Who's snorkled in GC? Help!!!

[sgc1107]

Ok I'm looking at these two excursions on grand Cayman and can't decide between them!

First let me say I LOVE marine life, I have a 55gl reef (working on a 150gl) in my living room!

1- shipwreck & Reef snorkel $39 lasts 2.5-3hr Two snorkel sites one at the shipwreck and another at a reef. States your may see angel fish! They feed the fish. Doesn't say how long at the reef but says 45min at the wreck.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...cayman-islands/shipwreck-and-reef-snorkeling/

2- catamaran, reef and kittiwake snorkel sail $73 lasts 3.5-4hr Two sites one at kittiwake wreck site and the other a reef. States you will snorkel for 45min at each site.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/c...ran-reef-kittiwake-snorkel-sail-grand-cayman/

Hoping one of you has been on either of these and could tell me how they were or pictures would be awesome!

 

[MrRay]

Ok I'm looking at these two excursions on grand Cayman and can't decide between them!

First let me say I LOVE marine life, I have a 55gl reef (working on a 150gl) in my living room!

1- shipwreck & Reef snorkel $39 lasts 2.5-3hr Two snorkel sites one at the shipwreck and another at a reef. States your may see angel fish! They feed the fish. Doesn't say how long at the reef but says 45min at the wreck.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/grand-cayman-cayman-islands/shipwreck-and-reef-snorkeling/

2- catamaran, reef and kittiwake snorkel sail $73 lasts 3.5-4hr Two sites one at kittiwake wreck site and the other a reef. States you will snorkel for 45min at each site.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/cruises-destinations/shore-excursions/grand-cayman-cayman-islands/catamaran-reef-kittiwake-snorkel-sail-grand-cayman/

Hoping one of you has been on either of these and could tell me how they were or pictures would be awesome!

I've done the first one. You can read about it on my trip report here... http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47208763&postcount=22

The long and short of it is that the tour guides were extremely nice and it's very close to the ship. You basically snorkel right in front of the ship. We saw plenty of fish but nothing crazy.

 

[sgc1107]

I've done the first one. You can read about it on my trip report here... http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47208763&postcount=22

The long and short of it is that the tour guides were extremely nice and it's very close to the ship. You basically snorkel right in front of the ship. We saw plenty of fish but nothing crazy.

Great! Thanks! Not great weather for you guys from the looks of your pictures. Looks like there was plenary of fish!

 

[RosiePA]

We did the first one, too. For the price, it was great, but I think we'd opt for one that takes you away from the ship next time. That said, I loved the crew we had! We also saw a ton of fish!

 

[sgc1107]

We did the first one, too. For the price, it was great, but I think we'd opt for one that takes you away from the ship next time. That said, I loved the crew we had! We also saw a ton of fish!

The one reason I'm leaning towards this one is all the fish! Hope someone comes along who's done the other one!

 

[Capt_BJ]

You do not need to pay for an excursion to get to excellent snorkeling sites on Grand Cayman. You can easily walk to them and snorkel from shore. There are dive shops right there to rent gear if you need it. However if you are inexperienced this might not be the best option for you.

The two places I usually recommend are Eden Rock and Sunset House.

Eden Rock is just a hundred yards or so south of the tender piers. This is a VERY popular site and many tour boats bring people here even tho it is easily accessed from shore. You say you want fish:

Now the one bad thing about Eden Rock area is it IS the spot nearest the tender landings so MANY people stop here. So it can get crowded. For this reason I usually head not quite a mile down the road, in the same direction to


here the 'house reef' is the same basic area as Eden, just a bit down the coast. Seen here from the air, there is a wide area to explore and few if Anyone from the cruise ships will be seen. Depending on the time of the day you can have the place to yourself.


The bar - My Bar - is consistently rated among the best in the Carib', the dive shop is first rate and will be happy to rent you gear and has a map to help show you where to find "the good stuff". At the top of the picture you can see the 'sea pool' cut into the shore to provide an easy and sheltered in and out point for those wanting a little warm up time b4 hitting the open water. In this picture nort is up, and for reference Eden is around 2/3 mile to the north.

How far from the ships? This is looking from the swimming pool area towards town

the smaller boat you see is a dive boat at Devil's Grotto near Eden Rock

you can check everything out at their web page http://sunsethouse.com/

 

[sgc1107]

You do not need to pay for an excursion to get to excellent snorkeling sites on Grand Cayman. You can easily walk to them and snorkel from shore. There are dive shops right there to rent gear if you need it. However if you are inexperienced this might not be the best option for you.

The two places I usually recommend are Eden Rock and Sunset House.

Eden Rock is just a hundred yards or so south of the tender piers. This is a VERY popular site and many tour boats bring people here even tho it is easily accessed from shore. You say you want fish:

Now the one bad thing about Eden Rock area is it IS the spot nearest the tender landings so MANY people stop here. So it can get crowded. For this reason I usually head not quite a mile down the road, in the same direction to
http://s241.photobucket.com/user/Capt_bj/media/Cayman 2013/100_0129_zps1e515da8.jpg.html

here the 'house reef' is the same basic area as Eden, just a bit down the coast. Seen here from the air, there is a wide area to explore and few if Anyone from the cruise ships will be seen. Depending on the time of the day you can have the place to yourself.
http://s241.photobucket.com/user/Capt_bj/media/sunsethouse_zps9083c174.jpg.html

The bar - My Bar - is consistently rated among the best in the Carib', the dive shop is first rate and will be happy to rent you gear and has a map to help show you where to find "the good stuff". At the top of the picture you can see the 'sea pool' cut into the shore to provide an easy and sheltered in and out point for those wanting a little warm up time b4 hitting the open water. In this picture nort is up, and for reference Eden is around 2/3 mile to the north.

How far from the ships? This is looking from the swimming pool area towards town
http://s241.photobucket.com/user/Capt_bj/media/Cayman 2013/100_0110_zps8c14384e.jpg.html
the smaller boat you see is a dive boat at Devil's Grotto near Eden Rock

you can check everything out at their web page http://sunsethouse.com/

Thanks! Don't know if I'm that brave!

 

[CruznLexi]

I second Eden rock. Free is always great. We did this several years ago on the Magic and just jumped right in and saw 5 large Tarpon! They feed them at Eden Rock. We are going to GC in Oct so plan to do this again if we decide to get off.

 

[ludari]

If you love marine life you need to consider getting your scuba certification. I dove at GC and it was amazing! One of my favorite dives to date.

 

[sgc1107]

If you love marine life you need to consider getting your scuba certification. I dove at GC and it was amazing! One of my favorite dives to date.

I've thought of it but.... I have a fear of breathing under water! I don't know why I just do! I love snorkeling and the DH & I have talked about trying the tek helmet dive, this may make me change my mind. I almost booked in on the cruise we did for NYE but chickened out. This summer I'm buying a prescription mask (tried the contact thing didn't help) so u can see better. It will be good quality in case I get more into it.

 

[Kitster]

We've had snorkeling excursions planned on both our Western itineraries ..... haven't gotten in the water yet. Both trips, the ocean was too rough for ANY of the water activities. On the 1st trip (Dec. 2010), it was so bad we were 1 of 2 ships permitted to tender people to shore on the South side of the island. Someday .....

 

[sgc1107]

We've had snorkeling excursions planned on both our Western itineraries ..... haven't gotten in the water yet. Both trips, the ocean was too rough for ANY of the water activities. On the 1st trip (Dec. 2010), it was so bad we were 1 of 2 ships permitted to tender people to shore on the North side of the island. Someday .....

If you don't mind mr asking what was the other month that it was rough?

 

[noahsmom]

Last summer when we stopped at Grand Cayman we booked the 3 snorkel trip offered through Native Way. They were/are amazing! Highly recommend. Check them out on Trip Advisor, I posted a review with pictures. First stop was star fish, then stingray city, then coral garden.

 

[sambycat]

I've done the first one. You can read about it on my trip report here... http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=47208763&postcount=22

The long and short of it is that the tour guides were extremely nice and it's very close to the ship. You basically snorkel right in front of the ship. We saw plenty of fish but nothing crazy.

i saw a bright green ginormous eel out swimming among the rocks. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!

 

[sgc1107]

i saw a bright green ginormous eel out swimming among the rocks. IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!

Neat! Probably a moray, they are quite nasty tempered when bothered.

 

[MDennis28]

I booked 3 Snorkel excursions for our Western Cruise. My friend is an avid swimmer/snorkeler. I can't swim, maybe just dog paddle a bit. Do the boats have life preservers so I could get into the water too, put my face I. and look around? Maybe get tethered to the boat via rope?

 

[Kitster]

If you don't mind mr asking what was the other month that it was rough?

It was on the Fantasy Maiden Voyage, 3/2012....

 

[Kitster]

I booked 3 Snorkel excursions for our Western Cruise. My friend is an avid swimmer/snorkeler. I can't swim, maybe just dog paddle a bit. Do the boats have life preservers so I could get into the water too, put my face I. and look around? Maybe get tethered to the boat via rope?

Yes, the excursion boats usually have life vests that swimmers are required to wear. However, I would be hesitant to encourage you to go snorkeling in the open ocean if you can't swim. That is a recipe for disaster, given the currents. I AM a strong swimmer and even I have problems swimming against the current at times. Being tethered to the boat is not an option, since you can be sucked under the boat by these same currents.

 

[sgc1107]

It was on the Fantasy Maiden Voyage, 3/2012....

Well I'll cross my fingers sept won't be so bad!

 

[Mazz519]

I just booked a charter with Seven Seas Charters for me and my family when were docked in Grand Cayman. Spoke with Capt Shaun and were going to two Snorkeling sites and a beach.. Just me my wife and 3 kids.. Read his reviews on Trip Advisor, nothing but gd stuff, was about the same price as DCL but alot more extras...