What would induce a man to leave his home in Canada to move to a country that is hot all year around?

For Dr. Brian Chapell, now acting president of the University of the Cayman Islands one inducement was scuba diving.

Dr. Chapell was recently in Bermuda to speak at a public forum at the Bermuda College. He has lived in the Cayman Islands since 2003.

The Royal Gazette took the opportunity to ask the avid scuba diver for some advice about scuba diving in the Cayman Islands.

Q: When did you start scuba diving and where?

A: I learned to dive in Waterloo, Ontario (Canada) and got certified in Tobermory, Ontario. Tobermory is a very popular dive destination in the Great Lakes due to the large number of shipwrecks.

Q: How hard was it to learn?

A: It's easy. You just have to be comfortable in the water and learn a little bit about gas pressures. Junior divers can get certified at 10 years of age, and advanced at 16 years. A small percentage of people will not be able to dive due to their inability to equalize ear pressures (common when there are sinus or related problems).

Q: Was it scary?

A: Not at all. I highly recommend it to anybody who likes the water and is interested in seeing anything underwater. Those who are claustrophobic sometimes find diving scary.

Q: How much did it cost to learn and how much does it cost you per year or per month as a hobby?

A: Cost varies quite a bit. I would contact one of your local dive shops for info about cost to get certified, but I think about $400 is a reasonable estimate. The amount is costs per year or month is totally up to the individual. For somebody with their own equipment, you can do a shore dive for under $10. Boat dives are more expensive. Dive travel is very popular, and there is no limit to how much you can spend on that. It's all up to the individual.

Q: What sort of equipment do you need?

A: Essential equipment is snorkel, mask and fins and a buoyancy compensation device (BCD). For those without equipment, most dive shops will have a full selection of rental gear. There is also plenty of optional equipment that makes it more enjoyable, and again it's up to the individual what they want to spend and invest in the sport. I have an underwater camera and enjoy underwater photography. This is now much more affordable than it used to be because of digital photography.

Q: Tell me about some of your best and worst moments scuba diving in the Caymans?

A: I had an amazing snorkeling encounter with a very large green sea turtle about three feet in diameter. My wife and I swam with him for over an hour. We went to the same spot a few days later and did it again, but have not found him since then. Always fun to see big sea life like turtles, sharks, stingrays, moray eels and more. I can't think of any 'worst moments', other than the day I lost my first underwater camera! Other than that, occasionally you have a boring dive and don't see much, but there is usually always something interesting to see.

Q: What is the marine eco-system like there?

A: Probably similar to Bermuda, but our water is warmer so there will be differences. The west side of Grand Cayman has significant fish life, whereas the East is more known for coral and sponge life on the walls and drop-offs.

Q: Is it in good condition? Does the Cayman Islands have good laws protecting the marine environment?

A: It's in pretty good condition in most areas. The Cayman Islands has marine protection laws. There are numerous marine parks and replenishment zones. There are even areas that are designated 'no dive' zones, but not too many.

Q: Where is the best place to dive in the Caymans?

A: In Grand Cayman, I like Trinity Caves on the West side, and Turtle farm reef for shore diving. The North Wall and East End are fantastic for wall dives. Although I have never been diving there, I am told that Bloody Bay Wall in Little Cayman is among the best in the world. I have been diving in Cayman Brac (only a few miles from Little Cayman) and it was great, but everybody says Little Cayman is better.

Q: Do you recommend any places where you can take some lessons?

A: There are many places. Since I didn't get certified here I don't have first hand experience, but Don Foster's Dive is in George Town and is quite good. Also Sunset Divers at Sunset House resort is quite good. There are many others. Dive Tech in West Bay is very good for advanced qualifications like tech diving, nitrox, trimix, rebreathers, etc.

Q: Can you recommend a couple of hotels there?

A: High end: Ritz Carlton, Westin Casuarina, nice, but more reasonably priced: Sunshine Suites, Comfort Suites, Marriott Beach Resort.

Q: How badly did category five Hurricane Ivan in 2004 damage the eco-system?

A: It was not too bad below water. The major damage was on land, but it has rebounded nicely in four years since Ivan. There was plenty of debris that blew into the sea, and many volunteers, including myself, went on debris dives where junk was removed from the sea. Some stuff inevitably got left behind and in many cases has become an integral part of the ecosystem, encrusted with sponges and other marine life and providing habitat for animals.