The Cayman Islands: Taking the Plunge

Three islands and two worlds: This is the unique charm of the Cayman Islands. Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman each has its own pace, and sense of place. And just off their beaches lie aquatic wonders that draw divers, anglers, and watersports lovers from all over the world.

With more than 250 dive sites - from the shallow plunge of Stingray City to the looming drop-off at famous Bloody Bay Wall - the Cayman Islands are truly a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers. Novices can snorkel at ease in the reef-protected sounds of Little Cayman, while experts wreck-dive a sunken Russian warship or a 19th-century twin-masted schooner. To experience the wonders of the reef without getting your feet wet, Grand Cayman's Atlantic Adventures provides couples with the unique opportunity to dive 1,000 feet below the surface in a research submarine, exploring a watery realm of giant sponges and towering limestone formations.

Grand Cayman is the largest and most diverse of the Cayman Islands, with booming George Town offering sophisticated dining and shopping within minutes of the sweep of Seven Mile Beach, home to the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, the Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman, and other luxury hotels. The long history of these islands - visited by both Columbus and Blackbeard - is evident in the ruins of Fort George and the Little Cayman Museum in Blossom Village, the first community established on the islands in the 1600s.

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written by Bob Curley