For those who would love to see the underwater beauty of the Caribbean Sea but are not interested in the complexities of diving, snorkeling on Grand Cayman Island is ideal. From toddlers to great-grandparents, snorkeling is safe for all ages and a great family activity.

The Cayman Islands are renowned for their excellent scuba diving but they are equally excellent for snorkeling. The vibrant tropical fish, clear warm water and spectacular coral reefs are easily accessible from the shore in many locations around Grand Cayman Island.

The best months for snorkeling on Grand Cayman Island are April to October. The waters offer great visibility, usually 100 to 150 feet with little or no current. It’s always warm – in winter it’s 78° to 80° and in summer it’s 82° to 86°.

You won’t be alone snorkeling Grand Cayman Island’s warm waters – there are over 500 types of fish and many other types of marine life including turtles, spotted Eagle rays, reef sharks, moray eels, stingrays, Horse-Eye Jacks and barracudas.

Spectacular locations right on the doorstep of the Aqua Bay Club are:

• West Bay, Turtle Farm
• West Bay, Cemetery Reef

To the south:

• George Town, Wreck of the Gamma
• George Town, Chesse Burger Reef
• George Town, Wreck of the Cali
• George Town, Eden Rock/Devil's Grotto
• South Sound, Blue Parrott
• South Sound, Smith's Cove

Also on Grand Cayman Island but further from Aqua Bay Club:

• Stingray City - the famous feeding ground for stingrays located in the shallow waters of the North Sound is a wonderful snorkeling experience
• Bodden Town, Beach Bay
• Bodden Town, Cemetery
• East End, Colliers
• East End, Queen's Monument

Almost all of these sites are accessible from the beach so just jump in the water and you will be able to see reefs, wrecks and the multi-colored marine life - including Moray eels, Sand Tigers, Queen Triggerfish, parrotfish, angelfish, turtles, sponges and stingrays.

Snorkeling at Grand Cayman Island Dive Sites

Grand Cayman has more than 145 dive sites, including unspoiled walls and intriguing shipwrecks. The variety of the island’s dive sites has perennially put Grand Cayman Island in the top 5 dive and snorkel destinations in the world.

The Cayman Islands are the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean. In 1986, a Marine Park plan was created to help preserve the marine ecosystem of the islands and 119 permanent moorings along the west coast of Grand Cayman encourage diving boats to disperse and lessen anchor damage to the reefs.