Grand Cayman is known as a premiere diving location, but it also has great snorkeling, including along the famous Seven Mile Beach. Prime Snorkeling Spots
South Bay Beach Club (Beginner to Advanced)
Guests of South Bay Beach Club have excellent snorkeling right off the beach in front of the condominium and in front of the Marriott Hotel next door. The beach has a row of “reef balls” out from the beach in chest deep water that create an aquarium-like atmosphere between the shore and the reef balls. This is perfect for beginning snorkelers, whether adults or children. Put on your mask, put your face in the water, and you will likely see some fish right way.
Intermediate snorkelers can snorkel out past the reef balls to explore along the rocky ledges behind the reef balls and extending to the South of the property (left when looking out at the ocean). Do not swim over the reef balls, swim around them or through the passages between sections of reef balls. Be aware that stronger winds from the North will make your swim back to the property harder than your swim out.
Advanced snorkelers can swim South to in front of Crescent Point Resort (the property before the high-rise tower) and then head straight out towards the white buoy. You will find a large live coral outcrop near the buoy. Further outcrops can be found to the South of that outcrop.
Stay inside the buoys to avoid going into the boating lanes. In any case, be aware of boats in your area. Also be aware that stronger winds from the North will make your swim back to the property harder than your swim out.
Spotts Public Beach (Intermediate to Advanced)
Spotts Public Beach is the place to see turtles! We see turtles there around 90% of the times we go, although sometimes we have to look longer than other times. There are also a few small live reef outcroppings with schools of small fish and sometimes some interesting larger fish. These are mostly out about 2/3rds of the way to the reef and to the right of the pier.
Advanced snorkelers can swim out to the reef to see different kinds of fish. Be aware that it gets shallower and the waves get larger.
The wave conditions determine the level of snorkeling required to see the turtles. If it is calm and you are OK with seagrass touching you, more experienced beginner snorkelers might be alright to go out and see the turtles since they can be seen relatively close to shore and in more shallow areas.
The best way to find turtles is to walk out on the pier and see where all the other snorkelers are congregating. When you are out there, ask them what they saw and where. Generally, the best place to see the turtles are straight out from the pier and then to the left up the beach. Spread out a bit to increase your chances of running into them. They will generally be found in areas with short seagrass on the bottom.
We have found it harder or impossible to find turtles when cruise ships are docked at Spotts Cruise Terminal. If no cruise ships are docked in front of Georgetown because it is wavy on Seven Mile Beach, then some of them are likely docked at Spotts Cruise Terminal. It is best to go to Spotts Public Beach a different day. You can check on this website:
https://www.cruisingearth.com/port-tracker/caribbean/grand-cayman-cayman-islands/
If the cruise ships are clustered on the South of Grand Cayman near Spotts, go on a different day. Some days, usually weekends, there are no cruise ships visiting Grand Cayman. The easiest way to check is on this website:
https://www.cruisemapper.com/ports/grand-cayman-island-port-25 – google_vignette
If the wind is or has been from the South, it will be wavy at Spotts. If it is from the East, it might be somewhat wavy, which is usually fine for intermediate snorkelers. If it is from the West, then Seven Mile Beach will be wavy, and the cruise ships will likely be at Spotts. The ideal is for the wind to have been from the Northeast for a day or so. This happens fairly often. You can check the wind and open ocean waves, which may or may not match on-shore waves, on this website:
https://www.windfinder.com/forecast/george_town_grand_cayman
Location: South of the island not far past the outskirts of Georgetown, on Shamrock
Road between Prospect and Savannah, past the Spotts Cruise Terminal. Facilities: Car park, Go huts, cabanas but not in the best shape, shade trees, pier Non-Snorkelers: Nice beach to sit on. Nice to walk out the pier. Walkable beach. Swimming not so good due to long seagrass near the shore.
Governor’s Beach (Intermediate)
Governor’s Beach is the best beach to walk forever on the beach. That said, it is also a great spot to snorkel for intermediate snorkelers, and advanced snorkelers wanting a calm snorkel.
The conditions at Governor’s Beach will be like the conditions all up and down Seven Mile Beach. It’s OK to snorkel when the water is a bit murky, since what you want to see is further out past the sand.
For that same reason, it’s not a great place for beginning snorkelers since there isn’t much to see near the shore, just sand and the occasional fish.
Swim straight out close to the (insert description) marker then look to the right for large live coral outcrops. You will see plenty of fish. More advanced snorkelers can dive down to see if anything is hanging out under ledges.
Stay inside the markers to avoid going into the boating lanes. In any case, be aware of boats in your area. There is not as much to see on the left and you should avoid going into the boat access to shore lane marked by (green buoy?).
Location: 2 miles (3 km) North of South Bay Beach Club, past the Westin Hotel and the Governor’s Mansion.
Facilities: Car park, Go huts, shade trees
Non-Snorkelers: Nice beach to sit on. Very good walkable beach. Swimming very good.
Cemetery Beach (Intermediate)
The snorkeling at Cemetery Beach is quite like that at Governor’s Beach. It is also a nice place to walk the beach, especially to the right, where you will see houses of the “rich and famous”, or at least well off.
The conditions at Cemetery Beach might be a little calmer than further down Seven Mile Beach if the wind is more from the North. It’s OK to snorkel when the water is a bit murky since what you want to see is further out past the sand.
For that same reason, it’s not a great place for beginning snorkelers since there isn’t much to see near the shore, just sand and the occasional fish.
Swim straight out close to the (insert description) marker then look to the right for large live coral outcrops. You will see plenty of fish. More advanced snorkelers can dive down to see if anything is hanging out under ledges.
Stay inside the markers to avoid going into the boating lanes. In any case, be aware of boats in your area.
Location: 4 miles (7 km) North of South Bay Beach Club, just past Aqua Bay Club.
Facilities: Car park on the right side of the road, about a 5-minute walk to the beach.
Washroom, change and shower facilities at car park. Shade trees at beach.
Non-Snorkelers: Nice beach to sit on. Good walkable beach. Swimming very good.
Smith’s Barcadere (Intermediate to Advanced)
The snorkeling at Smith’s Barcadere is quite different than at the locations above. You are out snorkeling along ironshore. Ironshore is the name for a shoreline with rocky, sharp walls that you should not attempt to climb over and should avoid getting pushed into by waves. At Smith’s Barcadere, there are two small, connected sandy beaches that allow relatively easy access to the water, except when it is wavy.
I don’t recommend snorkeling here when it is wavy. It is hard to get in at the beach, the water will be murky, and you are more likely to get pushed into the ironshore or coral outcrops. The conditions here generally follow the conditions along Seven Mile Beach, except that it tends to be wavier. Look for calm conditions on Seven Mile Beach before heading to Smith’s Barcadere to snorkel.
Out and just to the left are some large coral outcrops near the ironshore with lots of fish. Be wary of waves pushing you into the outcrops or the ironshore. Out and to the right, you will find swales in the ocean floor along the ironshore shoreline. Sometimes, you will see some interesting fish. You can swim along the shoreline to the Grand Old House and back. This is not a place for beginner snorkelers.
Location: 3 miles (5 km) South of South Bay Beach Club, through Georgetown and just past The Grand Old House.
Facilities: Car park on the left side of the road, just across from the beach. Washroom, change and shower facilities at beach. Shade trees at beach. Picnic tables.
Non-Snorkelers: Very scenic setting with ironshore and beach. Room to sit on the beach. Not a walkable beach. Swimming can be fun if you are OK with waves. Look for hermit crabs on the beach.