Snorkel??

there will be 15 of us off the Carnival Vista in April. Looking for a snorkeling tour that does not include Sting Rays. Have done the rays in the past and would just prefer to go to a few different spots to snorkel. Any suggestions?? Thanks:)

Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto

What Is It?

Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto are located close together about 4 minutes away from the Cruise Ship Terminal. Here you will find a magnificent coral formation in just 10 to 30 feet of water and fish everywhere! You cannot fit all that fish in an aquarium! This is Grand Cayman snorkeling at it's finest!

How To Get There

Walk to the right as soon as you get off the tender at either South or North Terminal. Walk along the water passing the Blue Iguana, you will see the road taking a bend with beautiful pine trees overhanging the coast line. Look for the sign for Club Paradise. (By now you have walked about 4 minutes.) There you will find an easy entrance to the reef.

George Town, Paradise to Eden Rock/Devils Grotto

Eden Rock and Devils Grotto are a favorite amongst snorkelers and divers alike. Free

The site sits a few yards away from shore, do not get discouraged when the bottom seems to get deeper (30ft) without any coral to be seen, at that time you are getting very close to the formation that rises up from 30ft to a mere 10ft of water.

Fish feeding here is also very popular. If you have ever wanted to jump into an aquarium, this is the perfect chance.

Eden Rock - Grand Cayman Dive Site and Snorkel Site

Clouds of sergeant majors and yellowtails surrounding snorkelers feeding them; this has become the trademark of Eden Rock, a popular snorkel site found just south of George Town, Grand Cayman's main port and centre of commerce. Stairs cut in the iron shore allow easy access to the water. Meander out over the shallows until you find yourself hovering over a mass of huge coral heads connected by tunnels and caves. A dive shop on the shore provides rental gear and instruction as needed. If you continue to the south, you will find other great sites such as Devil's Grotto, a unique extension of Eden Rock. Devil's Grotto features the same massive, hulking coral heads with even more open chimneys and swim-throughs. Sprawling out along the shoreline (to the west) off these sites is a spur and groove formation of coral peaks and gullies leading out to the edge of the wall. This is segmented into reefs named after the resorts sitting on the shoreline. You will find Parrot's Reef, Seaview Reef and Sunset Reef. Each resort gives you gear rental, instruction and guidance.

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there will be 15 of us off the Carnival Vista in April. Looking for a snorkeling tour that does not include Sting Rays. Have done the rays in the past and would just prefer to go to a few different spots to snorkel. Any suggestions?? Thanks:)

Once you take the tender to shore, there will be tons of vendors on shore offering all kinds of excursions. You could probably find a good deal for 15 people there. If you want to book ahead of arrival, then some people here on CC might can give you the name of a vendor or two that you can e-mail.

Grand Cayman is a easy place to use vendors outside of the cruise line for excursions. Literally dozens of them, set up in booths right on shore.

Some in the group have never snorkeled before. I have heard these areas are for more experienced snorkelers?? Would prefer to maybe go out on a boat?? Any thoughts??

Some in the group have never snorkeled before. I have heard these areas are for more experienced snorkelers?? Would prefer to maybe go out on a boat?? Any thoughts??

all snorkel BOAT tours are going to give every person a snorkel vest to wear. It is for floating if needed. Second, no tour is going to take a group to an "advanced" snorkel site, bad for business. They live mostly off tips received at the end of tour, so they will make sure everyone has a good time.

What boat snorkel tours would you recommend that do not include Sting ray city, as we don't want to go there. All of them seem to go there??

It does seem that just about all the boat trips go to Stingray City. There are some that go to the Kittiwake, a ship that was sunk a few years ago, but that will be in deep water and not great for beginners either. I think the best place to snorkel for people with varying levels of experiences is at the barrier reef. Since you have 15 people going, you might try ahead of time to arrange a private charter to take you there. If they have a large enough boat and you split it 15 ways, the cost may be reasonable. I've never done a private charter, so can't be more helpful. I would search through this section of cruise critic, as that may have come up before, and I'd do a general internet search---or hopefully, someone will have a specific suggestion for you.

More info on the Kittiwake can be found here:

http://www.dive365cayman.com/kittiwake-cayman

It's not that bad of a snorkel for beginners, IMO. It's set up for diving or snorkelling, and there's stuff for both groups to see.

A list of dive/snorkel operators can be found here:

http://www.cita.ky/what-to-do&fk_category=7

I'd suggest contacting some or checking their websites to see what options are available for your group.

Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto

What Is It?

 

Eden Rock and Devil's Grotto are located close together about 4 minutes away from the Cruise Ship Terminal. Here you will find a magnificent coral formation in just 10 to 30 feet of water and fish everywhere! You cannot fit all that fish in an aquarium! This is Grand Cayman snorkeling at it's finest!

 

 

 

 

How To Get There

Walk to the right as soon as you get off the tender at either South or North Terminal. Walk along the water passing the Blue Iguana, you will see the road taking a bend with beautiful pine trees overhanging the coast line. Look for the sign for Club Paradise. (By now you have walked about 4 minutes.) There you will find an easy entrance to the reef.

George Town, Paradise to Eden Rock/Devils Grotto

Eden Rock and Devils Grotto are a favorite amongst snorkelers and divers alike. Free

The site sits a few yards away from shore, do not get discouraged when the bottom seems to get deeper (30ft) without any coral to be seen, at that time you are getting very close to the formation that rises up from 30ft to a mere 10ft of water.

Fish feeding here is also very popular. If you have ever wanted to jump into an aquarium, this is the perfect chance.

Eden Rock - Grand Cayman Dive Site and Snorkel Site

Clouds of sergeant majors and yellowtails surrounding snorkelers feeding them; this has become the trademark of Eden Rock, a popular snorkel site found just south of George Town, Grand Cayman's main port and centre of commerce. Stairs cut in the iron shore allow easy access to the water. Meander out over the shallows until you find yourself hovering over a mass of huge coral heads connected by tunnels and caves. A dive shop on the shore provides rental gear and instruction as needed. If you continue to the south, you will find other great sites such as Devil's Grotto, a unique extension of Eden Rock. Devil's Grotto features the same massive, hulking coral heads with even more open chimneys and swim-throughs. Sprawling out along the shoreline (to the west) off these sites is a spur and groove formation of coral peaks and gullies leading out to the edge of the wall. This is segmented into reefs named after the resorts sitting on the shoreline. You will find Parrot's Reef, Seaview Reef and Sunset Reef. Each resort gives you gear rental, instruction and guidance.

 

 

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This is awesome! Thanks for the details!

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