Beyond the Reef: New exhibition explores the hidden world beneath Cayman’s waters

Beyond the reefs that surround our islands lies a vast and largely unexplored world. Beyond the Reef: Exploring our Depths, Sharing our Story, a new collaborative exhibition by the Cayman Islands National Museum (National Museum) and the Department of Environment (DoE), invites visitors to discover what lies beneath the surface.

In February 2026, eight Caymanian scientists joined an international team aboard the RRS James Cook as part of the Beyond the Reef Caribbean Expedition. Together, they ventured into the waters surrounding the Cayman Islands to investigate underwater mountains, ridges, seamounts and other offshore environments, documenting an extraordinary diversity of marine life along the way. The expedition aboard the RRS James Cook lasted for 6 weeks, with the Cayman Islands research taking place on 13-25 February 2026.

The exhibition, co-curated by Brian Watler Jr. and Kelly Forsythe, brings the expedition to life through specimens, maps, imagery and interactive elements. Visitors will learn about the geological features that shape Cayman’s offshore waters, encounter species rarely seen, and discover the work of the scientists who ventured into some of the Caribbean’s least explored environments.

“The goal is to make the science accessible and give visitors a sense of what it was like to be part of this expedition,” says Brian Watler Jr. “There is so much happening beneath the surface that most of us never get to see, and this exhibition gives us an opportunity to share some of that story.”

While the expedition expanded our understanding of Cayman’s offshore waters, it also highlighted how much remains to be discovered. These ecosystems are part of the natural heritage of the Cayman Islands, and greater knowledge of them is an important step toward their long-term protection.

“Through this Exhibit we’re inviting the community to join the crew and take pride in the fact that the biodiversity is incredible in our deep-sea environments,” explains Kelly Forsythe. “Much like their nearshore counterparts – they’re uniquely Caymanian and equally deserving of protection.”

Beyond the Reef: Exploring our Depths, Sharing our Story opens with an invited preview on 22 October 2026 and officially opens to the public on 23 October 2026 at the Cayman Islands National Museum. The exhibition will remain on display through 22 January 2027.