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Snorkeling is one activity you may never seem to forget because you get the chance to explore a place you don’t regularly visit – underwater. For some people who don’t have any experience but one in swimming, snorkeling might be easy for them; however, getting a gear is essential. With the snorkel gear ready, the next thing is to choose a location to go snorkeling, and one of the many popular places is Grand Cayman Island.
Why Choose Cayman Islands?
In 1503, Cayman Islands was discovered by Christopher Columbus and was originally a pirate haven. Today, the Islands is a great site for snorkeling and diving, whether you are an amateur or professional diver. The presence of many dive shops with affordable accessories and equipment gives this location out as one of the snorkel-friendly places in the world.
The beautiful scenery is also a sight to behold – the crystal-clear surrounding waters make it a good place for snorkeling. Besides, shallow reefs and wrecks guarantee easy accessibility for snorkelers from all walks of life.
Where are the Best Sites to Snorkel on the Grand Cayman Islands?
The Cayman Islands is divided into different parts, and finding the best location can do so much to enhance a great snorkeling experience. Exploring the West Coast of this Islands seems like a good way to start because of marine life and other extras such as shipwrecks, reefs, etc.
Grand Cayman Islands options for snorkeling include the following:
Stingray City & Sandbar
One of the best snorkeling sites on the Grand Cayman Islands is the Stingray City and Sandbar, also called the North Sound. This activity location is an only boat-accessible site, adding fun to your parade. These two sites differ in depth, i.e., Sandbar is 3-4ft, and Stingray City is 12ft.
The interesting feature of locations is the dozens of tame southern stingrays with silky wings in their natural habitat.
Turtle Farm
Another incredible snorkeling site on this Islands is the Turtle Farm. It is often recognized with its mini-wall. This site is home to different fish species and other aquatic life, such as sea fans, octopuses, and soft sponges. On entry into this snorkeling and scuba diving site, you will see massive parrotfish schools, which is also a sight to behold.
Wreck of the Gamma
As it is called, the Wreck of the Gamma is a wreck site suitable for different kinds of activities, including snorkeling and diving. Unfortunately, this Grand Cayman Islands site isn’t what it used to be anymore because the ships are crumbling due to rust. However, within the time frame, visiting Wreck of the Gamma will be incredible – you would see a lot of sea life.
Cemetery Beach
A popular snorkeling-friendly place on Grand Cayman Islands is Cemetery Beach. Because of its popularity, there is a good chance that you will find so many people snorkeling or scuba diving. It is a fancy tourist attraction because it supports fun activities and displays marine life in the area.
The famous “Cayman Piranhas,” also called “Sergeant Majors” are found in these waters.
Devils Grotto
Paradise to Eden Rocks, also known as Devils Grotto, is another amazing place for snorkeling and free diving. It is often recognized with its range of little caves; it almost feels like an aquarium; thus, a nice tourist attraction is worth it.
This site houses some rare, special marine creatures, like corals, in their formations.
Wreck of the Cali
Another wreck site with a lot more to see is the Wreck of the Cali, located in George Town, Cayman Islands. Apart from the snorkel-friendly design of this place, this site houses some popular marine life such as eels, sea urchins, octopuses, and many others. It also has a fancy attraction with a wreck lying on the ocean floor and the ribs exposed.
Cheeseburger Reef
Cheeseburger Reef seems a little extra but exploring the shallow waters is a great fit for snorkeling. In this site, 30-ft of water protected larger coral formations until they moved to another water with 10-ft depth. Therefore, divers, snorkelers, and other tourists are left walking through the sand before reaching the shallow waters.
Rum Point
The perfect tourist spot on the Cayman Islands is Rum Point. This site has everything you need for a fantastic experience, such as secluded beaches, bars, restaurants, etc. If you want to snorkel in the Rum Point, the barrier reef is open to everyone every time of the year.
Colliers
Colliers are also one of the best snorkeling sites on the Grand Cayman Islands. This site on the East End of the Islands has incredible spots provided by the Tortuga Club’s reefs. Here, you will see hundreds to thousands of marine creatures, ranging from sea fans, lobsters, conch, and tarpons.
Other incredible locations on this Islands include Little Cayman, Cayman Brac, etc.
What are the Tips You Need to Snorkel in the Grand Cayman Islands?
Before you take a snorkeling trip to Grand Cayman Islands, you need to do a few things. They include:
Make Proper Plans
First, you need to make proper plans because that determines what your experience will turn out to be in the Islands. You can hire the services of a trip planner or tour guide to help you get settled in before departure and on arrival.
Train Before Snorkeling or Diving
Since one of your major highlights is snorkeling or scuba diving, you must get familiar with the area before you start. This Islands offer training services for interested snorkelers and divers to familiarize them with the surrounding waters.
Follow Starfish, Stingrays, and Turtle Rules
One of the most consequential things to do when snorkeling or visiting the Grand Cayman Islands is to follow the rules, especially the one which applies to sea animals. You can feed starfish, stingrays, and turtles; however, taking them out of the water is prohibited.
Read here on tips to snorkel coral gardens in Mauii.
Conclusion
There is much to learn about fantastic snorkeling locations like Grand Cayman Islands; however, knowing what to do is important. Above are the best sites to visit and tips to get you started on the experience. Overall, you should have a wonderful time out there if you follow these guidelines.