(note: this page was created as an example for a web authoring class...information may not be factual)
RECREATION!!!

|
Activity |
Price* |
| Snorkel/Stingray Sandbar | $62.50 |
| Horseback Riding | $60 |
| Parasailing (doubles) | $50 pp |
| Submarine Trip | $65 |
| 3 Hr Beginner Scuba Dive Course | $90 |
| Moped Site Seeing Tour | $20 |
| Glass bottom Boat Trip | $40 |
| Deep Sea Fishing | $40 |
| Turtle Farm (cultural) | $6 |
| National Museum (cultural) | $5 |
| Botanical Garden (cultural) | Free |
| Pedro St James Castle (cultural) | $8 |
| Watersports | varies |
*it is possible that these
prices will be lower because of group rates.
Group rates are normally 10% lower.
If so, you'll have a bit more spending money. :o)
| The
site was first noticed about ten years ago, when North Sound fishermen came to
the calmer, shallower waters just over the reef to clean their fish. Soon they
noticed stingrays, scavengers by nature, hanging around the boats inhaling any
leftovers they could get their suckers on. Next, some particularly brave
divemasters got in the water to hand-feed them, and before long the stingrays
had become tame, almost pet-like. Today, you can swim under, over, and along with the rays. Their favorite food is squid, which you can feed them by hand. At Stingray sandbar, which is only waist deep, you can use a mask and snorkel and watch the rays swarm around you, brushing their velvety bellies against your hands and feet. Don't worry: this is the rays' way of begging for food. The rays have no teeth, but use a powerful sucking motion to draw in their food. Some are big, nearly six-feet in diameter. Their only means of defense is a barbed, venomous tail. As long as you don't lift the rays out of the water and treat them with the respect they deserve, you'll have a wonderful experience. I've done this and it is something I will NEVER forget. What a memory! |
After
swimming with the rays, the captain will take you on a
conch dive. You'll dive
for your own conch which is quite fun.
The captain will clean the conch and
prepare the meat in
traditional Cayman style...letting you taste!
You'll stop off at Coral Garden to snorkel with some of the
most beautiful fish
and coral that I've ever seen. After spending
about an hour here, the captain
will take you to a secluded area
on the beach, where you'll be served authentic
Cayman food. Delish!
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Horseback
Riding
At dusk, you'll ride horseback along the white sandy beach...
watching the sun
set beyond the Caribbean Sea.
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Parasailing
You'll parasail two at a time. It's more fun that way and is not as
expensive as
sailing solo. The sail lasts about 15 minutes which
gives you plenty of time to
view the vast, pristine turquoise water.
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Submarine
Trip
This
is definitely one of the highlights. The Atlantis Submarine
descends to
100ft revealing an ocean floor teaming with ocean life.
Magnificent coral
formations and a dazzling array of tropical fish
glide past the large view
ports. Interspersed between the coral gardens
are patches of pure white sand
where stingrays will suddenly scoot off
as the submarine comes to loom above
them. Garden eels swaying
in the currents look like plants bending to the
breeze. As you get closer
to them they'll pop back under the sand, only to
re-emerge immediately
in the submarines wake. Follow strange tracks that meander
across the
sand and they'll lead to a Conch. As the journey continues you will
come
upon huge coral heads and reefs of all different colors and shapes - things
most of us have never seen. Look out for the Spotted Eagle Ray, a beautiful
enormous creature that glides through the water just like a majestic eagle
of
the sea. There are brilliant fish and lots of lazy turtles to amaze you.
The Atlantis Submarine is the 1st purpose built submarine specifically
designed
for passengers. For everyone's comfort, the high tech spacious
air-conditioned
cabin is precisely maintained at sea level pressure. The
friendly and
professional crew comprise a seasoned pilot, co-pilot and
a knowledgeable marine
guide who will give an informative
narrative throughout the journey.

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Beginner
Scuba Dive Course
Pool training
Shore dive with your instructor on a colorful coral reef.
Very much
recommended!!
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Moped
Site Seeing
You'll travel the entire island by moped! Stop where
you want to stop, ride
where you want to ride.
Travel up to the north end to see the amazing blow
holes.
Stop off at hot spots along the way and cool off in the sea
with a quick
snorkel. This is a very interesting experience.
(Cars drive on the LEFT
side of the road so you've got to be aware at all times.)
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Glass
bottom
Boat Excursion
This trip is another must. Simply awesome. You'll be very
comfortable in this
roomy, air conditioned boat. The captain
will make one stop so you can snorkel
if you wish...
and you won't want to miss the opportunity.
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The Nautilus - Glass bottom Boat
Deep
Sea Fishing
In the Cayman Islands, fishing is often called
the unofficial "national sport."
Prized gamefish like blue marlin,
tuna, wahoo and dolphin (Mahi-mahi)
are caught year-round. Thrilling catches
take place as close as a
quarter mile offshore. The cost to charter a boat and
crew is about
$400 but I've made special arrangements for groups of 10 to go and
split the
cost. Popular
gamefish such as blue marlin, yellowfin tuna,
wahoo, dolphin (dorado) and
barracuda are caught year-round.
Occasional catches of white marlin
and, very rarely, Atlantic sailfish
and Atlantic long-billed spearfish
are also reported.
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Turtle
Farm
The only one of its kind in the world, Cayman
Turtle Farm is home
to over 16,000 sea turtles, ranging in size from six ounces
to
six-hundred pounds each! The farm is a modern-day reminder
of the turtle's
role in the history of the Cayman Islands.
When Christopher Columbus first
discovered the islands in 1503,
he named them "Las Tortugas," meaning
The Turtles. According
to legend, there were so many turtles that the islands
looked like
they were covered with rocks.
The turtles are a protected species, and you can witness the
majesty of these
unique creatures hands-on. Nowhere else can
you see an endangered species so
successfully raised for
conservation. In fact, since 1980, the Farm has released
29,000
turtles back into the sea to help replenish the wild population.
The top priority at the Farm is maintaining an ideal breeding
environment.
Breeding season runs from May to October,
during which time the turtles dig
their nests on the beach near
the breeding pond and produce their eggs. The eggs
are immediately
taken to the hatchery, where staff monitor the hatching process.
This normally takes about 60 days.
An average of 8,000 hatchlings are produced
every year.
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National
Museum
After years of planning,
research and professional conservation
of acquired artifacts, the Cayman Islands
National Museum
opened in November 1990 in the restored Old Courts Building
in
George Town. The attractive building overlooks Hog Sty Bay,
and is one of
Cayman's few remaining 19th century structures,
a survivor of hurricanes and
countless Nor'westers. During its
150 years, it has served as a jail and
courthouse - and meeting
place of worship. The meticulous restoration project
won the
1990 American Express Preservation Award for the Caribbean.
The Museum collection contains over 2,000 items,
from a
14-ft. traditional hand made catboat to old coins, rare documents
and
natural history specimens. In 1979 the Cayman Islands Government
purchased the
late Ira Thompson's private collection of historic
memorabilia. This revered
Caymanian's hobby spanned almost
50 years and launched the National Museum's
original collection.
Here, you'll learn about this tiny country's fascinating cultural and
natural
history and the resourceful, independent nature of our
seafaring society in a
variety of exhibits and a 10-minute
audiovisual presentation, "Cayman:
Founded Upon the Seas."
Through the exhibits and displays, you will be introduced to a
Cayman Islands
very different from the sophisticated,
cosmopolitan vacation paradise you see
today. You'll begin
to understand why this country's development is a success
story which overcame incredible odds during the last 400 years.
Cayman's total land mass is barely 100 square miles for all three islands.
Almost half of that is low-lying mangrove swamp. With few natural
resources,
there was little base for early industry when the first settlers
arrived
centuries ago. For many years, Caymanians supported
themselves through modest
exports of thatch rope, turtling, fishing
and later, working on foreign-owned
ships. In fact, as late as the 1950's,
Cayman's main export was listed in a
Government report as "seamen,"
who became some of the world's finest
ships captains and merchant
mariners. Their earnings were the mainstay of the
economy until tourism
and the offshore financial industry took off in the
mid-1970's.Today,
with one of the highest per capita Gross Domestic Product
figures
in the region, Cayman ranks as the world's second largest captive
insurance domicile and fifth largest international banking center.
The Cayman
Islands shine as one of the Caribbean's leading
economic success stories of the
last 20 years.
As you leave, stop in the Museum Shop which offers a fine selection
of books
about Cayman; locally made crafts and high quality gifts,
from Christmas tree
ornaments to Caymanite jewelry. Then relax in
the picturesque courtyard of the
Cool Caboose on the south east
corner of the Museum and enjoy a tropical fruit
drink, ice cream or snacks.
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Botanical
Garden
Many visitors arriving in this Western Caribbean
destination,
famous for Stingray City, have never heard of Cayman's
Queen
Elizabeth II Botanic Park, located in Grand Cayman's North Side.
This heritage
attraction was officially opened on 27th February,
1994 by Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II and named in her honor.
The next milestone was reached in May 1997,
when Hon. Thomas Jefferson,
Minister for Tourism, Commerce & Transport,
officially opened
three new attractions there: the Visitors Centre, Floral
Garden
and Heritage Garden, representing the Park's $1.75 million,
second phase
expansion program.
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Pedro
St James Castle
Built
in 1780 and formerly known as Pedro Castle, this great
house is not only
Cayman's oldest stone structure, it's the only
remaining late-18th-century
residence on the island. The buildings
are surrounded by 8 acres of natural
parks and woodlands.
You can stroll through landscaping of native Caymanian
flora
and experience one of the most spectacular views on the
island from atop
the dramatic Great Pedro Bluff. Not to be
missed is the impressive multimedia
theater show complete
with smoking pots, misting rains, and two film screens
presenting the Pedro St. James story.
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Watersports
Watersports
centers that offer a variety of ways to get wet are
located in the most
convenient spots in the Cayman Islands,
with the main centers being located at
major hotels on Island.
Depending on the location, these might include ocean
kayaks,
windsurfing boards, hobie cats, waverunners, aqua trikes,
view boards,
sun searcher floats, banana boat rides, paddle cats,
and paddleboats. Of course,
there is always a game of beach volleyball going on!


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scuba animation courtesy of animation factory
www.animationfactory.com