These Awesome Activities Will Keep You Coming Back For More
A British Territory in the Western Caribbean, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are peaks of the massive underwater Cayman Ridge. The Cayman Islands are located south of Cuba, between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Jamaica.
If you’re looking for adventure in the Caribbean, look no further than the Cayman Islands. Surrounded by protective reefs and deep plunging walls, the Cayman Islands deep blue sea offers some of the best Caribbean diving, snorkeling, fishing and water sports imaginable. You’ll also be pleasantly surprised to know that there’s plenty of action on the island itself as well! We think you’ll enjoy our recommended Grand Cayman adventures below…
Dive the Best Sites in the Caribbean
It’s more than just a cliché – The Cayman Islands are truly a Diver’s Paradise! The islands are nicely positioned out on their own in the Caribbean Sea and that translates into a relatively clean ocean with amazing visibility as well as healthy coral reefs alive with marine life. With the Cayman Islands’ 365 named dive sites, there are places for the beginner diver, advanced diver and everything in between! You can experience shore dives, boat dives as well as night dives. Grand Cayman diving offers scuba enthusiasts opportunities for epic wall dives, as well as shallow and mid-depth wreck and reef dives. Aquatic life around the island is vibrant, with fascinating corals, sponges and tubes along with colourful tropical fish of all sizes. Grand Cayman is also home to turtles, rays, sharks, eels along with lobsters, crabs, shrimp and more.
The ‘West Coast’ of Grand Cayman has over 50 dive sites, including spectacular walls, canyons and swim-through arches and tunnels. There’s also shallow reefs with plenty of coral and marine life. Of course there’s the famous 251 foot, 5 deck USS Kittiwake wreck to explore as well!
In Grand Cayman’s North Sound area there are over 40 dive sites including the Cayman Barrier Reef with its gorgeous aquatic gardens, a deeper version of Stingray City as well as the epic North Wall – plunging steeply thousands of feet into the deep blue abyss! You’ll enjoy the wide variety of marine life off this side of the island.
Amazingly, Grand Cayman’s more remote and less visited ‘East End’ is home to over 50 dive sites – That means un-populated dives along the east wall in pristine coral canyons and valleys in the company of plenty of large tarpon! Then there’s Grand Cayman’s ‘South Side’ – Over 30 dive sites can be found on the oft-forgotten end of the island. Explore colourful coral mini walls full of fingers, tunnels and arches along with plenty of juvenile fish.
For more information on Grand Cayman’s dive sites, plus a listing of dive centres and boat operators, click on our Grand Cayman Diving page
Snorkeling at it’s Best
With several vibrant coral reefs all around Grand Cayman, it’s a great place to explore an underwater world in calm seas with amazing visibility. You can slip into the warm Caribbean Sea from a local beach, or take a short boat ride to some of the best Grand Cayman snorkeling spots a little further from shore. There are sunken ships and wrecks that sit in as little as 20 feet of clear blue water.
Of course, no trip to Grand Cayman is complete without visiting Stingray City. While it’s not exactly snorkeling, it’s a unique experience to swim with and even hold a gentle stingray! Want to see what it’s really like? Check out our Grand Cayman Stingray City video on YouTube!
Grand Cayman’s ‘North Sound Marine Park’ is home to some incredible snorkeling sites, including a large barrier reef and a number of lush gardens. You’ll be able to see fascinating corals, sponges and sea fans as well as tropical fish, rays, eels and even conch and lobster. Besides Stingray City, there’s also Starfish Point, a beach area where the sandy bottom, in just a few feet of water, is home to… you guessed it, Red Cushion Starfish!
The popular West Coast of Grand Cayman also has a number of awesome snorkeling sites, including the Kittiwake Shipwreck, a former US Navy vessel. The depth of the ship ranges from 15 feet (5m) to 60 feet (18m), so you’ll be able to see the deck topography and partway down the smokestack.
Grand Cayman offers a fantastic opportunity to explore an underwater world full of diverse tropical fish and marine life that you just can’t experience on land.
For more information on Grand Cayman’s snorkeling sites, plus a listing of tour/boat operators to get you out there, click on our Grand Cayman Snorkeling page
Have Fun ON the Water Too
Grand Cayman is blessed with one shoreline having a long beautiful beach with calm waters, one with a magical bio-luminescence bay and mangrove forest, and yet another coastline with a significant source of wind. So it’s easy to see why Grand Cayman is considered one of the best places to enjoy Caribbean water-sports. Whether you want to stand-up paddleboard in the calm waters off Seven Mile Beach or in the protected waters of North Sound, or you want to windsurf in the stronger winds along the East end of the island, there’s something for everyone.
Great kayaking can be found all around the island and when the sun drops, you’re in for a real treat! Picture yourself gliding gently through the waters of the bio-luminescence bay near Rum Point, with your boat’s motion making the sea all around you glow an eerie blue – It’s a once in a lifetime experience for sure. Of course, if you have more of a need for speed, there’s kite-surfing, wakeboarding or parasailing – It’s an unbelievable feeling to fly hundreds of feet in the air enjoying birds-eye views of 7 Mile Beach, Georgetown and across to the North Sound. Grand Cayman also has jet skiing and even a unique floating water-park for kids of all ages to enjoy.
For more information on Grand Cayman’s water-sports options, including a list of tours and equipment rentals, check out our Grand Cayman Water Sports page
Go Fishing
If you like to spend some time at sea, you’re in for a real treat at Grand Cayman! Thanks to miles of coral reefs located just a few hundred feet from the Island, there’s great opportunities for reef fishing and bottom fishing with plenty of Grouper, Snapper and Jacks to catch. You can also try Cayman Island fly-fishing, bone fishing and even tarpon fishing in Grand Cayman’s protected North Sound. If you’re looking for some of the best deep-sea fishing in the Caribbean, look no further than the Cayman Trench – Located roughly 10 miles (18km) from the shores of Grand Cayman, this abyss reaches depths of 20,000 feet (6,000m)! If it’s big game fish you’re after, there’s plenty of Blue Marlin, Wahoo (kingfish), Mahi-Mahi (dolphin), Tuna and Barracuda to challenge your skills.
For more Cayman Islands fishing information, including our list of boat operators to get you out there, click on our Grand Cayman Fishing page
That’s all great fun in and on the Caribbean Sea… Now, there’s also a couple of great opportunities for Caribbean adventure with your feet on/near dry land…
Explore the Island by Bike
Cayman Island cycling is a great way to see Grand Cayman and the magnificent Caribbean Sea. There is a variety of cycling route options to choose from, including coastal loops and inland routes that both offer picturesque views of the surrounding areas. There’s a mixed-trail coastal loop just north of Seven Mile Beach, where you can visit attractions such as Hell, Barkers National Park and the Cayman Turtle Farm. There’s also Grand Cayman’s quieter East End – Where there is little traffic, making it an ideal location to enjoy relaxing scenic coastal road routes. Attractions in the area include Nature / Wilderness Reserves, the Wreck of the Ten Sails, a lighthouse as well as rocky blowholes and Lovers Wall. If you’re really looking for a more strenuous route, there’s also a challenging 50 mile (80km) route in the area as well.
For more Cayman Islands cycling information, including a list of cycling tours and bike rentals, check out our Grand Cayman Cycling page
Lace Up Your Hiking Boots (or Good Walking Shoes)
Grand Cayman’s Mastic Reserve Trail makes for a fun half-day adventure as you journey on a rustic path through a variety of natural habitats including old-growth dry forest, black mangrove wetland, stands of Royal Palms and Silver Thatch Palms as well as abandoned agricultural land. Take it all in and you’re sure to appreciate the flowers, butterflies and birds, including parrots, west Indian woodpeckers as well as Caribbean doves, that you may encounter. You’ll likely also see lizards, frogs and large hermit crabs during the hike.
For more Cayman Islands hiking information, including a list of tours and guides to get you on the trail, click on our Grand Cayman Hiking page
Have Fun Out There!
ACT Staff
Once you’ve had your fill of action and want to slow-it-down a bit, check out our recommended Things To Do in the Cayman Islands blog
For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands that make up the Caymans, click on our Cayman Islands Vacations page
