I've been twice. As I recall there's nothing worth seeing....underwater....close to the beach as far as coral. There were a few fish, not schools of Blue Tang like Bonaire. Beach diving/snorkeling in Bonaire was exceptional! We took gorgeous boats out to the reefs in Turks...then nothing was close to the surface. 60' dives were normal. Grand Cayman on the other hand has lots of fish off the beach. Little Cayman was really nice. We stayed @ LC for a week. So......You can just take a taxi to Coral Garden Reef. You don't need to stay at the hotel. We stayed @ Turtle Cove. I'd NOT recommend it for snorkeling or a beach....it wasn't good for either. It had a channel for boats to pull up to. Link See the photo to to the right? That's about right. 7'-15' down. You need to dive, holding your breath to get close. Grand Cayman has glass bottom boat tours and a submarine tour.

Mtn, book club in the Grand Cayman? Most me meets at Barnes and Noble! But...getting back to your question.

We loved the Grand Cayman, there is certainly snorkeling there.

Well two totally different opinions, LOL.

Eld, we figured, WTH? Why not?

I am going to go to Cayman, TCI and Cuba on this trip. Those are given, because I am trying to add countries to my list. I think I can get to 100 in 5 or 6 trips. So I am not choosing destinations based on the very best snorkeling because TBH that would not be the Caribbean anyway. Just wondering, if I am already on TCI, where should I choose within TCI.

Nicole, We were supposed to go to Bonaire a year or so ago IIRC. At that time, you had to fly thru Curacao and had to retest between the two islands. Wasn't worth it to us; you could be healthy when you left and then get stuck in a govt hotel in Curacao for a week!

Sueb, Yes, we were on a catamaran in the keys in March 2020 and by the time we landed back home everything was shut down .... no classes, no work. Some reviews say Grace Bay is overcrowded, did you like it?

When we went to Bonaire we got stuck in Aruba for 8 hours, precovid. Yeah the testing thing is scary. Being held hostage has never been my idea of a vacation, hence no covid travel for me....and I've been about everywhere. Grand Caymen is GREAT for snorkeling. They have public beaches that are really nice and not crowed at all. Turks & Caicos.....just not as many fish as we like to see on the shoreline. Bonaire will blow your mind....so much beauty! Their reefs are protected, you buy a parks pass to enter the water there.

One of my BFFs is big into diving, and they go to Bonaire specifically for that several times a year. She raves about it there.

We loved Grace Bay (I’m not even going to ask how you know we stayed there). It was not crowded at all but we were there before the usual school vacation time. Our balcony had a daybed on it and I took a few naps there. Also discovered a really yummy strawberry cocktail at the bar there. So now you know my vacation priorities.

I think the testing issue is lifted now, but it really put and end to our Bonaire plans!

We will probably go to Bonaire sometime in the future, because there are a lot of places in that area that i can add to my list. We are still on for the Maldives over Christmas, but Sri Lanka looking like a no go so we will probably do Southern India in its place.

Sue, not to worry, I meant Grace Bay as in the area, not a particular resort. 😂

Oh and, lovely pics, as always.

Bonaire is mostly cactus on shore...so you need to spend most of your time "in" the water. They have a really nice park there, we rented a van with AC and drove ALL over. Never done the Maldives.

Eld, are you still going next spring?

Nicole, Yes, I found Bonaire oddly lacking other than the water sports! Some say that is intentional. Some great Air bnbs tho.

Yeah, I’m not much of an expert snorkler, but Grace Bay is so lovely. You can kayak and feel like you wont get swept out to sea. Amd Grace Bay Club is divine…I would return again and again…I think they have the best service of any place we’ve stayed in the Caribbean. The spa and restaurant were both amazing. I honestly think that trip was the most relaxed I’ve ever been in my life. 😂

We are going back in November! Last time we went was May ’17. Seven Stars Resort & Spa.

No snorkeling for me…can’t even swim 😉

TCI is one of our favorites along w/Antigua.

Irish, what do you like to do there if you don't swim? Why is is a fave?

You have a fabulous book club. I've never been to T & C but now want to go.

What book will you be reading?

Mtn, I just relax under a cabana or hut with my kindle paperwhite or a playaway. I will go in the beautiful water on my float or maybe go tubing. (Just had TKR in March so i need to be cautious. ) I’m > 65 and just happy being at a beautiful beach relaxing with a cold beverage .

In our earlier years of marriage we would rent a vehicle and sightsee etc but not now…

Jojo, I am in fact very fortunate to have a very active, compatible, and reliable book club. And cooking club! We never thought to travel together but the one friend in my book club moved away a few years ago and now participates via Skype, and she is always inviting us.

Got it, Irish ,Heavenly!

I went about 10 years ago. We rented a house overlooking the water. There were a lot of family members and friends on the trip. I think it had like 7 bedrooms, all en suite. The hose was amazing. I thought the snorkeling was great, but it was my first time. I did see a small shark. I got stung by a jellyfish. We chartered a boat and went snorkeling past the reefs in the open water. The water was cold. We saw a large baracuda. We were told there were no sharks by the boat pilot, but at a restaurant that night, another guide told me that was not true and he would take me out and show me some huge tiger and bull sharks the next day (not sure how he would find them?). We were leaving the next AM, so I couldnt take him up on it. That night I read about shark attacks around T and C and decided I wouldnt do anymore open water snorkeling if I ever came back. We took a small flight to another island (I can’t remember the name) and spent the day walking around. We also went to an island that had large iguana. They want to be fed, so bring food if you go! These huge lizards walk right up to you. There was a pirate’s cave on the island too. The beaches were fabulous. We made a lot of our own food, as one friend was a chef. Food at the grocery stores was limited and expensive.

Thanks Rocky. People certainly seem to like it. I am now debating the definition of "country" in trying decide if I should go there or elsewhere in the Caribbean.

I think they are British, like part of the Commonwealth, but have their own government of course.

You are much more well-traveled than I, but one of the criteria I use when picking a destination is wanting to see a place with my own eyes that I hear about all the time. I like having my own mental picture. That’s why we went to Nantucket…I heard about it SO MUCH that I just had to see it myself. I don’t think you’d regret seeing T&C. We only swam at Grace Bay, but there were no sharks, only pretty fish and a turtle!