Cayman Islands

A breathtaking variety of marine life, year-round warm and calm water, and great visibility make the Cayman Islands one of the world's best scuba diving destinations. There are more than 40 dive operators on the island and more than 200 reef and wreck dive sites. The abundance of fish, marine and coral life is protected by strict conservation.On the main island, Grand Cayman, the best dive sites include Victoria House Reef, just off Seven Mile Beach, and along the reefs at the mouth of North Sound. Eden Rock and Cemetery Beach Reef are also popular for snorkellers. Nearby at Sandbar and Stingray City there is the unique opportunity for snorkellers and scuba divers to feed and stroke the stingrays.Sandbar is a pure white sand ridge in just three feet (1m) of water. Stingray City is slightly deeper at 12 feet (4m). In Cayman Brac the most famous dive site is the Russian built Cuban destroyer, which was purpose-sunk in 1996 to form an artificial reef.Little Cayman also boasts some first class dive sites, including the North Wall and Bloody Bay Wall off Jackson Point. Non-divers can enjoy the reefs from the Atlantis Submarine, which offers hour-long underwater trips for up to 46 passengers.Scuba diving is possible and enjoyable all year in the Cayman Islands. Many people prefer to avoid the hurricane season, which runs from August to October, but if the storms don't hit this is in fact a wonderful season for diving. The water is warm enough to dive without a wetsuit, or in a short 1.5mm wetsuit, although technical divers going to greater depths may want something a bit warmer.

Watching the sun set spectacularly over the sea while sipping rum cocktails is an understandably popular way to spend an evening in the Cayman Islands, as it is in most of the Caribbean. A number of tour operators offer sunset cruises.One of these cruises is the Jolly Roger, which is a replica of a 17th-century galleon and takes one back to the days of Tortuga and the Caribbean pirates, offering cocktails, snacks, and a well-stocked bar, as well as music.Sunset cruises are usually available all year round, unless the weather is stormy. Hurricane season in the Cayman Islands runs from August to October, but some people prefer to risk the chance of storms to enjoy a more peaceful off-season holiday. Trips are usually about two and a half hours long and leave from George Town on Grand Cayman at about 5pm in winter and 5.30pm in summer.