Where is the best snorkling besides Sting Ray City?

[jerrycsr]

Looking for some good places to snorkel with the younger members of our group.

Been to Cayman before. Love snorkeling near the coral break near Sting Ray City when you do the sail with Red Sail Sports out there.

Snorkeled behind the Governor's Mansion but didn't see much.

Thanks for your input.

 

[Dish]

Jerry,
Smith’s Cove on the West End (South) is a popular spot. We enjoy snorkling Spott’s Cemetary beach in the morning to swim with the resident turtles... not much else to see there, though. Spott’s is down by Boddentown. I had some friends snorkle Eden Rock in Georgetown and thought that it was great... YMMV. Hopefully, others will chime in.

 

[diversteve]

Try Cemetery Reef on the north side of Seven Mile Beach.
Scuba Shore Diving Site Page for: Cemetery Reef of Cayman Islands, Caribbean

IDK but I've read there;s some interesting snorkeling just off Lighthouse Point in about 8' - an old anchor embedded in the coral and a few other artifacts. Contact Divetech on-site for details. Just a short drive west of Turtle Reef in a neighborhood.

probably the best resource: TESTUDO'S SNORKEL GUIDE Cayman Off the Beaten Path

Turtle Reef is also a known snorkel spot. Nice thing there is the stairs drop you in about 3' of water inside a protective cove and outside it the reef starts pretty shallow. Since the turtle farm is practically across the street - any that escaped (hurricanes) come back to the area.
Turtle Reef | Snorkeling in West Bay | iDive Cayman
idivvecayman has videos - search for snorkel sites - of 18 sites also - Best Dive Sites Grand Cayman - iDive

 

[Joneill]

Looking for some good places to snorkel with the younger members of our group.

Been to Cayman before. Love snorkeling near the coral break near Sting Ray City when you do the sail with Red Sail Sports out there.

Snorkeled behind the Governor's Mansion but didn't see much.

Thanks for your input.

Macabuca is a nice snorkeling (and diving) spot too - lots of critters on the hardpan and you can swim out and gaze down at lots of life on the miniwall - we’ve seen hawksbill turtles there many times as well.

Governor’s Reef on 7MB is usually pretty good as well - though less so in the last 2 years.

 

[EastEndDiver]

Testudos snorkel guide......very comprehensive and accurate

 

[caydiver]

Agree about Testudos guide. I have had great success with really little ones at Macubuca and under the dock at Rum Point. There is often at least one big barracuda under the dock and it has been a huge hit with kids.

 

[diversteve]

fyi Macabuca is the restaurant above Turtle Reef - seen in the start of the video. Good place for lunch or to watch the snorkelers in the cove below.Actually the stairs are right there also.

check out the conditions b4 you drive up - Live Webcam View of Cracked Conch Patio and Macabuca | Cracked Conch-Macabuca - Restaurant Bar and Grill - Grand Cayman

 

[jonhall]

For something different that the young ones might like is Starfish Beach not too far from Rum Point.

 

[Testudo]

With little ones (not knowing ability), Spotts Beach to commune with turtles, Rum Point around the pier and boulders in the cove (there's a Moray in there, believe it or not), Queen's Monument, Barefoot Beach and North Side Wonderland are relatively shallow and closer to shore.

The barrier reef and boulder coral garden off Rum Point are my favorites, but they are a long swim. The Rum Point Drift route is another's good option - ride the gentle current and usually pass some good critters along the way.

 

[jerrycsr]

Man, you guys are the best! Thanks for all the helpful information. Can't wait to be there.