The largest and most active of the three Cayman Islands,
Grand Cayman has been a haven for water sports enthusiasts for decades. Christopher
Columbus accidentally discovered the island chain in 1503 when his ships were
blown off course while crossing from Panama to Hispaniola. These days it’s no
accident at all that travelers from around the world descend on Grand Cayman to
enjoy fishing, snorkeling and other aquatic activities in addition to the
island’s most popular sport, scuba diving.
Eden Rock. Cinderella’s Castle. Japanese Gardens. The names
of some of Grand Cayman’s dive sites sound more like plush resorts, which is
probably how diving enthusiasts think of them. Over one-third of Grand Cayman’s
visitors come solely to scuba dive, which is no surprise since the sport of
recreational diving was essentially born here nearly fifty years ago. Of the
more than 200 marked and explored dive sites in the Cayman Islands, 159 of them
circle the coast of Grand Cayman. The variety of sites is dizzying, from
100-foot-deep caves to a sunken Norwegian frigate, and those oxygen tanks come
in handy when faced with so much breathtaking underwater scenery.
While caves, steep walls and submerged wrecks may be
thrilling, one of Grand Cayman’s most popular sites for both divers and
snorkelers alike is a mere twelve feet deep. Stingray City, dubbed one of the
most unusual underwater attractions in the world, is home to dozens of the elegant
creatures who hover above the sandy bottom waiting for snacks. Years of being
hand-fed by divers and fisherman have made the stingrays tame as hungry puppies
and they eagerly swarm around visitors who offer bites of squid or crab,
brushing their smooth bellies against swimmers as a way of begging for food. Professional
dive operators such as Aqua Adventures can arrange a visit to Stingray City or
any of Grand Cayman’s other fascinating sites.
Not every fun activity on Grand Cayman involves a mask and
fins. Those who want to play in the water but not under it can choose to sail,
windsurf or water-ski instead. Parasailing along sparkling Seven Mile Beach is
another option and sports fishermen can try their luck at one of the island’s
many reefs or charter a boat for an afternoon of deep-sea fishing. Facilities
like Red Sail Sports can outfit visitors with everything they need no matter
which activity they choose.
Despite its reputation as a sportsman’s paradise, Grand
Cayman also offers high-class lodgings where weary adventurers can rest their
heads at the end of a busy day. The Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Beach Suites is
an all-suite hotel which contains Hemingways, voted one of the best restaurants
in the Caribbean by Wine Spectator magazine. The Westin Casuarina Resort and
Spa provides its own selection of posh rooms and is home to Casa Havana, a
fusion of Cuban ambience and Caribbean cooking with a breezy oceanfront
location. Ritz-Carlton recently upped the ante on luxury accommodations by
opening a branch of their world-famous hotel chain right in the center of Seven
Mile Beach complete with a spa, the island’s largest ballroom, and a golf
course designed by Greg Norman.
Diehard divers who prefer laid-back comfort can choose
Cobalt Coast Resort, located north of Seven Mile Beach in secluded Boatswain’s
Bay. The resort houses Divetech, a full-service dive center, and the hotel’s
120-foot dock and ready supply of air tanks allows divers and snorkelers the
freedom to enjoy shore diving at any time of the day or night. The shallow area
surrounding the dock is like a private aquarium teeming with parrotfish,
turtles, eels and other local species. Sea Fan Reef and Cobalt Canyon, deeper
dive sites for intermediate and advanced divers, are also just a short swim
away.
When it’s finally time to hang those air tanks
up for the day, some visitors segue straight from the ocean floor to the dance
floor. Discos and nightclubs stretch the length of Seven Mile Beach and popular
spots like Legendz and The Next Level offer comedy, live bands, and special
theme nights in addition to the usual dance music. Few people dance the night
away on Grand Cayman, though. A calm evening of calypso music and frosty drinks
beneath the stars seems a more fitting environment for planning the next day’s
adventure.
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