willowjane

We are going for a few days next week. I am interested (or have been told I should be) in Rum Pointe and Mastic Pointe. Can anyone fill me in on these two areas? I would like to find snorkeling that does not require us to go out in a boat as one in the party gets seasick....any suggestions? We have never been and are open to suggestions. Family of 4, very active, two college age students and parents. Thanks in advance!

TurtleTagger

Rum Point is located on on the North Side district of Grand Cayman. Forty-five minutes from the airport, a car rental is a must. Not nearly as built-up as the main tourist zone of Seven Mile Beach. If you are a serious snorkel it makes a good base of operations with upscale private vacation homes and condos, a few good restaurants and a little more Caribbean vibe than some other parts of the island. Best snorkeling information I have come across for the island is from this blog:

http://snorkelblog.tumblr.com/

You'll notice many of the snorkeling sites outlined here are at, near or a short drive from Rum Point.

As for Mastic Point, I am not familiar with that location. There is the Mastic Trail for hiking that is a National Trust Heritage site. Maybe the advice was to situate somewhere in Old Man Bay which is a village on the North Side near a trail head of the Mastic Trail? Also in the heart of the best snorkeling on the island.

A bit more to do by Rum Point IMO - trips to Sting Ray City, a beach club, and a few more dinning options.

willowjane

Thank you so much...it was the mastic trail.

january89

Rum Point is sort of like Gilligan's Island! Trees and hammocks. Volleyball and a beach bar. You can snorkle off the beach. We like it. I am not sure where you are staying, but there are other places you can snorkle from the beach without a boat trip. Cemetary Beach, Governors Beach. Have fun.

willowjane

I have one more questions. If I wanted to get my scuba certification down there - can anyone recommend a place? Any idea how long it takes?

virginia

wj, i think ocean frontiers will do this. i bet morritts tortuga offers as well. your best option is to do the written portion of the course before you leave home. the course is even available online these days. then you just do the pool & open water part on island - saves you precious island time & gets you on a dive boat more quickly. be sure to do the stingray city dive.

tyedye33

Other SCUBA certification options if you choose to stay nearer to 7 mile beach Don Fosters and Sunset House. I agree with Virginia do as much of the written work prior to arrival and sting ray city is a must dive. Which ever outffit you choose (and they are both good as is Ocean Frontier)you should inquire as to discounts for subsequent dives after certification. Additional snorkeling opitons are the newly sunk SS Kitiwake (not sure how good this is) and in Front of Don Fosters has some good snorkeling. Enjoy!

Shatzbones

Love the Caymans! We have traveled to many islands and still love the Caymans the best. Snorkeling is wonderful at many beaches and you just walk in. We felt very safe there and explored the whole island.

Here is a list of those places:
Food:

The Sunshine Grill – the fish taco place. http://www.fodors.com/world/caribbea...ew-451585.html ate here twice.

My Bar / Sunset House. http://www.sunsethouse.com/bar.php

Over the Edge – this is where I had turtle steak. http://over-theedge.com/ ate here twice.

Rum Point – good drinks http://www.rumpointattractions.com/

Seymour’s Jerk Centre - http://www.caymangoodtaste.com/resta...estaurantID=66 (this is also a good site to check out)

Macabuca – we only went here for drinks and to snorkel. This is near the turtle farm and the Tortuga rum place where you can sample (don’t forget to sample the cream rum). http://www.caymangoodtaste.com/resta...staurantID=138


Hammerheads – bar atmosphere but this is where we went to the bar to have the 7 Fathoms Rum! http://www.caymangoodtaste.com/resta...estaurantID=26

Snorkel: here is a good overall site that can help too: http://caymanislandsdiscounts.com/of...snorkeling.htm

Eden Rock http://www.edenrockdive.com/

Rum Point

My Bar/Sunset House

Cemetery Beach

Smiths Cove http://caribbean-guide.info/attracti.../smith.s.cove/

Macabuca

Places to see:

Caybrew

Hell

The turtle farm

The Blow Hole (right off the road on your way to Rum Point)

We used Stingray City boat tour – Captain Clinton. This is a great tour. Large stingrays come right up to you and you get to feed them if you dare