A Few Fun Facts About Swimming With Dolphins

Swimming with dolphins is a favorite vacation pastime for people all over the world. It allows you to enjoy an up-close experience with these most beloved, intelligent, gentle, and fascinating creatures. Review some fun facts about swimming with dolphins if the activity is on your vacation to-do list or you simply want to learn more.

They Are Fast Swimmers

The sight of dolphins speeding through the water is not an uncommon one. These marine mammals swim up to 20 miles an hour. They also love to dive.

Dolphins Are Very Friendly and Naturally Curious

These mammals are ideal to swim with because of their natural playfulness, friendliness, and curiosity. They can be seen playing with other animals in the wild and even “teasing them.” Their friendliness extends to the human world, and they sometimes enjoy being “pet” and receiving treats from humans. Dolphins may sometimes play with humans in the wild as well, and enjoy play-fighting and surfing.

They Have Delicate Skin

Dolphins have very delicate skin that easily breaks from contact with a hard surface. Luckily they heal quickly—even deep cuts heal in a short amount of time. However, this is important to remember when swimming with dolphins.

There Are Many Dolphin Species

More than 20 dolphin species exist in this world, including orcas, or killer whales. Despite the name, the orca is a type of dolphin. Bottlenose dolphins are the most commonly known species, but you might find yourself swimming with other members of the dolphin family. If you are swimming with dolphins at a facility, be sure to ask which species you are working with.

Dolphins Have Outstanding Eyesight and Hearing

Playing with dolphins will help you notice their amazing hearing ability and eyesight. They find the exact location of objects very quickly because of echolocation, so if you lose your goggles or other pieces of swim gear, your dolphin friend may be able to help you locate it.

The Mammals Thrive in Fresh as Well as Saltwater

There are four species of river dolphins, or dolphins who live in fresh water instead of saltwater. The pink Amazon River Dolphin is arguably the best-known river species, and has its own myth. This dolphin is said to take human form at night and visit young, pretty women in villages near the famous waterway. Sadly, the Chinese Yangtze Dolphin is believed to be extinct due to overfishing. As with saltwater dolphins, river dolphins are very social creatures who may be happy to swim with you.

Have you gone swimming with dolphins? What was your experience?

Pirate myths and legends swirl around the Cayman Islands, with no other Caribbean island celebrating its swashbuckler heritage in quite the same fantastic way. Pirates Week 2016 is currently occurring, with the celebration already over in Little Cayman. Pirates Week happens in Grand Cayman November 10-20, and November 25-27 in Cayman Brac. So, what does the annual festival entail?

Mock Invasion

No Pirates Week would be complete without a mock pirate invasion straight from the blue waters of the Caribbean. Two sailing vessels from days of yore filled with “pirates” descend upon George Town Harbor to capture the governor. Thousands flock to see the spectacle, which features a new, interesting twist every year. The family friendly event is always a great time and the only event of its kind in the Caribbean.

Parades, Costume Contests, Heritage Days and More

After the mock invasion dies down, the festival continues with parades, costume contests, music, fireworks, Heritage Days, and general dancing in the streets. The 2016 Heritages Days are as follows:

 November 14 – Bodden Town Heritage Day
 November 15 – George Town Heritage Day
 November 16 – East End Heritage Day
 November 17 – West Bay Heritage Day
 November 18 – North Side Heritage Day

This year’s parades include the Pirate Pooch Parade for four-legged friends and the Illumination Night Parade. Other events include Caybrew Cardboard Boat Race, Children’s Fun Fair Day, Street Dance Finale, and 5K and 10K runs.

“Age off Romance” Theme

Pirates Week is getting romantic this year. The “Age Of Romance” theme correlates with the Caribbean Tourism Organization, which touted 2016 as the Year of Romance. The official Pirates Week website features images of pirates romancing the beautiful women they meet in the Cayman Islands.

Pirates Week Festival Gift Shop

Dressing up in your best pirate garb is encouraged! The Pirates Week Festival Gift Shop on 10 Shedden Road behind the National Museum offers everything you need to transform into a buccaneer, including hooks, eye patches, faux swords, hats, boot tops, clothing, and other novelty accessories. Cayman Islands visitors are politely asked to declare all replica guns and swords for participation use.

Food, Drinks, and Restrooms

All evening festivities include local cuisine served in takeout containers. Bar facilities are available during the street dances, with fruit juice offered to underage festival participants. Signs indicating nearby portable toilet facilities are also featured.

Something for Everyone

Treat yourself and your family to this extraordinary event that’s unique to the Cayman Islands! Channel your inner privateer, toast with friends, and learn more about the fascinating pirate history that’s synonymous with the Caribbean.

Are you excited yet?

Bodden Town was the first capital city of the Cayman Islands, and remains a travel must for anyone visiting the Caribbean destination. The historic town located on Grand Cayman features a friendly population, plenty of fabulous things to do, and endless cultural wonderment. From pirate caves and fresh seafood to unique art stores, cultural attractions and more, Bodden Town truly offers something for everyone.

Restaurant Fare

Treat yourself to delicious local fare by visiting Bodden Town’s best eateries. Pick from many jerk and fish shacks found on the side of the road offering jerk chicken, jerk pork, curry goat, oxtail, Cayman-style beef, fried fish, and much more. The Grape Tree Cafe is renowned as a favorite seafood stop featuring local fish for great prices, with fancier options including the Lighthouse Restaurant. The Italian eatery uses locally sourced meat, seafood, and produce to create delectable dishes and provides a highly affordable Sunday brunch. Other recommended restaurants include Rankin’s Jerk Pit, Seaside Paradise Restaurant, The White House, and South Coast Bar & Grill Breakers.

Historic Landmarks and Neighborhoods

Bodden Town features some of the Cayman Islands’ oldest and most opulent homes. Traditional building materials include silver thatch palm roofs, wattle and daub, and corrugated tin. Enjoy gazing at one-of-a-kind structures, as well as sand gardens that are adorned with white shells and flowering plants each holiday season to look like snow. The Bodden Town Mission House is a historic Cayman site featuring sand gardens and landscaped grounds representing the island’s rich heritage. It provides a glimpse into the days when early settlers arrived in Bodden Town. There’s also an old cemetery on the shore side of Bodden Town that was a burial site for pirates who used the island as a hideout.

A Fabulous Destination for Artists

Artists and enthusiasts no doubt adore Bodden Town, as it features a unique mix of art stores selling native Caymanian arts and crafts. The Bodden Town Art Shop is a yellow house just past the Pirate Caves sign that features a wide array of souvenirs and art, including paintings, bags, baskets, toys, photographs, jewelry, and much more.

Bodden Town Pirates Caves and Nature Trail

Speaking of the Pirates Caves, no visit to Bodden Town is complete without a stop at the famous destination steeped in legend. The caves are where pirates who roamed the Caribbean hid their treasure, and many Caymanians believe the treasure still lies in the caves’ tunnels guarded by pirate ghosts. Coral rubble from season after season of hurricanes ensures any remaining treasure stays well hidden. Today, the attraction includes a petting zoo, gallery, gift shop, trail, and cafe.

Sea Turtle Migration

If you visit the island any time from May through September you might get to watch the sea turtle migration at Moon Bay.

Enjoy a unique and beautiful visit to Bodden Town any time of year—there’s always something wonderful happening!

Seven Mile Beach tops the list for any visit to Grand Cayman, as it’s a gorgeous white sand beach with perfectly turquoise waters. Despite the name, the beach is only 5.5 miles long but remains a destination for travelers from around the world. Nearby resorts, condos, restaurants, and shops dot the landscape, as do beachfront bars and facilities for every water sport under the yellow sun.

Snorkeling Adventures

The crystal-clear waters of Seven Mile Beach make the destination ideal for snorkeling. Enter another world filled with colorful coral and fish before stopping by the nearest beach bar for a drink. It’s also an excellent idea to snorkel or scuba-dive around Cemetery Reef, which features endless tropical fish, including sergeant majors who swim right up to you and may even follow you around for a bit. You might even come upon a squid or two. The public beach offers restrooms and showers if you want to rinse seawater off before enjoying a cocktail.

Picnic Tables and Barbecue Pits

Spending the day at Seven Mile Beach is easy when you combine swimming and snorkeling fun with juicy barbecue. The beach features plenty of picnic tables and barbecue pits for you and your family/friends to enjoy. If you get too hot, simply swim in the designated area and refresh yourself.

South Sound

Swimming in the South Sound section of Seven Mile Beach might not be possible, but windsurfing is. The Sound is the bay of water and adjoining land along the island’s southern stretch, and it features lots of turtle grass, rocks, juvenile fish, and stingrays. Said Sound is about eight feet deep.

Nearby Attractions

Attractions close to this beautiful beach include the Seven Mile Shops, Stingray City, and the famous Cayman Turtle Farm. The latter two attractions are found in George Town, the Grand Cayman capital in close proximity to Seven Mile Beach. The Stingray City Sandbar is a top Cayman Islands attraction—it’s a sandbar where fleets of southern stingrays gather to enjoy the guts of fish cleaned by local anglers. The stingrays started congregating in the area in the 1980s after they began associating the sound of boat motors with sustenance. Wade in the shallow waters and pet these often-shy creatures. Feed them squid, and you’ll make friends for life.

The Cayman Turtle Farm is a one-of-a-kind park that’s home to more than 11,000 sea turtles, as well as plenty of things to do, including snorkeling in a 1.3 million-gallon saltwater lagoon filled with tropical marine life.

Revel in the supreme beauty of Seven Mile Beach…. it’s a great way to spend a day or five.

Choosing a Cayman Islands tour is no easy feat, as the Caribbean islands are laden with fabulously unique tours you’ll be loathe to find anywhere else. If a boat tour is on your Caymans agenda, review five of the top options that will have you wanting to build a summer home in this tropical paradise.

#5: Grand Cayman Kittiwake & Beach Sail

Sail along the famous Seven Mile Beach before swimming and snorkeling at the site of the USS Kittiwake, as well as a beautiful coral reef. The submarine wrecked in shallow water in 2011, meaning you can swim over it and get a glimpse of the marine life making it their home. Snorkel gear and snacks are included, and there’s a cash bar available on the catamaran. Jump off the boat and swim around the wreck, climb back on and snorkel around the stunning coral reef, and then lounge under the sun as you head back to shore. The tour, available through Viator.com, is two and a half hours long.

#4: George’s Watersports Bioluminescence Tour

This tour from George’s Watersports is available by boat and by kayak. Marvel at the millions of dinoflagellates, or types of single-celled organisms that glow when disturbed due to chemical reactions, as you make your way through a mangrove forest. This night tour is located near Seven Mile Beach and always provides thrills.

#3: Fat Fish Adventures Private Boat Charters

Chartering a private boat is easy in the Cayman Islands. Fat Fish Adventures offers private charters, as well as jet ski and cruise ship tours. The private charters allow you to zip through the water and come with two guides, plenty of onboard refreshments, and snorkeling gear. The renowned private charter is ideal if you and your family want to explore Stingray City Sandbar, among other beautiful Grand Cayman locations.

#2: Six Senses Eco Tour

This six-hour tour from Six Senses Cayman Adventures takes you across the North Sound to the glorious mangrove wetland forests. You’ll learn why the forests are so essential to the Cayman Islands ecosystem before continuing your journey to Starfish Point. View magnificent, enormous Caribbean starfish, and then enjoy lunch on a private beach. The tour also includes a visit to Stingray City and snorkeling in a beautiful coral reef, among other fun.

#1: Sail Cayman Charter Tours

Spending a few hours aboard the Lazy Daz is yet another fantastic way to see Grand Cayman sites. The comfy ride can include stops such as Stingray City, gorgeous coral reefs and mini sandbars, Rum Point (a mudslide drink destination), Starfish Beach, and numerous other wonderful locations. Tours are four to six hours.

See what the Cayman Islands have to offer aboard a charter boat and have an experience you’ll remember always.