Best snorkeling tour on Grand Cayman?

[Davidpps]

Would like to book a snorkeling/stingray excursion on Grand Cayman. (Arriving on the Magic at the end of the month). Family trip for me, wife and 2 sons 13 &14. Could anyone tell us which trip is best and why? Also which to stay away from.
Personal experiences would be great..

1. Stingray City Snorkel Tour (G08)
2. Stingray City Reef and Snorkel (G09) - new..
3. Buccaneer Stingray City Snorkeling Excursion
4. Captain Marvin's
5. Other

Thanks for your help...

Dave

 

[KarenB]

We used Captain Marvin's this July. (DH, DSs ages 14 and 15, myself)

It was a half day, three stop tour with 2 stops at the reef and the final stop at Stingray City. The scheduled time was 10am-1pm, but we left a bit early since everyone was there. It was fantastic!!

Besides being one of the most beautiful snorkeling experiences I have ever done---

- small amount of people (maybe 25 on the boat?)
- excellent equipment
- a scuba diver/photographer on board that creates a DVD/video of the trip. Only the people and experiences on your boat are part of it which makes it very personal! The photographer talks to each family as we head out asking us about our trip, where we live, and gave information about the island. We bought the DVD and I am SO glad!!
- friendly and informative crew
- this crew gave us some freedom of snorkeling (our choice to wear the floatation device, chance to explore, etc) yet we always felt very safe
-they chose reef sites in areas where there were no crowds of people
-water/fruit punch provided throughout the trip
-within walking distance of the ship
-gift shop gives 10% off after your tour


I could go on and on!! It would certainly book again through Captain Marvin's!

Karen

 

[Rock'n Robin]

I second Karen, since we were on the same trip! Captain Marvin's it is!
Robin M.

 

[KarenB]

Robin-just PM'ed you!

 

[jrabbit]

We took the shipwreck and reef snorkel.

You are on smaller boats and you snorkel in front of the Magic in the harbor. First stop - a shipwreck. THe crew tossed in "fish food" and the sea critters came from everywhere - it was amazing swiming with time. After a while they disapated and we snorkeled around the wreck a looking at the critters there. We then got back in the boat a moved over a ways to a reef (about a 5 minute ride). Here we snorkeled over the reef and saw a lot of critters.

Some of the best snorkeling we have experienced.

 

[KarenB]

If you look at a map of Grand Cayman, where jrabbit went and where we went are on opposite sides of the island. We were more on the "inside" where jrabbit was on the "outside." One thing I noticed that was so cool about this island, people were snorkeling right off the road!!

Does that make sense???

Karen

 

[KarenB]

If you look at a map of Grand Cayman, where jrabbit went and where we went are on opposite sides of the island. We were more on the "inside" where jrabbit was on the "outside." One thing I noticed that was so cool about this island, people were snorkeling right off the road!!

Does that make sense???

Karen

 

[Davidpps]

Thank you for the information so far..this will really help..
Any others welcome....

Dave

 

[ruvidu]

For Capt. Marvins. Their people were great. We will go with them next time as well.

 

[disney3144]

Captian Marvins without a doubt!!! One word......incrediable!!!!

Jennifer

 

[KevinC]

We did the 3 stop tour with Capt. Marvin & would have stayed 6 hours if we could. we booked directly with them & it was cheaper. Capt Marvin ran the boat & he will be 88 this month! Been doing it since 1951.