Grand Cayman Questions
 

Hi all! We are going on a cruise in late October and will be in GC for one day. We want to take a taxi and go to a snorkeling spot. I was hoping you all could answer some questions for me:

1. Is it realistic to expect we can just walk off the cruise ship and get a taxi at the port? If not, how would we arrange a taxi just for us?

2. Once we are done snorkeling, are there taxis at the most popular snorkeling spots or how do we get one to pick us up?

3. What are the best snorkeling spots for beginners? I've only been snorkeling a few times and my stepson not at all. Are there any good spots relatively close to shore? I've read about Eden Rock and Cemetary.

Thanks!

1) You'll have no trouble getting a taxi at the cruise ship dock - there will be plenty wait big around.

2) There's no guarantee you'll find a taxi waiting around after you snorkel. Your best bet would be to make arrangements with the taxi driver who took you there to come back at a pre-arranged time to take you back to the ship or simply get the driver's cell phone number and call him when you are ready to return to the ship (if you go this route allow enough time from the driver to get from where he might be when you call to the pick-up spot).

3) You'll find lots of info about snorkeling sites here:
http://www.caymanactivityguide.com/Snorkeling.htm

Oops! - That first answer should say "... there will be plenty waiting around when you get off the ship" - don't know how the word "big" got in there.

Thanks, RoamsAround.

That was a good idea about getting the driver's cell phone number.

If you go to one of the beach areas on 7 Mile Beach it will be easy to get a taxi back to the pier when you are done.

Check the ports of call forum on cruisecritic.com Lots of info regarding where to snorkel.

Great! Thanks, KVR. I'll do that.

I would simply just snorkel Eden Rock and Devils Grotto and forget a taxi. Those sites and the others around George Town's harbour (Cheeseburger Reef, Wreck of the Cali, etc...) are better pure snorkeling spots than any other sites on the south side of the island. They are all walk-able from the tender terminal.

If you want some beach time with snorkeling, you can take an at the ready taxi from the terminal to Cemetery Beach. On the way back you can take the public mini-van back to George Town. Just wave them down from the side of the road, they stop anywhere. If you just make yourself look like a wayward cruise tourist waiting for a bus they'll honk and automatically stop and ask if you need a ride, same for cabs that pass you waiting on the roadside. All buses on that route head back to town and they pass every 15 minutes or so.

Info on some of the snorkeling sites around town
http://caymanislandsdiscounts.com/of...snorkeling.htm

By far the easiest, and in my opinion one of the best shore snorkels is Eden Rock. The water is deep, but the reef is awesome teaming with all kinds of fish. Walk south from where you get off the ship, and look for Eden Rock Dive shop...there is a ladder into water there. You won't regret it.

Thanks for all the replies! I think that's what we'll do. I like the idea of walking. If we want some beach time, too, I guess we can go to SMB for a while. It's interesting how different people's reviews are of snorkeling sites. Some have a good experience and others a bad one. I can't wait it go.