In this article, we review the snorkeling at Barefoot Beach in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands.
Where is Barefoot Beach located?
Barefoot Beach is located on the east-side of Grand Cayman.
It takes about one hour to drive from Seven Mile Beach to Barefoot Beach.
There are no signs at the entrance, meaning that when you arrive, you need to drive slowly to make sure that you are in the right place.
You can park along the side of the road, and then walk down the path to the entrance of the beach.
Below is a Google Map showing the exact location of Barefoot Beach:
Is the snorkeling good at Barefoot Beach?
Yes, the snorkeling is very good at Barefoot Beach.
There is a barrier reef located about 100-yards from the beach. You can swim to this reef and see lots of coral and fish.
Below is a drone video showing the barrier reef at Barefoot Beach:
When you start swimming from the beach to the barrier reef, you will see an area of sea-grass that has sections of coral masses. If you continue swimming past the sea-grass area, you will eventually reach the barrier reef.
Below is a different video showing someone snorkeling at Barefoot Beach:
Can you snorkel from shore?
Yes, you can snorkel from shore. In fact, this is the only way to snorkel here.
We recommend that you only snorkel here if the wind speed is less than 15 mph. If the wind is above 15 mph, then it can become too rough to snorkel to the barrier reef safely.
You can check the wind speed in Grand Cayman using this website.
We also recommend that you use a life jacket or floating device. It is a long swim from shore to the barrier reef, and you can’t stand up in most parts.
If you need to rent or buy snorkel gear, then check out our article where we discuss the best places in Grand Cayman to rent and buy snorkel equipment.
Can beginners snorkel here?
If you have never snorkeled before, then you should not snorkel at Barefoot Beach.
It is a long swim from the beach to the barrier reef. If you get into trouble in the water as a beginner, you don’t want to be far from shore.
Also, Barefoot Beach typically has few people in the area, so if you are in trouble whilst snorkeling, there probably won’t be anyone to help you.
Also, if the winds are stronger than 15 mph, then it is too rough to snorkel here, especially for beginners.
If you have never snorkeled before, then consider doing a snorkel tour as there will be tour guides to help and provide guidance. You can check out our article where we review the top 15 snorkel tours in Grand Cayman.
If you are looking for beginner friendly snorkel spots in Grand Cayman, then check out Smith Cove and the Aquarium.
How deep is the water?
The water is about 5 to 10 feet deep.
For the most part, you can’t standup whilst snorkeling at Barefoot Beach.
Once you get to the barrier reef, it can be shallow enough to stand, however, you should not stand because you don’t want to touch the coral. You can damage and kill coral when you touch it, so it’s best to not stand whilst snorkeling.
Is there an entrance fee?
There is no entrance fee.
All beaches in the Cayman Islands have free entrance by law. Check out our article where we review the top 15 beaches in Grand Cayman.
Is there free parking?
There is no official parking lot at Barefoot Beach, but you can park for free along the side of the road by the entrance.
There are no signs letting you know that you have arrived, so you need to drive slowly to make sure that you are in the right place before parking.
There is a path that you can walk along connecting the main road area to the beach. You cannot drive down this path in a vehicle.
Final thoughts
Barefoot Beach is a great snorkel spot, but should only be attempted by people that have snorkeled before.
Even if you don’t want to snorkel, this is still a nice beach to visit and have a picnic at.
If you are looking for other snorkel spots, then check out our article where we discuss the top 25 snorkel spots in Grand Cayman.
If you are looking for other beaches, then check out our article where we review the top 15 beaches in Grand Cayman.
