Overview

When divers dream of a trip to the Caribbean, chances are that Grand Cayman is the first island that comes to mind. It's the cornerstone of a reef-rich archipelago that includes sister islands Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. Grand Cayman itself has more than 150 dive sites, but snorkelers won't feel left out: In fact, the most popular underwater attraction is Stingray City, where divers and snorkelers alike can swim with and feed stingrays that have wingspans up to six feet. (If you prefer to keep your feet dry, you can sightsee by submarine on a 48-passenger underwater vessel.)

More than a million visitors come to Grand Cayman every year, most of them by cruise ship. They find duty-free shopping, golf on three challenging courses, and the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Garden, which showcases tropical plants from around the world. There's fishing for marlin and yellowfin tuna, beaches galore, and, Pirates Week, the Caymans' tongue-in-cheek answer to Mardi Gras, which starts in late October. Nightlife? More than enough bars, discos, nightclubs, and comedy clubs to keep you hopping until the wake-up call for your morning dive trip.

 Plan Your Trip

BEACHES

If you're staying at one of the many hotels lining the white sands of Seven Mile Beach, you may not want to bother going any- where else. But if you decide a little more space between the beach towels is in order, head south of George Town to Smith's Cove, which has a beautiful pocket of sand, plus coral heads and tropical fish just offshore.

DIVING

Shallow reefs, steep walls, wrecks -- take your pick. A good place to start is The Maze, a coral landscape of caves, deep canyons, and chimneys at the southeastern end of the island. The terrain is dramatic, and the fish, including Nassau groupers, blue tangs, and occasional reef sharks, don't mind visitors. Snorkelers -- provided they pay attention to the currents -- can swim about 100 yards off the north end of Seven Mile Beach to Cemetery Beach Reef, a shallow-water summer camp for tropical fish.

SHOPPING

This is duty-free shopping at its best, with British china and crystal, French scents and liqueurs, Swiss watches, and plenty more. For a special souvenir of the island, look for jewelry made of caymanite; the multihued semiprecious stone is found only in these islands and is a favorite of local craftsmen.

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