As one of the Caribbean's top diving destinations, Grand Cayman is blessed with many top-notch scuba diving operators offering diving, instruction, and equipment for sale and rent. A single-tank boat dive averages $50, a two-tank dive about $75. Snorkel-equipment rental is about $5 to $15 a day. Divers are required to be certified and possess a "C" card. To become fully certified takes three to six days, costs $350 to $400, and includes classroom instruction, pool and boat sessions, and checkout dives. To save time during your limited holiday, you can start the book and pool work at home and finish the open-water portion in warm, clear Cayman waters. Certifying agencies offer this referral service all around the world.
Most diver operators offer scuba diving trips to Stringray City, in the North Sound. Widely considered the best 12-foot in the world, it's a must-see for adventurous souls. Here dozens of stingrays congregate. They are tame enough to suction squid from your outstretched palm. You can stand 3 feet of water at Stingray Sandbar as the gentle stingrays glide around your legs looking for a handout. Don't worry, these stingrays are so used to thousands of tourist encounters that they are no danger, and the experience is often a highlight of a Grand Cayman trip.
If someone tells you that the minnows are in at Eden Rock, drop everything and dive here (on South Church Street, south of George Town). The schools swarm around you as you glide through the grottoes, and it's an unforgettable experience. The grottoes themselves are safe and the entries and exits are clearly visible at all times. Snorkelers can enjoy the outside of the grottoes as the reef rises and falls from 10 to 30 feed deep. Avoid carrying fish food unless you know how not to get bitten by eager yellowtail snappers. The waters around Grand Cayman are varied, so if the water looks rough where you are, there's usually a side of the island that's wonderfully calm.
When choosing a dive operator, here are a few things to ask: Do they require that you stay with the group? Do they include Towels? Camera rinse water? Protection from inclement weather? Tank-change service? Beach or resort pickup? Snacks between dives? Ask what dive options they have during a winter storm (called a nor'wester here). What kind of boat do they have (Don't assume that a small, less crowded boat is better. Some large boats are more comfortable, even when full, that a tiny, uncovered boat without a marine toilet. Small boats, however, offer more personal service and less crowded dives.)
Strict marine protection laws prohibit you from taking any marine life from many areas around the island. Always check with the Department of Environment 345-948-8469 before fishing. To report violations, call Marine Enforcement 345-948-6002