Snorkeling - Rum Point and beyond

[sanibelsandy]

Hi Testudo!
We are getting so excited for our first trip to Grand Cayman the first week of April!  Will be staying @ the Retreat @ Rum Point and the main thing we are coming for is the snorkeling.  We are average snorkelers, not beginner and not expert.  Where do you recommend we go?  We will probably look to stay in the Rum Point area most of the time, but would also like to try some snorkeling spots in the 7MB area and other areas of the island.  We do plan to do an early morning SRC trip w/snorkeling.    Also any recommendations on where to eat... not looking for fancy, more like local fish fry type of food. 

Thanks in advance!

[Testudo]

If conditions are calm and you're up to it, you definitely need need to try to make it out to the Boulder Coral Gardens off the Retreat. The drift route from the Sea Lodges back to the Retreat is another good one.

Nearby easy + good snorkel spots are the North Side Wonderland, Queen's Monument/Babylon and Barefoot Beach.

On the south and west sides, Spotts Beach is great for seeing turtles, not much else. I also like to visit Eden Rock/Devil's Grotto and the patch reef off from the Westin/Governor's House at the Governor's Beach section of Seven Mile Beach when on that side of the island.

We recently did the dawn sting ray city trip with White Sands Watersports and loved it. Such a different experience from the afternoon trips.

For food, some casual, local flavor spots around North Side and East End to try are: Island Bites food truck across from Crystal Caves, Over the Edge for the view, food is good, not great and service can be hit or usually miss. Haven't eaten a Kaboose, but did like the local foods when it was Kurt's Korner. Big Tree BBQ is a front yard lunch spot. South Coast Bar and Grill surprised in a good way us last visit after not eating there for a few years. A bit further are the Czech Inn in Pease Bay/Bodden Town (really good, though the setting is roadside), Grape Tree Cafe (beach fish fry in Bodden Town) and Rankin's Jerk Center. Haven't tried Miss Vivine's in East End or Seaside Paradise in Bodden Town, but both are known for local foods.

Hope you have a great visit.