Highlights

Atlantis Research Sub
George Town
Grand Cayman
For a truly unique experience, a two-passenger Atlantis research sub reveals what lies as much as 1,000 feet below the surface. Plunging down into an inky blackness, this research vessel offers a one-of-a-kind experience. This 22-foot sub carries two passengers and a pilot and is the only sub of its type available to the public. Several times a day, the yellow vessel plunges down the Cayman Wall to depths far beyond the range of sports scuba divers. The highlight of many trips is a visit to the Kirk Pride, a shipwreck that sits on a ledge at 800 feet. This 180-foot freighter sank in a storm in 1976 and its fate was unknown until the wreck was discovered by an Atlantis Research Submarine in 1985. Advance reservations are strongly recommended because of limited availability.

Atlantis Submarine
George Town
Grand Cayman
Located in George Town, east of the cruise lines' passenger-arrival docks, the Atlantis sub whisks visitors to a depth of 100 feet. If you're curious about what lies below the water's surface, the 48-passenger Atlantis submarine is the perfect way to have a peek at Grand Cayman's underwater world. Swimmers and non-swimmers alike enjoy safe, air-conditioned, comfortable travel to 100 feet below the surface aboard the Atlantis, with a narrated view of coral gardens, sponge gardens, the undersea wall, and more. Bench seating runs the length of the sub and all visitors have a porthole from which to enjoy the underwater scene. A new cruise aboard the Odyssey sub now features a longer dive so guests can view scuba divers feeding fish. No children under three feet tall are permitted on these subs.

Blow Holes
East End
Grand Cayman
These rugged coral rocks have been carved by rough waves crashing in the caverns. As waves hit the rocks, water spews into the air, creating one of the best photo sites on the island. The blowholes are strongest when the waves are large (and don't blow at all on the calmest days), shooting sprays of water 20 to 30 feet in the air. Wear good shoes for this excursion; the iron shore is sharp and footing isn't solid.

Cayman Islands National Museum
George Town
Grand Cayman
The Cayman Islands National Museum is a great way to learn more about Cayman history and culture. Over the years, this seaside building, just across from the cruise ship terminal, has served as a courthouse, jail, and meeting hall, and today it houses over 2,000 artifacts that recall the history of these islands. Some of the most fascinating displays recall the early economy of the Caymanians. An oral history program captures the history of the early turtlers who made a living capturing the now protected reptiles.

Cayman Turtle Farm
West Bay
Grand Cayman
The Cayman Turtle Farm is one of the island's top attractions and it's the only farm of its kind in the world. For over 30 years, this site has offered visitors the chance to get up-close and personal with green sea turtles, viewing them as eggs, hatchlings, and in various sizes, as they work their way up towards adulthood. The self-guided tour of the Turtle Farm takes you past many tanks filled with turtles in various life stages. A special tank contains turtles that you may pick up and hold, providing excellent photo opportunities.

Dive the M/V
Captain Keith Tibbets
Cayman Brac
The Cayman Islands' newest dive site, the M/V Captain Keith Tibbets, is located off Cayman Brac. The former 330-foot Russian frigate was built for use by the Cuban navy. Scuttled about 200 yards off the coast, the ship was first modified to be safe for divers. Today, divers can swim through the upper three decks and spot the missile launcher, fore and aft deck cannons, and living quarters. Marine life discovered the site even faster than divers and currently, spotted eagle rays, stingrays, Queen angelfish, puffer fish, barracuda, and many other species make their home here. Dive trips from Cayman Brac allow divers to experience this site.

Getaway to Little Cayman
A short flight from Grand Cayman aboard Island Air, Little Cayman is perfect for those looking for secluded scuba diving, fly or tackle fishing, and nature appreciation. Just 10 miles long, the island offers all the basic comforts including small lodges with air-conditioning and satellite television. But don't look for the glitz of Grand Cayman on this tiny isle. With just 100 residents and only a handful of vacationers at any one time, humans are far outnumbered by 2,000 friendly iguanas. Birders enjoy the Booby Pond Visitors Centre, open Monday through Saturday from 2pm to 5pm. Operated by the National Trust, the 1.2-mile-long Booby Pond is home to the Caribbean's largest breeding colony of red-footed Boobies, and to a breeding colony of magnificent frigate birds.

Hell
West Bay
Grand Cayman
Just north of Seven Mile Beach, this odd attraction is actually a community named Hell, a moniker that seems appropriate for the devilishly-pointed rocks near town. The rocks are actually a bed of limestone and dolomite that through millions of years eroded into a crusty, pocked formation locally called iron shore. Today, Hell trades upon its unusual name as a way to draw tourists to the far end of West Bay. Visitors stop at the Post Office to buy postcards and have them postmarked from Hell.

Mastic Trail
Grand Cayman
For over two centuries, humans have used the Mastic Trail, which winds for two miles through swamps, woodlands, and farming areas. Originally used to herd cattle to the south coast, today the trail is maintained by the National Trust for the Cayman Islands and is an excellent way for travelers to learn more about the many types of fauna found on these islands. Guided two-and-a-half-hour walks travel past 100 different varieties of trees and 550 other types of plant species such as the wild banana orchid. Only eight people are permitted on each of the tours. The tour is not recommended for children under age six, for the elderly, or for those with physical disabilities. Travelers should wear sturdy shoes and bring insect repellent.

Nautilus Semi-Sub
George Town
Grand Cayman
Nautilus offers a one-hour tour to view the rich marine life of the bay. The vessel does not submerge; travelers sit in a glass hull six feet beneath the surface but can go up on deck anytime during the trip, making it attractive for families with young children. The Nautilus goes out about three-fourths of a mile offshore offering visitors a chance to view two shipwrecks and see a variety of tropical fish. Night cruises, sunset dinner cruises, and mystery-theater cruises are also available.

North Sound Lunch
Grand Cayman
One of the best ways to learn more about Caymanian life is aboard a North Sound beach lunch and snorkeling trip. Vacationers snorkel either at Stingray City or the shallow Sandbar, depending on visibility and water conditions at the time, and within the scenic Coral Gardens. Local crews add a unique Caymanian flair to the day's activities by diving for pink queen conch and preparing the shellfish as an appetizer. Tour groups go ashore at Cayman Kai for a traditional lunch of peas and rice, potato or breadfruit salad, and local fish or spicy chicken, all enjoyed with a good serving of local lore.

Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Garden
Grand Cayman
Located about 25 minutes from George Town, the park comprises 65 acres filled with native trees, plants, and wild orchids, as well as birds, reptiles, and butterflies. Visit the Heritage Garden for a look at Cayman history. Originally a Caymanian house from the East End, this home has been restored and filled with donated furniture. The three-room structure was originally a family home, and today, the yard is filled with the plants and fruit trees that a Caymanian family would have grown earlier this century. Nearby, the Woodlands Trail winds along one mile of Cayman flora and fauna.

Rum Point
Grand Cayman
Once used by rum runners, this sandy beach is now a favorite with vacationers looking to spend an afternoon lazing in a hammock under willowy casuarina trees. Recently, five million dollars worth of improvements added a full-service dinner restaurant, a casual lunch eatery and bar, a gift shop, and plenty of water sports to this sandy getaway. Rum Point is a one-hour drive from George Town but most visitors arrive aboard the Rum Pointer Ferry, which departs from the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman. The 120-passenger ferry makes the 30-minute excursion across the North Sound five to six times daily.

Seven Mile Beach
Grand Cayman
The chief destination for most Cayman Islands vacationers is Seven Mile Beach. This narrow stretch of beach actually only runs five and a half miles but it's packed with beach fun. Here, dive shops, water sports operators, beach bars, sportswear shops, and fine restaurants stand shoulder to shoulder, separated by some fine-needled casuarina trees. All levels of difficulty, from shallow water dives and snorkel trips to cave and wreck dives, are available in these waters, which teem with colorful tropical fish. Good snorkeling is also found in the calm waters.

Stingray City
Grand Cayman
Just about anyone who has ever heard of the Cayman Islands has heard of Stingray City. This is the top water sports attraction in the Cayman Islands, located in the mouth of North Sound, halfway between the West Bay and Rum Point. Here, fishermen once cleaned their catch, attracting large Atlantic Southern stingrays who have now become accustomed to being handled by participants in daily snorkeling excursions. Stingray City is shared by many water sports operators, who offer half- and full-day excursions that include stops at both deep and shallow spots. Operators depart from all along the island for this adventure. The site is now one of the most popular in the Caribbean; often called "the world's best 12-foot dive" it can be equally enjoyed by both snorkelers and scuba divers. Shallow water stops can also be enjoyed by non-swimmers.