Active Pursuits

Almost guaranteed sunshine, one of the world's most beautiful beaches, and the Caribbean's best scuba diving and snorkeling have permanently anchored Grand Cayman on the tourist map.

Grand Cayman has a number of smaller beaches, but its so-called Seven Mile Beach (actually 8.9km/5 1/2 miles) is the major attraction, with its vast expanses of powdery white sand. Unlike the beaches on some islands to the south, such as Jamaica, Seven Mile Beach is litter-free and also relatively free of peddlers hawking souvenirs.

The beach is so big that there's always plenty of room for everybody, even in the midst of the winter tourist season and at the peak of the cruise-ship arrivals. Most of Grand Cayman's hotels, restaurants, and shopping centers are found along this much-frequented strip of beach. Many scuba-diving and watersports outfitters are also located here.

Along with swimmers and beach buffs, scuba divers travel to the Cayman Islands in droves from around the world. As diver Bob Soto -- who opened the first dive shop in the Caribbean back in 1957 -- puts it, "If there's any spot on the planet that God created just for divers, it is Grand Cayman." One-third of all visitors to the Cayman Islands come specifically to go scuba diving or snorkeling.

The Cayman Islands proudly boast more than 200 named and explored dive sites. Some of the most dramatic dive sites have not been thoroughly explored (and unfortunately aren't on the itineraries of most outfitters), owing to the massive coral reefs and drop-offs that surround all three Cayman islands. Dive outfitters are familiar with the best of the accessible dive sites and will guide you to what interests you the most. The Cayman Islands have the most reliable outfitters in the Caribbean, complementing the Islands' reputation as one of the world's greatest scuba-diving destinations.

Even if you're not a scuba diver or snorkeler, you'll find many other attractions on the water, including fishing, boating, and windsurfing. If you're a landlubber, there's always golfing and horseback riding. But most landlubbers never seem to leave Seven Mile Beach.

Note: Some outfitters quote prices in both U.S. and Cayman dollars; others, especially those patronized almost exclusively by foreign visitors, quote their prices in U.S. dollars. We've quoted prices in this guide according to the currency favored by each individual outfitter.

Boat Rentals

Many travelers dream of sailing their own boat beneath an azure Caribbean sky, without the company of a crew. Alas, unless you're a very experienced sailor, and unless you can afford it, it might not be feasible to rent one of the very large sailing vessels that are the norm at most boat-charter outfits (and often require a substantial cash deposit before a newcomer will be entrusted to take it out onto the deep blue). However, there are numerous ways for less-experienced sailors to rent small boats.

Small (about 3.3m-long/11-ft.) sail craft are the specialty at the Cayman Islands Sailing Club, Spinnaker Road, Red Bay, near the hamlet of North Sound (tel. 345/947-7913; www.sailing.ky). On a sunbaked, gravel-covered compound, isolated from the traffic and congestion of West Bay, you'll find a two-story warehouse crafted from wood planks and corrugated metal panels, a clubhouse with its own trophy-filled bar, and an inventory of about 70 small-scale sailboats, usually Picos, Lasers, or (least high-tech of all) simple sailing dinghies, each suitable for one or two persons. Most boats rent for 2-hour periods, time enough to do some quality brisk sailing in Grand Cayman's North Sound. Boat rentals are CI$30 to CI$40 (US$38-US$50/£18-£24) per hour. Rentals are available every day from 9am to 5pm and require at least a rudimentary level of prior sailing experience. If you don't feel completely proficient, you can sign up for a series of five sailing lessons, each lasting 2 hours, for a fee of around CI$600 (US$750/£360).

Windsurfing

Avid windsurfers rate the 6.4km (4 miles) of reef-protected shallows off East End as the best location for windsurfing. Prevailing winds reach 24 to 40kmph (15-25 mph) from November through March, with 6- to 10-knot southeasterly breezes in summer months.

The best outfitter for windsurfing gear and lessons is Cayman Windsurfing, which operates as a subdivision of Red Sail Sports, at Morritt's Tortuga Club (tel. 345/947-7449), in the East End of the island, an hour's drive from George Town. Open daily from 8:30am to 5pm, it charges US$35 (£18) per hour or US$85 (£43) for 3 hours for windsurfing gear. If your stamina demands 5 hours, the cost goes up to US$135 (£68). Windsurfing-lesson packages are also offered, beginning at US$55 (£28) for 2 hours and going up to US$175 (£89) for 8 hours, including training classes. Snorkeling equipment can also be rented here for US$15 (£7.60) for 24 hours. Or you can opt for a snorkeling trip farther afield on a WaveRunner. The hour-and-a-half excursion costs US$150 (£76) for two people, or US$95 (£48) for one.

Fishing

Grouper and snapper are the most common catches for those who bottom-fish along the reef. Deeper waters turn up barracuda and bonito. Sport fishermen from all over the world come to the Caymans with hopes of hooking one of the big ones: tuna, wahoo, or marlin. Most hotels can make arrangements for charter boats. Otherwise, contact Bayside Watersports (tel. 345/949-3200; www.baysidewatersports.com), offering deep-sea-fishing excursions in search of tuna, marlin, and wahoo on a variety of air-conditioned vessels with experienced crew. Tours depart at 7am and 1pm, and are priced according to how many people join the tour. A half-day tour for up to four people costs US$600 (£304), while a full day for the same group is US$900 (£455). Bonefishing and reef-fishing tours are also available at US$500 (£253) for a half-day and US$800 (£405) for a full day for four people.

Horseback Riding

Horse Back in Paradise with Nicki (tel. 345/945-5839; www.caymanhorseriding.com) collects riders anywhere in the vicinity of Seven Mile Beach and takes them on early-morning or late-afternoon beach rides, with some inland trail riding. Nicole "Nicki" Eldemire is a wealth of information about life in Grand Cayman, and is full of anecdotes about island life, flora, and fauna. You're in the saddle for 75 minutes for US$100 (£51) per person. Sunset rides can also be arranged for at least six riders.

Honeysuckle Trail Rides, Savannah (tel. 345/916-5420), will also arrange to pick you up if you're staying in the vicinity of Seven Mile Beach. This outfitter offers morning and sunset rides lasting 1 1/2 hours at a cost of US$55 (£28) per rider. Both Western and English tack are offered.

Tennis

Many of the big resorts have their own tennis courts available to guests. However, a total of nine courts are available to the public at the Cayman Islands Tennis Club, Ann Bonney Crescent, South Sound (tel. 345/949-9469). The fee for up to 2 hours on either asphalt or "classic clay" surfaced courts is CI$10 (US$13/£6) per person. Hours can vary according to the season and the weather, so call ahead.

Indoor Activities for Inclement Weather

If it's raining, or too hot, but you're desperate to put your body in motion, try the World Gym, West Bay Road (tel. 345/949-5132; www.worldgymcayman.com). You'll find it behind a branch of Wendy's on Seven Mile Beach. The original fitness center on the island, and still going strong, features state-of-the-art equipment like Nautilus and cardiovascular machines, plus activities such as aerobics, bodybuilding, jujitsu karate, massages, weight lifting, and the like, with five personal trainers on call. A 1-day pass costs US$25 (£13). The gym is open Monday to Thursday 5am to 10pm, Friday 5am to 8pm, Saturday 8am to 6pm, and Sunday 8am to 4pm.

A competitor is Fitness Connection, Glen Eden Road, South Sound (tel. 345/949-8485; www.fitness.ky), which is a full-service facility with a lot of extras -- even belly dancing and tap-dancing. Regular gym workouts are offered, along with personal training and yoga. Admission is CI$30 (US$38/£18) per day for everybody (aerobics and dance classes are included in this fee), plus an additional CI$10 (US$13/£6) for use of special facilities and special programs. The complex is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm and Saturday 9am to 1am.