At the water's edge, cruise ships, sailing boats, a replica of a pirate's galleon and huge shipping boats compete for berthing space with a large number of fishing and dive boats. A short ride north are the Turtle Farm and an unusual land formation of spiky coral known as Hell. Depending on your interests and energy levels, you could easily go from morning until night either on or under the water. Among serious divers, the Cayman's beauty, variety and convenience make it the most popular dive destination in the world. A reef is as close as a walk past the hotel bars and pools to Seven-Mile Beach.
Many visitors are just as happy to snorkel, either renting or buying equipment.
If anyone has energy left over, there are volleyball, tennis and squash. For viewers, there are soccer, cricket and rugby. A confirmed swimaholic, I was thrilled to swim in five locations all in one day. Compared to more mountainous islands in the Caribbean, Grand Cayman may at first seem undramatic. You can tour the potato-shaped East End by bike, scooter or car, discovering luxuriant vegetation and plentiful bird life, including 200 species.