So my kids want to snorkel Grand Cayman...??

[DandyDon]

I've never been to the Caymans. I was invited to go on the cruise with them but no way I'm getting on another one of those barges. Hate them and the damages they do where they visit. I think they spend most of the week at sea with 3 or 4 days not docking anywhere. Borrring...!


They should have all of their own snorkel gear, including snorkel vests I bought for them - if I can get them to wear them?! They are thinking about shore snorkeling. Is there a good beach for such close to the cruise tender docks? Will they need a taxi and how much should that cost?

Oh, "my kids" are a couple in their 40s and my granddaughter age 12. All good swimmers, and the preteen spent a couple of years on a swim team.

I'm sure a snorkel boat would take them to better spots, and I suspect it'd be better to book direct - not thru the cruise company. Can you give me a few good choices, with links? I guess some will be unavailable, depending on the dates.

thanks!

 

[diversteve]

I can't really help with snorkel operators since I don't but here's some leads.

There's several options near the cruise port - which is a tender port in the heart of downtown. 500' away is Eden Rock/Devils Grotto - it's a shallow series of reefs/swim-thru's that doesn't exceed 40' - in many places the reef is closer to 10-15' from the surface. As you can guess since there's frequently 4-5 cruise ships in port daily - it's a little tired looking. Cruise Diver

A little farther south - taxi distance except they'll need to make pickup arrangements - is Smith's Cove. It's a shallow snorkel site with a lot of fish typically. There are basically no facilities there except picnic tables/restrooms so they'll need to bring gear/refreshments etc. Scuba Shore Diving Site Page for: Smith's Cove of Cayman Islands, Caribbean

The newest attraction is the Kittiwake wreck site. It's on the north end of Seven Mile Beach - but only accessed via boat. It was deliberately put down on the bottom at 60' - I've heard that at low tide the top almost breaks the surface. Supposed to be really cool to snorkel over the smokestacks and look down. Kittiwake Sites in Cayman, Kittiwake Wreck Dive - Kittiwake Cayman

Stingray City - or more accurately the SandBar is the most popular snorkel option. It's done in the north sound and there are over a dozen operators. And there will be a dozen plus boats with several dozen snorkelers on each there each morning.

These people were doing it my first trip to GC in 2003 so must be doing something right. https://www.captainmarvins.com/two-stop-stingray-snorkel-tours

One thing to be aware of when pre-booking is like on Coz is there's island time and ships time.

There's also other snorkeling spots near downtown Georgetown - Cheeseburger Reef is one I've heard mentioned - about a 10 min. walk north of the cruise port to the Lobster Pot restaurant/dive center dock. IDK much about it. I believe you can snorkel off Foster's Reef which is at the south end of the Devils Grotto Reef or maybe 1/4 mi. south of the cruise dock. Don Foster's has a dive shop there and handles most of the cruise dives.

 

[KathyV]

I agree with DiverSteve but I just want to mention that Stingray Sandbar is best when you can get there early, before the hordes arrive - but that may be difficult to manage from a cruise ship. There is no cruise ship pier in GC so the tourists are shuttled to shore in smaller boats where the taxis and excursion buses are waiting. If they do wish to attempt it they should try and get off early and go there quickly IMO.

But Tsetudo is really the GC snorkeling expert, see his excellent guide below, he can give you the best advice especially about options close to port.
TESTUDO'S SNORKEL GUIDE Cayman Off the Beaten Path

DandyDon, you should come to the Caymans to dive, especially the Sister Islands of Little Cayman and Cayman Brac, but there is good diving on GC too. Maybe you could plan a trip to coincide with their arrival on the island?

 

[Alex777]

If they get off the cruise ship before, say, 9:30 AM, they should find hawkers advertising snorkeling excursions right outside the port gate. The best ones stop at 2 or 3 different sites in N Sound, including sting Ray City and Coral Gardens. The cost is much less than when you buy on the ship.

 

[scoobydrew]

If you want actuall trips that you pay for then stingray city or the kittiwake are good ones.

That said you can get to Smiths Cove easy enough from the cruise ship terminal which is a lovely little beach with showers, toilets and free snorkelling. The only problem with Smiths is that it is near to the cruise ships so lots of people have the same idea.

Further afield (2.50USD by bus) is Cemetary beach at the top of 7 mile. I like it there because it has trees growing in the sand so offers shade while sitting on the beach

 

[Manneca]

I did a cruise stop a couple of years ago there and took some folks snorkeling. There's at least one (probably more) shops offering snorkeling equipment around Eden Rocks. It wasn't crowded at all. I think the charge was about $5 per person.

 

[diver 85]

They'll probably have a great time----but----tell em NOT to snorkel around the ship, when it's docked of course......

1,000,000,000 Gallons of Piss and **** Dumped By Cruise Ships Into US Waters During 2013

---------- Post added May 1st, 2015 at 08:07 AM ----------

I did a cruise stop a couple of years ago there and took some folks snorkeling. There's at least one (probably more) shops offering snorkeling equipment around Eden Rocks. It wasn't crowded at all. I think the charge was about $5 per person.

Man, back in the latter 80's/early 90's Eden's Rock/Devil's Grotto used to be 1 heck of a shore dive.....We(family--myself/wife/ & 2 kids) used to make that dive almost every afternoon as our '3rd dive' of the day.......Just took our (free)tanks from Parrots Landing & surface swam on out to the outside of the tunnels & drop down & dive each one--used to have dozens of big tarpon swimming along with us in & out of the grottos.....Have a great(VHS) home video my older son finally made of us--very neat & great memories, thanks for making me think of them.......

 

[redacted]

The reef off of Sunset House would be a good snorkel experience and not far from town (walking distance).

Sunset House Snorkeling In Grand Cayman Island | SNORKELINGDIVES.COM

 

[diver 85]

The reef off of Sunset House would be a good snorkel experience and not far from town (walking distance).

Sunset House Snorkeling In Grand Cayman Island | SNORKELINGDIVES.COM

Another good shore dive(snorkel could be done) here-------that along with DG/ER & the turtle farm......those were our 3(free) shore diving spots for several years....

 

[diversteve]

I forgot about Turtle Reef also. It's in the West Bay area on the north shore. So it would be a taxi ride of about 6-7 miles due north along Seven Mile Beach (which is really 5.3 miles long) Easy access set of stairs right into the water (over the ironshore) and both the Macabuca Tiki Bar and Cracked Conch Restaurant are on-site. Basically a short walk away across the street is the Turtle Farm/Boatswains Beach complex as well. The turtles are both released and get out during storms and since they return home to lay eggs, there's almost always turtles in the area - we must've seen a dozen or more. Here's a snorkel video: Turtle Reef | Snorkeling in West Bay | iDive Cayman