chellyroo

Jeffrey- Isn't it weird how some of the "expert" sources one goes to for info don't jive with reality?! Sounds like the snorkeling at the inn is going to be great. Are sharks ever seen there? (I know, it's the OCEAN, duh.) That's something I could do without encountering. Do you know of an internet source that gives advice for snorkeling (like do's and don'ts)? Our experience is limited to investigating 4 ft waters in Destin for sand dollars and "skate" fish!

LvSun

Snorkeling on 7MB is fun but not the best on the island. A lot of people are sent to the cemetary because there are more coral patches there than other parts of 7MB.

We have only seen a shark while snorkeling one time. It was in the waters in front of the Hyatt. The shark was nestled down in a ring of rocks. It was awesome to see it!

Our favorite place to snorkel is right before you get to Rum Point. The reef is very close to the beach.

LvSun

First rule of snorkeling: relax and gently glide or float. Many beginner snorkelers want to swim, end up going fast, and they miss much of the sealife. Also, many beginners sort of panic. Key to snorkeling - RELAX!

Wet your hair before putting on your mask so you get a tight seal. Also, before putting on your mask, spit on the inside of the lens or rub baby shampoo on it, then rinse it off. Helps to keep it from fogging.

Gently glide in the water, clasp your hands behind your back, keep legs straight, and barely move your feet. Can't stress enough - -do not swim! You will be amazed how the fins get you through the water and you barely have to move.

The less you move around and from place to place, the more you will see.

Another major major snorkeling rule - do NOT ever touch the coral or stand on it. It is alive and you will kill it.

When snorkeling from the beach - some people put their fins on while on the beach then walk backwards into the water. It is easier to put the fins on when you are almost waist deep in the water.

If you will be snorkeling from a boat -It will help if you practice snorkeling at the beach before snorkeling from a boat.

Equipment:

If you think you may snorkel more in the future, get your own mask and fins. Will make for a better experience.

Get a snorkle with a valve to keep the water from going down the snorkel. Some rentals are still the old kind. Also, sometimes rental masks are stretched out so you will not get a tight seal around your face.

Having your own fins is convenient but renting them is fine. Rental places will often let you rent them for your whole vacation time. I bought some really nice expensive fins but decided they are too long are I always use the old cheap pair that I bought used from a rental shop. (Not so with my mask though, I am very picky about it).

"water socks" are good to have on to help protect your feet from sea creatures when you are walking out into the water to put on your fins, especially if the area has a lot of seaweed. My hubby always uses them, I do not. My fins are tight and too hard to get on with "water socks".

Be careful stepping in an area with seaweed. Sea urchins like to nestle in them and you will hurt big time if you step on one.

Snorkeling with fins will make your experience a zillion times better than without them. HIGHLY recommend you use them. Snorkeling with water shoes and no fins is a waste - might as well be barefoot.

My hubby's equipment is neon green - I like that cuz when I am on the beach and he is out snorkeling by himself, I can easily spot him cuz he "glows".

A dive bag is great to have - ours is mostly netting with zipper pockets at the ends. Great to carry equipment on the plane and on the beach or boat.I usually pack socks etc in plastic bags and put it in the dive bag to help protect the equipment.

Hope this helps.

chellyroo

LvSun;
awesome, I am going to print your post! Lots of great info.
Are visitors allowed to take back any ocean souveniers, like sand dollars or shells?

LvSun

The beach is not like you find at Nags Head and places like that - where you have a bunch of shells near the waters edge. At least I don't remember any on GC like that (although I am so into snorkeling I don't pay much attention to collecting shells so I could be wrong about this).

The beaches, especially on 7MB, have sandy bottoms into the water and other areas have sand and patches of sea grass.

If you do find shells on the beach, I don't know if you can take them home.

You cannot remove sealife, etc from the waters. They are protected and you can get in trouble for that.

One time when there, a huge storm came in one night. The next morning the beach was packed full of treasures left by the waves - coral, sea cucumber thought it was a rock until I went to touch it and it moved, etc.

I am excited for you - GC is a wonderful island and you are going to have a lot of fun.

Want to stress to you about walking in the sea grass - don't do it. Don't risk the chance of stepping on a sea urchin. They have long spikes which will be a major hurt. You will also see them in the coral.

Have you gone to GC's website http://www.caymanislands.ky/

jonescurl

We're also just back from Thanksgiving week in Grand Cayman. This is our 4th trip. If you want to stay on 7 mile beach, try the condominiums a little farther from Georgetown. The beaches are better, there are no crowds, and there are spots you can snorkle that are not far from the beach. The condominiums north of the Ritz are significantly cheaper than a hotel, include washer/dyer, deck or screened porch, kitchen, etc. If you google "cayman Islands" there is a Cayman website with links to condo rentals. They are all good, just pick your price.
Great little restaurant that is inexpensive and across the street from the Westin - "EATS". Perfect for breakfast, but we have eaten dinner there as well.

chellyroo

I think my hubby and I will definitely invest in some water socks in light of the lurking sea urchins! I can't wait to see my first one, but don't want to experience stepping on one. And someone posted they saw a baby octopus once while snorkeling in GC! That is so cool. We have gotten a quote from TNI (including car rental) and are just waiting on a co-worker of mine to verify that she doesn't want the same week in May I do (she has seniority).

So once we make our reservation, we need to get our travel insurance (in case of trip cancellation)...do most of you guys go ahead and book your flights, or do you wait and hope the rates go down? And if your suto insurance does not cover the rental (as ours doesn't) is that coverage you get with the cancellation insurance or is it separate? And lastly, can anyone suggest where we can find, like, the dos and don'ts of air travel? We have no idea what we can and can't take with all the security these days.

LvSun

Chelly,
Have you gotten your passports? If not, that needs to be #1 on your list.

I have never bought travel insurance - having said that I am probably jinxing myself now.

We get the car insurance at the car rental place on GC.

Every time I wait to book a cheaper flight I end up paying a higher price. Maybe others have better luck but the earlier I book the better price I get.

dianejoan

check out tsa.gov for travel info.

tbotzon

No one has mentioned it but Sting Ray City is AMAZING! Please consider it. It was a incredible unforgetable experience. Hopefully the tragic Stever Irwin thing has not put a damper on this once in a lifetime experience (for me anyway!)

chellyroo

Lvsun: we haven't gotten our passports yet since we just in the last few days have decided for sure we were going SOMEwhere outside the US; that is on our to do list for next week. I think we're gonna have to go with travel insurance--we'd be anxious to the final day that something was going to happen. I wasn't sure if we could get ins. for the rental at the place we pick up the car, so thanks for that tip. Guess we'll decide about the flight soon--we just kind of thought with it being near Christmas ALL flights (even 5 months from now) might be more. Heck we got no idea how all this works!

Thanks for the link, jonescurl. Will check it out.

And Stingray City is ABSOLUTELY on our must do list! About 2 years ago when we were in Destin, there was a school of about 20 or so rays (we think they were juveniles cause they were only about maybe 2-3 ft across) trolling up and down the shallows; we would run up ahead of them, get in the water, and just squat down and watch them glide by. We did that for about an hour and it was AMAZING. I don't know what kind you call them, they were the black and white ones with a head like a horseshoe. Beautiful animals.