Cayman Islands Water Activities

There is nothing more exciting than the Caribbean Sea to enjoy water activities for all ages, and the Cayman Islands offers endless possibilities for beginners and professional watersports enthusiasts. Snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, and deep-sea fishing are listed among the most popular types of entertainment.

Grand Cayman is the island where more water activities are held, in fact, more than any other island in all the Caribbean. White sand and crystal clear waters are the perfect scenario for a diversity of water-related activities throughout the day and all year-round. Even those who are not swimmers can enjoy the underwater world.

The Annual Pirates Week Festival is held at Grand Cayman with street music, dances, costumes, sports and heritage events, including a "pirate invasion", which brings non-swimmers to diverse water activities from the past and present.

Sometimes referred to as the water sport capital of the world, the Cayman Islands government regulates and controls several safety aspects of the watersports industry, although operators are not required to become members of any association to offer their services.

Cayman islands are surrounded by the Cayman Trench, which northern edges form the Cayman Ridge, a massive wall immersed to depths exceeding 25,000 feet after extending west from Cuba. Cayman Ridge is the deepest point in the Caribbean Sea between the Cayman Islands and Jamaica.

Deep waters dropping off close to 100 yards away from the shore and living coral reefs provide the islands with popular dive and snorkel sites. Seashore depths range on average from 40 to 60 feet is also excellent for swimming, surfing and fishing, although the islands do not have a fishing industry.

As the north of the Cayman Ridge goes progressively deeper, where the Yucatan Peninsula is located, opening new water adventures to divers who enjoy the abysmal undersea life and amazing topographic characteristics.

The best diving sites in the Cayman Islands include areas of turquoise calm waters, such as Orange Canyon Devil's Grotto, Big Tunnel, Babylon, Eden Rock, Northwest Point, Trinity Caves, Lemon Wall, and others that have gained international attention as well.

There are 2 local trade organizations devoted to promoting water activities, Cayman National Watersports Association, and the
Cayman Islands Watersports Operators Association, where visitors can obtain further information related to the islands water activities, facilities and amenities available. There are over 50 scuba diving operators in the Cayman Islands.

With an impressive variety of fish, sponges and corals, snorkeling takes visitors directly into shallow reefs and shipwrecks that can be explored. However, the Cayman Islands' Department of Environment enforces regulatory steps to protect the islands' natural resources and has established different marine parks for both snorkelers and divers.

In addition, all divers must show proof of certification. Most of them are also invited to participate in volunteer and preservation programs. Non-swimmers are also invited to participate in water activities, including fishing, sailing, parasailing, windsurfing, yachting or visiting water-related attractions, but land-based.

Every year, there is a windsurfing regatta event in January, and it is very easy to access Jet Ski rentals to explore the surroundings. Sailing toward deep sea, may obtain catches such as yellowfin tuna, Wahoo, blue marlin, and dolphin, and even summer tourists to the islands can enjoy the Million Dollar Month International Fishing Tournament held in June.

One of the main water attractions at Grand Cayman is Stingray City, a location inside the natural channel, which passes through the barrier reef and plenty of Stingrays, which live in tropical areas feeding on small fish, mollusks, worms and other crustaceans.

Stingray City is the place where fishermen dock to clean and fillet their catch, and where the world-class scuba diving is practiced. There is also an artificial aquarium setting in the area with captive specimens, similar to a setting created in Bahamas.

Divers and snorkels are advised to wear a light, wet suit or skin-like outfit to protect themselves from stingrays. Stingrays are found in the bottom of the channel where they dig to find their food, although not naturally aggressive, they feed by movement, not by sight so they will try to suck any source of moving food... that might be a watersports fanatic.

Another great water activity in Grand Cayman can be found at the West Bay Cemetery Reef, Eden Rock, and Smith's Cove. In Cayman Brac, visitors to Helen's Reef, will be delighted with the coral reefs reaching the ocean surface, while Radar Reef, as well as at the west end of the island, have a number of diverse snorkel and diving activities for underwater beginners.

Cayman Brac has basically three main watersports operators and a particular attraction at the Stake Bay: a bronze sculpture representing two dolphins and four stingrays, the Oceanic Voyagers from the marine sculptor Dale Evers, and sunk in January 2003. This is a collaborative oceanic project between Mr. Evers, Oceanic Worldwide, Sport Diver Magazine and the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.

At the southern tip of Little Cayman, the marine park bordering Blossom Village, is the starting point for diverse watersports scattered along the region. The beach of Sandy Point is the most visited for snorkeling, but Bloody Bay is less secluded and more appropriate for diving and other water activities.

Cayman Islands' waters regulations include several considerations to take in mind before your visit, including not taking lobster or conch in the Marine Park zones by any means, or the use of pole spears, spear guns, seine nets or fish traps, all of them are prohibited.

Moreover, it is not allowed the taking of any marine life, alive or dead, without exceptions within the environmental zones, and limited to line fishing from shore and beyond the drop-off, where it is permitted. Cayman Islands Watersports Operators Association (CIWOA) can provide you with information on its policy "Look but do not touch."

Because the CTWOA regulations are intended to preserve the marine world in all three islands, visitors must report any irregularity to marine parks administrators and marine police officers. If you need environmental information before travel, contact the Cayman Islands Department of the Environment, P.O. Box 486 Georgetown.