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Scuba Diving On Grand Cayman

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:32:25 +0000

By: Justin Burch
Resting atop a submarine mountain of coral, the island of Grand Cayman offers some truly distinctive scuba diving opportunities. Off the shore, the coral walls that descend sharply into the Caribbean create some incredibly unique and challenging dives. Elsewhere around the island, there are plenty of dives perfect for all ages and skill levels. Regardless of where you dive in Grand Cayman, however, you are sure to encounter an unparalleled variety of underwater life. It also helps that the warm waters off the coast often boast visibility exceeding 100 feet – a fact sure to impress snorkelers, as well as scuba divers. With over 250 unique dive sites in all, Grand Cayman stands as one of the most diverse dive destinations in the Caribbean.

Many of the most popular dive sites on Grand Cayman are located off the western shore in an area known as the West Wall. Many of this area’s dive sites are located just a short boat ride from the resorts lining Seven Mile Beach. At sites such as Armchair Reef, Wildlife Reef and Aquarium Reef, you will be able to spot numerous species of underwater creatures. Many of these reef dives are suitable for novice divers and snorkelers as well.

As Grand Cayman is known for its wall diving, you will definitely want to explore the deeper water of the western shore. At the first steep drop-off of 60 feet, you will find such sites as the Eagle’s Nest and the Orange Canyon – named for its population of colorful elephant ear sponges. Another fun challenge is Bonnie’s Arch, a unique site boasting a coral archway wide enough to swim through. All in all, there are more than 50 distinct dive sites located in the West Wall area of the island.

Though the North Wall is on the windward side of the island and features incredibly steep coral walls, one of the world’s most famous shallow dive sites rests along the sandy beach. A good part of this popularity is owed to the fact that Stingray City is a perfect site for divers and snorkelers of all ages and skill levels. Once you are in the warm, clear water you will be able swim with families of gentle Southern Stingrays. With wingspans approaching four feet, many visitors find a great thrill in Stingray City while feeding and photographing these majestic animals.

Along the North Wall, you can also spot a large population of tarpons at Tarpon Alley. These large, strange fish are surprising friendly and will swim close to you if you move slowly. Along the coral wall, experienced divers can visit Eagle Ray Pass and the No Name Drop-Off for a glimpse of sea turtles, exotic fish and dense coral reefs.

While many dive tours only visit the South Wall when weather is poor off the western shore, there are plenty of pleasant dives for all skill levels in the shallow southern waters. At sites such as Japanese Gardens and Oriental Gardens, divers are promised an up-close view of colorful coral and sea creatures in calm water perfect for photography. Slightly further from shore, these “gardens” sink into an intricate maze of tunnels, arches and underwater canyons.

Adventurous divers will want to visit the eastern shore of Grand Cayman. Though there are only a few dive operators offering tours of this area, you are unlikely to find more pristine coral reefs anywhere. Within the first slope of reef, you will find a series of tunnels, underwater caves and arches. Sites in this area such as Grouper Grotto and Babylon are always teeming with fish, sponges and sea turtles.

Lastly, what would a Caribbean scuba diving trip be without a few wreck dives? The Balboa, a 375-foot cargo ship that sunk during a storm in 1932, sits at a modest depth of 30 feet in Georgetown Harbor. Today, the vessel is home to an assortment of the Caribbean’s most photogenic residents. The most popular wreck dive in Grand Cayman is the Oro Verde, a coral-covered freighter resting in 60 feet of water off the shore from Seven Mile Beach. Additionally, Grand Cayman recently sank five vessels in various locations for both the enjoyment of divers and the ongoing research of environmental scientists.

There are over 40 experienced dive operators serving visitors to Grand Cayman, so finding a knowledgeable guide is a breeze. Even if you have never experienced scuba diving, you can become certified in Grand Cayman and then test your skills at some of the Caribbean’s best dive sites.

Come to Grand Cayman and you will see why the island is celebrated by divers and snorkelers across the globe.

Caribbean Vacation Travel Cruise

Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:48:47 +0000

By: Francis Lua

A Caribbean travel vacation cruise has much to offer to sophisticated travelers who recognize the great value in traveling to the island. If you want a vacation that is rich with culture galore, quaint architecture, seas to explore, fantastic swimming and snorkeling, then the Caribbean has it and more.

Here, you will find some great Caribbean vacation travel cruise offers that are guaranteed to give you the best value in cruise traveling.

A Seven Night Dream

Dreams become reality when you find yourself floating through warm, welcoming water of the on one of several vacations travel cruise ships. Enjoy the sun, sand, and surf of a picture perfect island during brief land excursion in any one of your ports of call and spend the day indulging in duty free shopping, diving in clear blue water, or exploring Mayan ruin.

With the coming of the cold month, the Royal Caribbean, one of the leading cruise lines on the islands, is offering many fantastic vacation travel cruise offers to its visitors who opt to book early. One of these is the seven night dream travel beginning at four hundred dollar per person, the cruise and featuring fabulous inside cabins where you can get excellent views of the dazzling ocean.

The Mariner of the Seas, which departs from Port Canaveral, Florida and takes you to four different ports of call where you can go on brief land excursions Labadee, Hispaniola, Ocho Rios, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; Cozumel and Mexico before you cruise back to Port Canaveral in Florida.

The Voyager of the Seas lets you s

tart your travel cruise fun in Miami, Florida, and making brief stops in Hispaniola, Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Mexico. The ship offers you four kinds of room accommodations, ranging from five hundred dollar to two thousand plus dollar.

Other midsize ships mean a more spacious and comfortable vacation cruise, with all the service and amenities you had expect, but no waiting in long lines for meals or port of calls.

Three Night Enchantment or Four Night Excitement

Few places on earth are more conducive to relaxation than the island of the Caribbean. Perhaps, it is the light, tropical breezes that gently soothe the soul. Or the warm water and warm receptions tat await you on every shore. One thing is certain: aboard a Celebrity vacation travel cruise, a vacation offers something for everyone.

But if you want your vacation cruise to be brief but enchanting, the vacation cruise offers several short cruises for your pleasure. You will find short vacation cruises, just three nights long, out of San Juan, Puerto Rico, for as little as two hundred eighty nine dollar per person.

Or consider a bit longer, western vacation cruise, four nights starting at three hundred fifty dollar, on the Enchantment of the Seas. Take a four night Western vacation cruise aboard the Century for only three hundred thirty, starting from Miami, Florida. The cruise provides you with all the amenities you could ever wish from, from shipboard accommodation to ocean transportation, meals, beverages, and entertainment aboard the vessel.

Pirates Still Running Wild in Grand Cayman

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 13:49:59 +0000

By: Justin Burch

Though the pirates found in Hollywood features might be things of the past, there is a Caribbean island that is keeping the more entertaining aspects this unique culture alive. For the last 30 years, Grand Cayman and her sister islands have hosted an entire week of pirate-related festivities during the month of November. Highlighted by street parties and heritage festivals, Cayman Pirate Week is one of the island’s most popular events and a can’t-miss experience for visiting families. This year, the pirates arrive in Grand Cayman on November 8 and disembark on November 15.

The festivities of Cayman Pirate Week begin with the arrival of the pirates aboard replica 17th century Spanish galleons. To the amusement of locals and tourists alike, the pirates playfully capture Grand Cayman’s governor at the docks of Georgetown. With the Grand Cayman’s leader symbolically locked up for the week, the pirates proceed to take over the island and spread their merriment from coast to coast. The pirate landing party will take place this year on Saturday, November 8. The festivities get underway at 2 PM with live beach entertainment at Hog Sty Bay, located near the main harbor of Georgetown. The pirates make their entrance in Georgetown at 3 PM and parade through the city to the delight of local and visiting families. The festival’s opening Saturday is capped off with a dazzling fireworks display and an exciting food and dance festival that has been known to spread through the streets of Georgetown.

The following day, families will have a

chance to interact with the pirates at the festival’s Children’s Fun Fair Day. From 12 PM to 4 PM, families can enjoy the friendly street fair atmosphere and have a chance to don pirate costumes, fool around with the performers and play games worthy of the high seas. Also on Sunday, families can participate in the Underwater Treasure Hunt in Grand Cayman’s West Bay. Hosted by local dive shops, the Underwater Treasure Hunt offers families a great opportunity to add the thrill of sunken treasure to a snorkeling or scuba diving excursion.

From Monday to Saturday (November 10-15), visitors can participate in a number of heritage celebrations throughout Grand Cayman. The excitement starts in the West Bay area of Grand Cayman on Monday. From 11 AM to 2 AM, the pirates will treat the crowds to live music, delicious Caribbean food and plenty of contests and games. On Tuesday, the party moves to the North Side of the island where visitors will have a chance to enjoy incredible scenery while partying with the pirates. The charming village known as Bodden Town is the host of Wednesday’s festivities, while Thursday sees the party return to the capital of Georgetown. At the close of the week, the heritage celebrations visit Grand Cayman’s East End on Friday and the Savannah and Newlands areas on Saturday, allowing visitors to experience some of the island’s lesser-known sites.

At the end of Pirate Week in Grand Cayman, locals and visitors can enjoy the lighthearted fun of the Cardboard Boat Race. Afterwards, the pirates are brought to trial as the crowds gather to see these “criminals” of the high seas banished from the island. Once order is restored and the governor is released from his cell, an immense fireworks display marks the beginning of yet another street festival. Known as the Street Dance Finale, the closing party moves up and down Harbour Drive in Georgetown until midnight on Saturday, November 15.

Throughout the week, visitors can find booths for food and drinks throughout Georgetown, while many of the local shops join the fun by offering costumes and special souvenirs. Even better for families, getting around Georgetown during the festival is a breeze and nearly all of the Cayman Pirate Week events are free.

If you and your family want to enjoy one of the most entertaining elements of Caribbean history, Grand Cayman is the place to be. As host to the only Pirate Week festival in the region, Grand Cayman offers visitors a chance to experience both an island where pirates once ran wild and characters that few get to see outside of the movies.

Grand Cayman Vacation Rentals

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:17:15 +0000

By: Art Gib

Grand Cayman is a warm and beautiful vacation spot all year round. During the day, visitors enjoy snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming in the clear waters around the island as much as they like sun bathing and playing in the sand on the beach.

In addition to being beautiful, entertaining and refreshing, a vacation on Grand Cayman will also be safe. With tourism playing such an important role in the island’s economy, local officials are very good about protecting their visitors. On the other hand, they are also good about protecting the environment from those visitors because pollution, heavy fishing or other forms of environmental abuse that would deplete the marine life and damage the tourist industry in years to come. Consequently, Grand Cayman remains clean and pristine despite the thousands that visit the island.

Even though there is a lot of real estate for sale on Grand Cayman, most people can only afford to stay on the island for a short vacation. Consequently, renting a condo or a villa makes a lot more sense than buying one. Of course, everyone wants to be close to the water during a Caribbean vacation, but on Grand Cayman you can be even more specific about the kind of water you prefer. For example, you can choose between a lagoon, ocean or sound view.

An ocean view rental faces the Caribbean Sea and enjoys natural beaches, a good breeze and plentiful marine life. The wind will make the water a little rougher but it should contribute to comfort and help keep away bugs as well. Sound views face westward, across the North Sound, which mak

es them an ideal location for viewing sunsets. The sound has less marine life than oceanfront properties but there are plenty of man-made white sand beaches for enjoying the water. And lagoon properties are located inside Cayman Kai Cove and are sheltered from rough water and wind.

Even though the ocean is never far away, many vacationers also prefer reserving a Cayman rental that has a pool. In addition to being close to the house, pools tend to be more private than a beach and the water inside them usually isn’t salty. Paranoid parents might find it easier to safeguard new swimmers by a pool as well.

Another recommendation from travel agencies and past vacationers is to rent a villa or condo on the east side of the island. The port city of George Town is on the west side of the island and experiences a huge influx of cruise tourists several days of the week. To enjoy the quieter feel of an island atmosphere, the east side of the island is best. That way you can visit the attractions of George Town and return home to the peace and quiet you want to enjoy during a vacation.

Travel From Winter Breeze To Warm Current

Mon, 25 May 2009 04:44:23 +0000

There is nothing better than leaving behind inches of snow, chilly breeze and finding yourself on an exotic warm and comfortable climate, sandy beaches and an ocean shore nearby which is a perfect vacation. During the cold months, beach vacations in the USA are not easy to find, as west coast is not always as warm as often hoped.

Plan affordable beach vacations and be perfectly content exploring more of Islands. Caribbean island beaches vacations are the most preferred among the beach lover. You will get amaze by great enthusiasm, shinny sun above and the rocking waves.

Best beaches at Caribbean island:

Bahamas a myriad activity, sights and attractions all packed within a stunningly exotic locale. Swim with the dolphins, view-nesting turtles or go horseback riding together are amongst the lavish choices available. Vivid collection of breathtaking beaches provides plenty of opportunity for water sports.

The Island of Saint Lucia, a tropical island nirvana, 27 miles long by 14 miles wide and truly a dream come true for sailors. Saint Lucia it is one of the more mountainous Caribbean islands. Festival and its Lent Carnival These are two distinctively shaped volcanoes, which have become a Caribbean icon.

The Cayman Island is known for their exotic beauty and the excellent opportunities they offer to water sports enthusiasts. It has many well-maintained beaches; among them is the Seven Miles Beach.

Colorful Aruba is an exciting travel destination. Tourist attractions, ranging from Shangri-la of chapels to a bird sanctuary and an ostrich farm too. Unlike most beaches in the Caribbean, are stunning and offer many water sports activities and great fares.

Antigua is one of the more developed islands unique activities include swimming with the dolphins at the Dolphin Discovery, or with the Stingrays at Stingray City.

Venezuela: Caribbean waters offer the opportunity for snorkeling, Para-sailing, water skiing, jet skiing windsurfing, as well as sport fishing. The life rich exotic jungle is homing for jaguar, deer and puma, macaws, and most species of monkeys, ocelot, among others.

Do not worry too much about the planning. Necessary gear-ups for the beach islands would be with your sunscreen, handsome yet effective sun-gear and lively colorful costumes. Most important is the true spirit to enjoy the life at the fullest. By doing research, you just may be able to find some great travel deals. Whether you use the talents of a travel agent or trust an Internet site or agency to do your research for you, there are some great bargains when it comes to beach vacationing.