marine Protected Area shaped the IUCN Ocean Director’s message at the conference and showcase, aligning with the theme of the blue economy and impact finance to sustain marine ecosystems.
“Tourism has such a big impact on marine biodiversity, and we need it to adhere to a certain code of conduct,” Epps said. “That is why through our funding facilities, we worked with The Reef-World Foundation advancing Green Fins so dive operators can become certified with standards. But this kind of initiative has been around for a long time and it’s also a tool used to improve [MPA management], but it needs to come with a business model. I also believe in market-based instruments to evolve this programme.”
IUCN’s visit is part of their Blue Natural Capital Financing Facility (BNCFF), which supports at least 21 projects around the world, building the business case for investing in the future of our ocean.
In Indonesia, the project supported by IUCN was developed in partnership with The Reef-World Foundation, the Coordinating Body on the Seas of East Asia (COBSEA) and the Coral Triangle Center, which serves as the local implementing organisation for Green Fins. The initiative engages marine tourism businesses through voluntary sustainability certification based on the only internationally recognised environmental standards for diving and snorkelling operations. Green Fins’ activities aim to reduce negative environmental impacts associated with marine tourism activities as well as improve the management of marine protected areas.
IUCN’s promotion of Green Fins in Bali Ocean Days signals the need for greater private sector engagement in marine conservation across Indonesia and beyond.
Investors, donors, marine tourism operators and stakeholders looking to support scalable marine conservation solutions are encouraged to explore opportunities with The Reef-World Foundation, the international coordinator of the Green Fins initiative. To learn more about sustainable marine tourism and how to get involved, visit www.reef-world.org.
About Reef-World
The Reef-World Foundation is a registered UK charity which delivers practical solutions for marine conservation around the world. The charity promotes the wise use of natural resources – particularly coral reefs and related ecosystems – for the benefit of local communities, visitors and future generations. It is dedicated to supporting, inspiring and empowering governments, businesses, communities and individuals around the world to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources.
Reef-World leads the global implementation of the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, which focuses on driving environmentally friendly scuba diving and snorkelling practices across the industry globally. As such, the charity provides low-cost and practical solutions to local and industry-wide environmental challenges associated with the marine tourism industry. It provides education and capacity-building assistance to empower environmental champions (within the diving industry, local communities, authorities and governments) to implement proven coastal resource management approaches.
Visit www.reef-world.org to learn more or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Green Fins
Green Fins is a proven conservation management approach – spearheaded by The Reef-World Foundation in partnership with the UN Environment Programme – which leads to a measurable reduction in the negative environmental impacts associated with the marine tourism industry. The initiative aims to protect and conserve coral reefs through environmentally friendly guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling tourism industry. It provides the only internationally recognised environmental standards for the diving and snorkelling industry and has a robust assessment system to measure compliance.
Green Fins encourages and empowers members of the diving industry to act to reduce the pressures on coral reefs by offering dive and snorkel companies practical, low-cost alternatives to harmful practices – such as anchoring, fish feeding and chemical pollution – as well as providing strategic training, support and resources. By reducing the local direct and indirect pressures tourism puts on coral reefs, it helps make corals healthier and more resilient to other stresses such as the effects of climate change. Look for the Green Fins logo when booking your next dive trip.Visit www.greenfins.net to learn more or follow the initiative on Facebook, Instagram and X.
News
Filming 360 in The Bahamas

In December 2024, the Shark Trust had a very special opportunity to film sharks and rays in The Bahamas. Frogfish Photography are the Bahamas Dive Ambassadors for the UK. And Caroline, Deputy Editor at Scubaverse, is the Marketing Manager at the Shark Trust. So, when the need arose to film footage of several species of shark and ray for a new Shark Trust project, The Bahamas seemed the perfect fit. A huge thank you is needed here to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. As they stepped in to fully support the trip both financially and practically. Ensuring that the filming expedition ran smoothly, and that we got as much time as possible in the water with sharks and rays, during the 10 day, 3 island trip.
The Bahamas is famous for its sharks and rays. Divers flock there to experience getting up close to a range of species. Our itinerary saw us visit Nassau, Bimini and Grand Bahama. It packed in as many in-water experiences as possible and had us dive, snorkel, and even take a submarine to experience them in a variety of different habitats and to capture them on film. We saw 148 sharks and rays from 8 different species (all of which have been logged on the Shark Trust Shark Log!).
But why were we there? The expedition was designed to fulfil the needs of two new projects being launched by the Shark Trust in 2025. The filming done underwater on this trip was the start of creating OneOcean360: A Shark Story. A new 360 immersive experience designed primarily for immersive domes and planetariums. The film will be the nearest experience to getting in the water with sharks and rays without getting wet! It will bring the world of sharks to an audience that may never get the chance to experience it first-hand. A Shark Story aims to deepen people’s understanding of sharks, uncovering and illustrating why they are so wonderful as well as being vital to marine ecosystems.
The film is being made in collaboration with Real Immersive. Also based in Plymouth, they have an immersive dome and are providing the technical expertise behind creating this unique experience. Reviewing the footage in the dome has been an invaluable part of the process. Both inspiring the team and allow us to refine the filming techniques to suit this immersive theatre.
You might imagine that we are using expensive cameras and even more expensive housings. But this is not the case. The entire project is being filmed using Insta360 X4 cameras. With only a few simple additions to the standard dive setup. The INON weight plate allowed us to attach this camera to a dive weight, set it down on sand or wreck, and then swim away and let the sharks be the stars. And the results are very exciting. The film will be ready this autumn. It will be accompanied by an educational pack for teachers to take away after school trips to see the film. Encouraging all those that see it to continue learning about these incredible animals.
You can support the creation of OneOcean360: A Shark Story by heading to the crowdfunder page and donating or selecting a reward.
https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/a-shark-story
Read about the shark and ray dives we did on Nassau, Bimini and Grand Bahama in our next blog post coming soon on Scubaverse.
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