EXPLORE BEYOND THE SHORE IN THE CAYMAN ISLANDS: A ROMANTIC GETAWAY FOR SCUBA DIVERS
What makes the Cayman Islands a dreamy escape for scuba divers who want to kindle a romantic spark or celebrate a special milestone during their vacation? Tranquil turquoise waters, pretty coral reefs, secluded spots, stunning sunsets and seascapes, candlelit dining under the stars, and unspoiled beaches are all wrapped in the warm embrace extended by the friendly and welcoming people who live on the islands. Alongside the sensational scuba diving, romance also radiates throughout the islands. Here are just a few ideas to help you plan a one-of-a-kind romantic scuba getaway.
David BenzDiving Kittiwake wreck
PROPOSAL IN DIVERS’ PARADISE
There are countless ways to “pop the question” in the Cayman Islands: Propose to your love while watching a beautiful sunset, having a candlelit dinner, kayaking in aquamarine waters, getting pampered at a spa or walking on a sugar-white-sand beach. Or why not surprise your love with an underwater proposal? Local dive operators can help you plan this special moment. Wherever you get engaged in the islands, it will be a romantic proposal to remember for a lifetime.
Courtesy the Cayman Islands Department of TourismSay “I do” in the Cayman Islands
DESTINATION WEDDING, SCUBA-STYLE
Why choose to say “I do” in the Cayman Islands? If you have your heart set on an enchanted wedding, the Cayman Islands can promise a magical backdrop for your special day. Delight in the tropical beauty of a Caribbean paradise that provides all the amenities you’d have in a sophisticated stateside venue. With its luxury accommodations, brilliant flowers, shimmering waters, idyllic beaches, and soft breezes, the Cayman Islands is the perfect place for exchanging wedding vows. If scuba is your shared passion, wedding planners in the islands can help you exchange vows underwater for a unique start to your forever after.
DIVING HONEYMOON HAVEN
Leave behind all the stress of wedding planning, and begin your journey together as a couple with an exquisite Cayman Islands beach and scuba diving honeymoon that promises serenity, luxury and beauty. Only seen the photos? The water really is that blue and the sand is that white. This is an enticing place for newlyweds who want to cozy up and celebrate the beginning of their new life together.
Courtesy the Cayman Islands Department of TourismSeven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman
ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN THE ISLANDS
No matter the special occasion—anniversary, birthday, graduation—and no matter the mood you want to create—lively or laid-back—there is no better place to celebrate than a scuba-and-celebrate vacation in the Cayman Islands. Wedding anniversary? The Cayman Islands offers you the chance to reconnect with each other and create lasting memories. Birthday? The islands add a tropical flair to the party fun. Graduation? Mark this milestone and honor the hardworking graduate in paradise.
Savor these once-in-a-lifetime moments in one of the world’s most beautiful tropical scuba diving destinations. If you’re ready to make one of these dreams come true in the Cayman Islands, visit visitcaymanislands.com for more information.
Courtesy the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism.Enjoy kayaking in the crystal clear waters
If you haven’t experienced diving in the Cayman Islands, you are missing not only some of the Caribbean’s best diving, but also some of the world’s. For the past 26 years, thousands of readers and social-media fans have voted in our annual Readers Choice survey, and the Cayman Islands—Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman—has never missed being listed among the top dive destinations in the world. (Click here to see the awards the Cayman Islands won in the 2019 Readers Choice Survey.) Even better, this trio of islands offers scuba aficionados so much more than diving, from family fun and adventure thrills to fine dining and romantic escape. After all, you’re underwater for maybe four hours a day during a dive vacation, so why not indulge your other passions in life? Our four-part series “Explore Beyond the Shore in the Cayman Islands” is your guide to the scuba diving vacation you’ve always dreamed about.
GRAND CAYMAN
For couples who have an endless wish list—romance, restaurants, beaches, nightlife and scuba diving—Grand Cayman can fulfill all their dreams. Dramatic walls, shallow reefs and exciting shipwrecks have earned this island a number of awards in Scuba Diving magazine’s 2019 Readers Choice survey, including a Top 10 award for Wall Diving and Wreck Diving. Local dive operators love Northwest Point’s Big Tunnels, a jutting pinnacle where you can explore swim-throughs and overhangs decorated with stunning clusters of sea fans, black corals and rope sponges.
If you’re planning a wedding, surprise proposal or other romantic occasion, you’ll love the island’s luxurious resorts, world-class restaurants and unparalleled attention to detail from resort staff to wedding planners. And, of course, the exquisite tropical scenery just adds to the romance. Head to Crystal Caves, nestled in the heart of North Side, for a unique proposal. Plan an intimate wedding on the beach or celebrate a wedding anniversary at a boutique dedicated to diving or a luxe resort.
Courtesy the Cayman Islands Department of TourismDon’t miss the sparkling critters of Bioluminescent Bay
Locals recommend:
CARIBBEAN SUNSET SAIL
“Book a 65-foot catamaran for a dinner sail along Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach. The meal is freshly prepared and cooked while you’re on the boat. Large nets on the bow of the boat are perfect for catching the sunset before dinner, and afterward, for having a cocktail while stargazing.” —Rod McDowall, operations manager of Red Sail Sports, Grand Cayman
THE “LIVING LIGHTS” OF BIOLUMINESCENT BAY
“Enjoy a nice boat ride or kayak through the North Sound to Bioluminescent Bay. Once the sun sets, you’ll get in the water and experience the most amazing glowing and sparkling critters you have ever seen. The bay is calm and quiet, the water is shallow, and it’s a nice experience to do with a loved one away from all the crowds.” —Jo Mikutowicz, managing partner of Divetech, Grand Cayman
CAYMAN BRAC
Don’t miss making at least one dive on a sunken Russian warship, the Capt. Keith Tibbetts, one of the Top 10 Best Wreck Dives in Scuba Diving magazine’s 2019 Readers Choice Awards. Cayman Brac has a lineup of eye-popping wall dives too. If there is an underwater equivalent of Colorado’s pristine backcountry, it is Wilderness Wall. A favorite of local dive operators, Wilderness Wall features a breathtaking pinnacle, tunnels, and chimneys that are blanketed in a colorful array of azure vase and tube sponges, and home to swirling schools of horse-eye jacks.
If you’ve come to Cayman Brac to escape to a tropical paradise, this island will not disappoint. Stay in a seaside cottage with a private pool, laze on a sun-kissed beach, explore the island’s natural beauty, or delight in moonlit, starry skies. Celebrate a special moment atop the limestone bluff that juts out into the aqua-blue Caribbean while taking in stunning panoramic views of the island. Cayman Brac is the perfect island for the couple who wants to plan a memorable occasion in a very private setting.
Locals Recommend:
ROMANCE UNDER THE STARS
“You can have a romantic dinner, arranged by a local restaurant, at the Lighthouse on top of the Bluff, overlooking the ocean and under the stars.” —Liesel and Martin van der Touw, Brac Scuba Shack
LITTLE CAYMAN
No matter where you drop down on Bloody Bay Wall, one of the Top 10 Best Wall Dives in Scuba Diving magazine’s 2019 Readers Choice Awards, you’ll have an unforgettable dive. Bloody Bay Wall is rich in drool-worthy dive sites, but the crème de la crème is Mixing Bowl. Also known as 3 Fathom Wall—so-named because the top of the wall rises to its shallowest point at 18 feet, or 3 fathoms—this dramatic drop-off attracts Caribbean reef sharks, spotted eagle rays and hawksbill turtles, and features a sand flat at 45 feet where southern stingrays, yellowhead jawfish and sand tilefish set up housekeeping.
If you are searching for a secluded, charming romantic hideaway, Little Cayman’s white-sand beaches, swinging hammocks, beachside resorts and the endless blues of the Caribbean Sea’s horizon combine for a romantic dive vacation for lovers. With its pink sand and sheltered setting, Point of Sand is one of the most romantic spots in the world. Or plan a trip to Owen Island, the perfect beach to celebrate an occasion with your loved one by sharing a private picnic lunch and a bottle of champagne.
Courtney PlattDinner with a view
Locals Recommend:
PRIVATE ISLAND DINNER
“A romantic vacation on Little Cayman—how can you go wrong when you’re on an island with palm trees, white-sand beaches, turquoise water and gorgeous sunsets? Plan a private dinner for two on a secluded beach. Make a short kayak trip over to Owen Island and enjoy a private cocktail hour that is unsurpassed.” —Neil van Niekerk, former manager of Little Cayman’s Southern Cross Club
Whatever the romantic event you are planning, make your dream a reality in the Cayman Islands.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Cayman Islands Department of Tourism
212-889-9009
[email protected]