Two couples/sharks
 

Hello Caribbean Fodorites! We have had such good luck with advice from the Australian Fodorites on our trip there, that we thought we'd mosey over here for a planned snorkeling trip to Grand Cayman in late Feb./early March with my sister and her husband. The posts I have read have all either been one couple or couples with children. Are there any recommendations for condos where you can snorkel off the beach with 2 bedrooms that have either king or queen beds in BOTH bedrooms (instead of one with twin beds.) Also, is there much danger of shark attacks around Grand Cayman for snorkelers?
Thanks!
Sally and Randy in Seattle

We stayed at The Reef Resort in June in a 2-bedroom condo (the new section, Castaway Cove). These are new units (several months old). There was a king bed in the master and a queen in the second bedroom, and there are 2 bathrooms. There is excellent snorkeling off the beach. However, be aware that this resort is on the East end of the island and not on Seven-Mile Beach. While this was great for us, I realize that it is not everybody's choice.

We snorkeled several places around the island. We even snorkeled with a shark at the barrier reef. It was a nurse shark, around 5 feet long. We were assured that this shark doesn't attack people. And it didn't!!!! That was a very cool experience for all of us.

At the website gotocayman.com, they will give you contact info for a variety of condos. You can e-mail them directly and ask.

Grand Cayman has great snorkeling and is a wonderful place for vacation.

SnRSeattle; From what I've heard, the Cayman Islands are way down on the list for reported shark attacks. Unfortunately, though, many attacks must go unreported to the statisticians. For example, north of Great Guana Cay off of Abaco, Bahamas, there were two shark attack incidents around Baker's Bay August 8 and 9 of 2003, but I couldn't find these registered or reported to the shark attack.com statistics. Neither was fatal, although both men had to be hospitalized (one flown to Florida). Also, both men were spear fishing. Your chances of being attacked by a shark in the Caymans is slim; just don't go snorkeling by your place at night, during the early morning hours or at dusk. Robert

In plain english, you really don't have too much to worry about with sharks. Mostly, they are more scared of you than you are of them. If you want all sorts of info just for information purposes, check out this link.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks/isaf/isaf.htm

Use this link, to find out the number of shark attacks for whatever destination you might want.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks...statistics.htm

And here's the link where you will find out specific info on Cayman Islands.

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/sharks.../Caribbean.htm

Just as a matter of record, from 1749-2003 Map of the Bahamas' and the Antilles' Confirmed Unprovoked Shark Attacks shows only 2 ever instances of attacks in the Caymans and no fatalities.

In other words..... have a great trip and don't worry.
Steve

Thanks for the info. Not really scared of sharks, but you do hear of them in Florida and I was wondering if they were a problem in Cayman Islands. We are thrilled to hear about the people who snorkel off the beach--it is so much nicer than having to take a boat out and only snorkel for a short time when they boat people let you.
Sally and Randy in Seattle

SnSeattle; As I mentioned above, your chances of getting attacked by a shark in Cayman waters appears slim. However, I would not put a whole lot of confidence in the websites, which monitor shark attacks, for not all cases are recorded (My example of two in the Bahamas, in two consecutive days, which never were recorded). Another disturbing factor is the increasing number of dive operations that conduct regular shark feedings. Marine biologists are against this practice, and it is not yet known if the lack of traditional fear of humans and associating feedings in conjunction with boats and humans in the water will result in an increase in attacks. At any rate, I again warn against snorkeling in the waters off your beach place in early morning and at dusk. Not wise to do. Robert

In the past 6 years, we have snorkeled many, many times off practically every peice of sand on Grand Cayman. There is GREAT snorkeling everywhere on the island. We have met sharks twice. Both times were harmless. Once it was completely unafraid of us, and swam curiously alongside us the whole time (a bit unsettling yes, but no harm done). The other time it was totally afraid of us and swam to the bottom and tried to hide under some rocks. Both were between 4-6 feet long, nurse sharks.

I would agree with everyone here and say as long as you don't snorkel at dusk, you're fine.

This is a good website as it lists most of the condo properties on Cayman and rates the snorkeling in front of each.
http://www.caymanvacations.com/