In this article, we review Cemetery Beach in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. This is a popular beach and snorkel spot for both locals and tourists.
Where is Cemetery Beach located?
Cemetery Beach is located on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman.
Seven Mile Beach is the main stretch of beach in Grand Cayman, and Grand Cayman is the main island in the Cayman Islands. Seven Mile Beach is on the west side of Grand Cayman.
Cemetery Beach is a small section of Seven Mile Beach. Technically Cemetery Beach is Seven Mile Beach, but this specific section is called Cemetery Beach because there is an old cemetery located behind the beach.
Below is a Google Map that shows the location of Cemetery Beach:
Is the snorkeling good at Cemetery Beach?
Yes, the snorkeling is good at Cemetery Beach.
The snorkeling is not as good as it is at the Barrier Reef, which you can snorkel at whilst doing a Stingray City tour, but it is still worth the time to snorkel at Cemetery Beach.
There is a lot of coral here, compared to other parts of Seven Mile Beach. Also, you are likely to see a wide variety of fish whilst snorkeling.
Below is a video showing Cemetery Beach and the snorkeling here:
Can you snorkel from shore?
Yes, you can snorkel from shore.
However, it is a relatively long swim to get to the coral. The best snorkeling is about 60 yards offshore.
You don’t need a boat to snorkel here. However, if you have a paddle board or kayak, then it is easier to reach this area from shore. You can rent paddle boards from George’s Watersports.
If you don’t use a paddle board or kayak, then it is recommended to use a swim buoy so that boats can see you in the water. You can read our article here where we discuss the best places to rent snorkel equipment in Grand Cayman.
Can beginners snorkel here?
This is not a good snorkel spot for beginners.
The fish and coral are far offshore (about 60 yards offshore), meaning that this can be dangerous for people that aren’t experienced snorkelers.
You should only snorkel here if you have the following:
1. Prior snorkel experience
2. A good level of fitness
It would be an exaggeration to say that Cemetery Beach is a difficult snorkel spot, but it isn’t good for complete beginners or for people that aren’t strong swimmers. If you snorkel here, then it is recommended to snorkel with at least one other person, so if something happens, there is someone to help.
Check out our list of the top 25 snorkel spots in the Cayman Islands. We cover many snorkel spots that are better for beginners.
How deep is the water?
The water at Cemetery Beach is standing depth (3 to 4 feet) for the first few yards directly off of the beach. However, as you swim further out, the water gets deeper.
The area that has all of the good snorkeling is about 60 yards offshore, and it is around 20 feet deep. It is definitely too deep to stand.
Is there an entrance fee?
There is no entrance fee for Cemetery Beach.
All beaches in the Cayman Islands have free public access. There is even a public access walk-way that you can use to enter Cemetery Beach.
The land directly behind beaches in the Cayman Islands is privately owned, but the beach itself is public, meaning that theoretically, you can walk along the entire stretch of Seven Mile Beach, and no one can stop you. Cemetery Beach is a small section of Seven Mile Beach.
Is there free parking?
Yes there is free parking.
There is a relatively large patch of grass across the street from Cemetery Beach that you can park on for free.
“West Bay Road”, which is the road that Cemetery Beach (and the rest of Seven Mile Beach) is on, also has many public buses.
If you don’t have your own car, you can easily take a public bus to Cemetery Beach for only $2.50 USD per person. You can ask the bus driver to drop you off at Cemetery Beach, and he or she will know exactly where to take you.
Final thoughts
Cemetery Beach is definitely worth visiting because it has good snorkeling.
The beach itself is also nice because there are typically less people here compared to other sections of Seven Mile Beach, so it has a more secluded ambience.
If you are a complete beginner at snorkeling, then you shouldn’t snorkel at Cemetery Beach because the snorkeling is too far offshore for beginners. You can check out our list of the top 25 snorkel spots in the Cayman Islands, as we cover spots that are better for beginners.
