If you enjoy action fishing, Cayman waters have plenty to offer. Boats are available for charter, offering fishing options that include deep-sea, reef, bone, tarpon, light-tackle, and fly-fishing. June and July are good all-around months for fishing for Blue Marlin, yellow and blackfin tuna, dolphin fish, and bonefish. Bonefish have a second season in the winter months, along with wahoo and skipjack tuna.
One of the Cayman Island’s greatest assets is its low crime rate. With its excellent economic position, crime is rare. Vacationers and locals both enjoy walking on public beaches or strolling along busy West Bay Street after an evening meal.
Crime rates are especially low on Little Cayman. When you pick up your rental car at one agency in town, they’ll tell you just to leave the keys in the ignition.
However, no destination is completely crime-free. Use the same common-sense precautions you would exercise at home.
Do not leave valuables on the beach while swimming.Invest in a waterproof pouch for keys and necessities and lock other items in your car or hotel room.
Don’t leave valuables in your unlocked rental car. Many of the Cayman Islands rental cars are open-air jeeps. Leave possessions in your hotel room.
Use hotel safes and safety deposit boxes.
Don’t walk in isolated areas alone at night.
Getting married in the Cayman Islands is now a simple process. Couples need to arrange for a marriage license for non-residents (Cost: US $200) at the Chief Secretary’s office, Fourth Floor, Room 406, Government Administration Building, George Town (Phone: 345-949-7900)
The Simplest way to go about this is to contact the Chief Secretary’s office before your visit to obtain the name of a Marriage Officer. You will then complete the form with your names, occupations, permanent addresses, and your temporary address while staying in the Cayman Islands. You will also need to present the following:
Valid passports or birth certificates verifying that your are at least 18 years of age.
The original or a certified copy of divorce decree or death certificate, if applicable.
A letter from the authorized Marriage Officer who will officiate at your ceremony.
A Cayman Islands International Immigration Department pink slip showing proof of entry. Or, for cruise passengers, a boarding pass. If you are arriving on a cruise ship, have your Purser call ahead to the ship’s agent for assistance.
Two Witnesses
No residency is required to get married in the Cayman Islands.
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
Grand Cayman Island is the largest and most populated of the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman is also one of the most popular cruise destinations in the Western Caribbean, largely because it doesn’t suffer from the typical tourist deterrents many larger ports have: panhandlers, high-pressure sales, and crime. The Cayman economy is very stable, and the local residents are renowned for their courteous behavior. Compared to other Caribbean ports, there are few things to see on land. The most impressive sights are underwater. Grand Cayman is a diver’s paradise, with pristine waters and a colorful variety of marine life. Snorkeling, Diving, glass-bottom boats, and submarine rides are the most popular ways to explore the underwater mysteries and beauties of the Cayman Islands.
Compared with other Caribbean ports, there are few things to see on land here; instead, the island’s most impressive sights are underwater. Snorkeling, diving, and glass-bottom boat and submarine rides top every ship’s shore-excursion list and can also be arranged at major aquatic shops. Grand Cayman is also famous for the 554 offshore banks in George Town; not surprisingly, the standard of living is high, and nothing is cheap. The island sustained substantial damage for Hurricane Ivan in 2004, but at this writing, most business and facilities were back in operations.
Top 4 Reasons to Visit The Cayman Islands
1.) Underwater visibility (about 120 feet) is among the best in the Caribbean, and nearby, healthy reefs make this one of the Caribbean’s top dive destinations.
2.) With no panhandlers, little crime, and excellent resorts and restaurants, it’s an easy place to vacation.
3.) A snorkeling trip to Sting Ray Sandbar is an experience you’ll always remember.
4.) Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach is one of the Caribbean’s best sandy beaches.