Adventures in the Cayman Islands!
Welcome to the Cayman Islands! If you've heard about the fantastic stingray city excursions in Grand Cayman, then you have Captain Marvin to thank for that. Our captain was a founding father of stingray excursions in Grand Cayman!
Whether it's snorkeling around the coral heads and reefs, swimming with stingrays, or enjoying the wonder of sea stars at Starfish Point and the other-worldly night-time bioluminescence tour, you will discover amazing things in our waters!
If you are looking for the best fishing charters in the Cayman Islands, we have you covered. Our experienced captains will take you deep sea fishing for marlin, tuna, or wahoo. Grand Cayman is also an excellent place for reef fishing (yellowtail and red snapper, grunts, triggerfish, jacks), and our knowledgeable guides know all the best places to go. Come with us to explore all that Grand Cayman has to offer. Adventure calls and we must go!
Explore our activities
Stingrays, Starfish & Snorkeling
A new and more exclusive tour is being offered on our brand new motor catamaran.
This tour has been getting really great reviews! With approximately 25 people on average, it's a comfortable and high-end unique visit to some of the most beautiful spots on the planet.
The snorkeling will be at either the Coral Gardens OR the Barrier Reef, with approximately 40 minutes at each stop, allowing you more time to enjoy the beautiful Caribbean Sea.
Two-Stop Stingray/Snorkel Tours
Our two-stop stingray/snorkel tour lasts about two hours and 30 minutes, slightly shorter than our three-stop stingray/snorkel tour. The two-stop trip goes to the Stingray City sandbar plus one snorkel stop, either the Barrier Reef or the Coral Gardens. Our captain will decide when he gets out to the stingray/snorkel areas which snorkel stop to use, based on wind, wave, and tide conditions, as well as on the number of people at each of the two areas. We always try to go to the less populated of the two stops.
Three-Stop Stingray/Snorkel Tours
Our three-stop stingray/snorkel tour lasts three hours, dock to dock. The three-stop stingray/snorkel trip goes to the Stingray City sandbar plus TWO snorkel stops, both the Barrier Reef AND the Coral Gardens.
We strongly recommend that you bring flotation devices for children under age 3, as our snorkel gear is for ages 3 and over. We provide snorkel vests, life vests, masks, snorkels, and fins for everyone ages 4 and over. You are welcome to bring your own gear if you like. We offer complimentary shuttle service from your hotel or condo on Seven Mile Beach.
Beach Lunch Stingray/Snorkel Tours
Capt. Marvin's Beach Lunch Stingray/Snorkel Tour is the best of the best! It includes two snorkel stops (one of which will be a conch dive during conch season, Nov. 1st through April 30th), the Stingray City sandbar for interaction with the stingrays, and a fresh seafood lunch on the beach across the North Sound (near Kaibo/Rumpoint).
Our crew will dive for conch in season and you are welcome to help them. They will even clean up some shells so each family unit who wishes can take one back home with them (supply limited). The rest of the year, you will have extra snorkeling (or Starfish) stop instead of the conch dive.
Stingrays and Starfish (Caves on Fridays Saturdays only)
Enjoy the combo tour with stingrays and starfish, offered for USD59/person each morning at 7:30 before the crowds! On Fridays and Saturdays, you can add the caves tour (USD99/person for both). You must prepay for these tours as the office isn't open before 7:30 AM.
Deep Sea Fishing
Capt. Marvin's Watersports is privileged to have excellent, experienced captains who will help you catch that big marlin, tuna, or wahoo. One of the great advantages of deep sea fishing in Grand Cayman is that our deep water is not far from shore, so you do not have to spend hours of your time just getting to the fishing areas.
We offer both half-day and full-day fishing charters. Our half-day charters are from 8:00 AM until 12:00 PM, and again from 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM, and our full-day charters are from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Upon request, we will also provide a cooler with ice for your beverages and snacks if you would like to bring them along with you.
Reef Fishing
We also provide reef fishing charters, and because the reef is so close to the island, you are not spending your valuable time and money getting to a far-off fishing site.
The tradition in Grand Cayman is that 1/3 of the catch (or an edible amount, whichever is smaller) goes to those fishing, and 2/3 of the catch goes to the boat. Our crew will be happy to fillet the fish for you.
Our Fishing Boats
We are fortunate to have a fleet of cabin cruisers for fishing charters. The boats vary in length from 33 feet to 60 feet.
Private Charters
Capt. Marvin's also offers you the option of a private charter. We have several boats of varying sizes that can accommodate groups of all sizes for private stingray/snorkel tours, fishing charters, or combinations of fishing and snorkeling.
Bioluminescence Tour
Start with a cruise over to Starfish Point for sunset and starfish viewing, then get educated on the upside-down jellyfish before going into bio bay to experience this phenomenon (swimming optional) of seeing the bioluminescence, something that only a few places in the world can offer.
Custom Stingray/Snorkel Charters
Magic Hook: $275/hour, 3-hr minimum (US$825) up to 10p; plus $55/p 11-15p; Plus $5/person for ground transportation
Howdy: $275/hour, 3-hr minimum (US$825) up to 10p; plus $5/person for ground transportation
Cayman Bear: $500/hour, 3-hr minimum up to 25p; plus, US$55/p for 26-38p; Plus $5/person for ground transportation.
Miss Anna/High Rider/
Capt. Jimmy/Cayman Jewel - $650/hour, 3-hr minimum up to 32p; plus $55/p for 33-50p; Plus $5/person ground transportation
Luxury Boats and Motor Catamarans:
Oh Boy - $400/hour with a three-hour minimum to 15 people plus $80/person for 16-35 people
North Sounder - $400/hour with a three-hour minimum, for up to 15 people plus $80/person for 16 to 35 people
Holiday Rate: Add $150 for 3-4 hours and $200 for 5 hours and up
Custom Fishing Charters
Half-day reef: 4 hours
Howdy/Magic Hook - $750 for up to 6 people fishing
Oh Boy - US$1800 for up to 8 people fishing; Add US$100 for a/c
Full-day reef: 7 Hours
Howdy/Magic Hook - $1400 for up to 6 people
Oh Boy - $1800 for up to 8 people fishing; add US$100 for a/c.
Half-day deep sea: 4 Hours
Howdy/Magic Hook - $850 for up to 6 people fishing
Oh Boy - $1100 for up to 8 people fishing; a/c available upon request (add $50/half day)
Full-day deep sea: 7 Hours
Howdy/Magic Hook - $1500 (fully rigged, with captain and mate, equipment, and bait)
Oh Boy - $2000 (as above); $2000 (as above)
Why choose us?
Grand Cayman Excursions With Top Guides
Captain Marvin's proudly offers one of the best fleets in the Cayman Islands. We offer first-class cabin cruisers and motor catamarans for your comfort. We provide the best boats, fishing gear, and snorkeling equipment for snorkel tours and fishing charters. Our local guides are experts in the area around Grand Cayman. You'll see the famous sites, plus a few hidden gems.
First Class Boats and Equipment
Our first-class boats, fishing gear and snorkeling equipment are all top-of-the line and kept in excellent condition to ensure a fantastic trip! Your safety is our highest priority and we take great pride in ensuring your comfort with professional equipment and well maintained boats at all times.
Outstanding Team Members
We have a team of experienced captains and crew that are ready to show you the best sights on the island! They are all knowledgeable, friendly, and very accommodating. They ensure that our guests have an unforgettable experience while they are on the island.
#1 Watersports in Grand Cayman and Hall of Fame on TripAdvisor
Top rated watersports in Grand Cayman and also highly recommended by our customers. We have been operating for over 70 years so you can be sure that we are well-established and experienced enough to provide you with the best service.
Words from our customers
Great way to do something different during our trip to Grand Cayman. The crew led by Jordan was fun and attentive. Great people! The part with the stingrays swimming around us was really great
Paul G
23rd January 2023
The crew was efficient and the boat was great. This was our second time to use Captain Marvin and we were pleased once again.
Bill-Shannon B
23rd January 2023
Great experience! Beautiful boat - When we arrived - there were other boats at the sting ray location - they were over loaded and the passengers did not get the personal attention we enjoyed Highly recommend this company !Thanks to Mitch and Richard forMaking this so much fun
Wearytraveler277
23rd January 2023
My family of five enjoyed the tour Captain Marvin's gave us. Despite the slightly elevated wave activity, we were still able to enjoy the snorkeling at a barrier reef, Stingray City, and the snorkeling at Coral Gardens. The guides were so wonderful! I cannot remember every name, but a couple of them are Aster and Jimbo. They were very patient with our three little kids. The 4 y.o. even got to snorkel! It was unbelievable! The bottled waters aboard their boat helped us to stay hydrated, as well. I highly recommend this tour.
Holly L
22nd January 2023
All was so good and Jordan’s crew made the experience wonderful. All the activities were interesting and worthwhile.
Mike M
22nd January 2023
Hanging out with the stingrays was awesome! Water and fruit punch provided on board. We also learned about conch. I highly recommend if you’re looking for a great day on the water!
Danielle H
21st January 2023
Amazing trip/ truly, the highlight of our vacation!Up close and personal with the stingrays beautiful coral reef with a beautiful green moray eel lobster sea turtles, stingrays swimming around the staff of Michael /Jordan and Burger were fantastic!The boat comfy w/ a bathroom ladies!!! I highly recommend this tour!!!
Michelle B
20th January 2023
Had a great experience on this tour. I needed a shorter tour as my baby was waiting at home for us. This was perfect - visit to stingray bay and then a 40 min snorkel stop. We saw lots of fish, beautiful coral, turtles, and lots of sting rays. Would tour with them again
Brittany F
19th January 2023
This was so good! We did the tour with stingray city, barrier reef, and coral gardens and it was amazing. The crew is very helpful and nice. This is a must do it is so beautiful. The water is super clear and the fish are beautiful. The stingrays were very friendly. You get to hold them and feed them too which was a cool experience
Ava D.
18th January 2023
My family and I had an amazing experience with Captain Marvin’s crew today. We were taken out to snorkel, where we saw hundreds of fish, a few stingrays, and an eel! From there, we went to Stingray City. The crew showed us how stingrays breathe, see and eat. We were able to hold the stingray, pet her, kiss her nose, and get a back rub from her! There were several stingrays swimming around us, so we got to feel them brushing up against our legs! It was AWESOME!! Next, we went to Starfish point and got to see and hold them! The crew took great care of us the entire time; they were funny and attentive, they had drinks on board for us, and wanted to ensure we had the best experience possible. I highly recommend Captain Marvin!
Steph635
17th January 2023
A great 3 hours in Grand Cayman with snorkeling, swimming with the stingrays and looking for starfish. The starfish point is probably the least exciting but while snorkeling we saw stingrays, a barracuda and tons of beautiful tropical fish (including “Dory”)! Captain, first mate and photographer were amazing, funny, very safe (it was a bit bumpy) and knowledgeable!
Stacey R
16th January 2023
Captain Marvin's is the way to go if you are doing Stingray City! The boat is nice and clean, the staff are professional, and the experience is great. Highly recommend!
Rebecca P
15th January 2023
The Stingray up close and personal tour is a must for adventurer OR faint of heart. The crew took care of my 91 year old Mom who was skeptical of getting into water with sting ray but hasn't stopped talking about it. Loved Fred, JJ , Jeff and Captain Ester..they made effort for all guests to enjoy snorkeling too at their own pace!
Donald McAvoy
15th January 2023
We really enjoyed our snorkel and Stingray City . Keith and Leo and team did a great job!I would recommend.
Robin S
15th January 2023
The tour was wonderful and the lunch was delicious. I would definitely recommend this tour to my friends.
Dreamer795259
14th January 2023
We are a couple and did the 2 stop tour with Keith, Leo and Burger. They were amazing and had everything well organized and well timed out. They offered a lot of picture opportunities and were all very funny and friendly throughout the tour and made sure everyone was happy and comfortable. They know the stingrays well and treat them kindly. This was an absolute highlight of our trip to Cayman. Highly recommend.
M1226HUsamantham
14th January 2023
This was such a friendly and professional operation from start to finish. The shuttle was clean and comfortable. The boat was immaculate and Captain Astor was an excellent host and pilot. The crew was friendly and helpful. I’ll say again…the boat was spotless and seemed incredible well maintained. Coral gardens was like swimming in a fish tank. The Marvin crew did an awesome job letting everyone pet (or kiss) stingrays at Stingray City sand bar. My favorite stop was the barrier reef. There are not many places where you can still see beautiful corals and the barrier reef is one of them. We had an awesome time swimming with schools of fish among gorgeous and colorful corals. Highly recommend Captain Marvin if you’re looking for a *perfect* trip.
Tony H
13th January 2023
My husband and I did this as our excursion for our stop in Grand Cayman on our family cruise Dec 2022. We had perfect weather. I was a little nervous about being with the stingrays but it was not scary at all. The stingrays only come to you if you have food to feed them. Otherwise, they just swim around you. Sting ray city is a large sand bar where you can stand about waist-chest deep. There were other boats there for this excursion, but each group had plenty of space. Even the people from our tour had plenty of room to spread out. No issue. Such a great experience! After stingray city, they took us to another location to snorkel. We’re saw lots of fish and more stingrays. Snorkeling gear (flippers and snorkel masks) was provided. Our guides Richard, George, Prince & Polo did an exceptional job leading the tour and were attentive to everyone’s needs, and made sure everyone had an opportunity to get a picture with a stingray if they wanted which are high quality photos. I would highly recommend purchasing the photos to remember this once in a lifetime experience! Such a fun day!
MBPs-Travels
13th January 2023
Very fun few hours. Crew was friendly and helpful. Unique experience being in the water with the sting rays. Cool and freaky all at once! Again, the crew keeps you safe and makes sure it's fun.
Paul N
12th January 2023
Amazing experience. The crew was beyond wonderful-so great with my kids. My daughter got to feed the rays several times. The photographer took great photos and the price was fair and reasonable. Highly recommend! Would love to come back again. The snorkel spots were fantastic as well. Thank you!
Jessica S
11th January 2023
Captain Jordan and his crew were super in providing our group with a great experience. We especially want to acknowledge Mike from Nicaragua. He was so knowledgeable, friendly, and great conversationalist. All 3 stops were glorious. The stingray experience is so odd and wonderful. They are like water puppies and a joy to experience. In January, there were not many starfish at the starfish point, but the area near rum point is gorgeous. We were able to learn and hold them, but very few. The snorkeling was beautiful too. We were there on a fairly rough water day, and still great.The boat was crystal clean and comfortable for the trip. Double hull boats make the way out to the different spots smooth which I was concerned about as someone who gets seasick. They have equipment or bring your own. And life jackets if you like, and we used them.Fun trip for all ages, including seniors as my 82 year old mom had a blast!
TravelingMel18
11th January 2023
We went on the AMAZING Bioluminescence Tour last night. It’s hard to explain the beauty of it. The glowing water and the stars in the sky were spectacular! Captain Sugar and Michael were so helpful and answered every question. They were as excited about the beauty as we were!We had an easy pickup and drop off at our SMB hotel. I would highly recommend this tour to everyone!
Sandy W
11th January 2023
Captain Sugar and his crew provided a great experience for us! We enjoyed interacting with the fish and stingrays and starfish at every stop. The crew was interesting, knowledgeable, helpful and a lot of fun! The boat was beat and spotless. I’d definitely recommend this to anyone of any age. Pick up and drop off at our hotel went seamlessly.
Sandy W
11th January 2023
We had a fantastic time with the crew of Ms. Anna. Richard, Paulo and George were very friendly, helpful and funny. They made everyone feel comfortable petting and feeding the stingrays. It was truly an amazing experience.
Shridath Patandin
10th January 2023
Great tour! Sugarbear and his crew are attentive, fun, and helpful. They're very knowledgeable about the environment and taking care of their surroundings. The experience is super fun and I highly recommend it to anybody visiting!
jill
9th January 2023
Must do while on Cayman Islands, the team is super dedicated to providing the best experience possible. Knowledgeable and friendly. Highly recommend!
Thinlay D
9th January 2023
Captain Richard, Paulo and George provided a great tours lots of stingray interactions. Guides were fun and they provided excellent service. The boat was very clean with lots of space to move around. Highly recommended!
Sam H
8th January 2023
Excelente tour, el barco el mejor de todos los otros, la tripulación súper profesional con una atención excelente. La verdad que no creo que exista una mejor opción para conocer Stingray City. El barco y las instalaciones impecables, limpieza y atención de prima. 100% recomendado
sergiojaco
7th January 2023
Excellent family adventure - family of 4. Richard and the crew made us feel very comfortable. They were funny, informative and also safe. Great value for this activity. Recommend you book Stingrays with them.
Karyn H
7th January 2023
Great, big improvement over the Red Sail Tours we’d done previously. Would highly recommend. Felt much more local than any tour we’ve done before, which we really appreciated.
Alex A
6th January 2023
Richard, George, and Paolo were awesome. Went with my wife and 3 year old. The snorkeling was a little choppy for my daughter but she loved the stingray and starfish. Would definitely recommend for a family with young kids.
stefan z
6th January 2023
The tour guides were incredibly friendly and funny and provided an overall really memorable experience. This was especially great because a few of us in the group were a little fearful of the stingrays and had never snorkeled before but by the end of the trip, we had all tried everything, even the things we thought we couldn’t/wouldn’t do!
Mila C
6th January 2023
We were on a family vacation for the New Year to Grand Cayman and did a Stingray City tour with Aster, JJ, Harold, and Fred. It was an unforgettable trip, highly recommended for anyone!! Great experience!
Sophia C.
6th January 2023
An amazing experience! We had the best day with Jordan and Michael taking great care to ensure everyone had a special day! The boat was super nice and clean! Water and juice are provided. The ride was spectacular and the stops were perfect! I want to especially call out Alyanna in the photo department who went above to get us our photos. I was also impressed with the knowledge and care Michael had for the stingrays and starfish! Thank you!
Jane
5th January 2023
This excursion is a MUST DO for all ages. The team was knowledgeable and outstanding including Keith, Leo, Burghur, and Mitchell. They created an exciting adventure and it was so with our time.
Melissa
5th January 2023
Incredible crew, so much energy and fun out there. Was a shame how choppy the water was due to winds, but the crew helped us and made the best of it. Would definitely recommend for families!
Larissa Plishevsky
5th January 2023
Jordan Michael an Joice were excellent as a team that showed us how to party , This was an amazing once in a lifetime experience. I would highly recommend anyone that visit Cayman to experience this experience The boat was in an excellent condition clean an neat with enough water an juice on the boat Encouraged each an everyone on the boat to participate
Ravin Gareeb
4th January 2023
They were all nice and helpful. For those who didn’t know how to swim, they provided life jackets and also offer to be a guide in the water. They also provided specific instructions when swimming with stingrays. I would definitely recommend.
Tiffany H
4th January 2023
Every stop was just incredible! This company is very professional, fun, clean, and extremely friendly which makes it comfortable for those who had the chance of experiencing their first time interacting with these exotic creatures. Captain Jordan has a great sense of humor which relaxes you and makes you feel like you are native to the Caymans. Michael was patient and attentive which made you feel welcoming.Zonki was very kind and hospitable. Mr. Marvin was very nice and gave us beautiful background on the history of Captain Marvin's Watersports. Thank you everyone for treating us like family! It was the most incredible experience of a lifetime. Happy New Year and blessings to you all and your family!
Devina T
3rd January 2023
Excellent excursion! The entire crew was fantastic! Short shuttle to the dock and away you go! Stingrays were incredible! Then off to snorkel on the coral reef - fabulous! I can't say enough about the day, the crew, etc. I highly recommend Captain Marvin's !!
Steve R
2nd January 2023
great company to work with! very helpful if you're visiting the island on a cruise. helped us pick the best trip based on the time our ship was on the islandThanks for a great time and experience!!!
Drew G
2nd January 2023
We booked a private deep sea fishing tour on the Oh Boy. Very comfortable boat and wonderful crew. We caught a barracuda and a 50 lb Wahoo. Terrific fun!
L G
2nd January 2023
Great experience and knowledgeable staff! Jordan, Michael and prince were fantastic! Would definitely use this company again!
jaimigold
1st January 2023
I was a little nervous booking an excursion outside of our cruise line, but I am SO happy that I did. The staff was wonderful. They went out of their way to make this the best experience possible. It was crowded at stingray city, so they turned the boat around and had us go snorkeling first and went back to the stingrays when it was less crowded. I was nervous interacting with the stingrays, but they made us feel safe and went out of their way to help us and take great pictures for us! I highly recommend captain marvins! Wonderful experience!
Rachel C
1st January 2023
I booked the Miss Anna for 3 hour private tour for our family reunion of 27. We did stingrays, reef snorkel and starfish point. Richard and George were our crew. Friendly, funny, knowledgeable and very helpful with our 8 year old, first time snorkelers and those nervous to get into the water. They made everyone comfortable and everyone ended up participating and had an amazing time. It was so great, we booked another tour with them. This family reunion activity is one for the books, that we will remember for a lifetime. Thank you!
L G
31st December 2022
We signed up for the stingray experience, snorkeling and star fish bay tour. The crew was amazing and helped out with the string rays. The crew made everyone feel welcome and shared some of their experiences on the island with the stingrays. The photographer captured amazing images of the stingray experience.I highly recommend this tour! It is a must do when your at the Grand Cayman!
TravelFromChicago
31st December 2022
Incredible experience - the entire team was caring & professional. After a short bus ride, we took the speed boat to Stingray city, where we spent around 30 mins. Marvin’s team ensured everyone got an opportunity to interact with the Stingrays. We then went snorkeling - given our inexperience with it - they assigned a crew member to be with us during the entire snorkeling experience. I am really touched by their care & professionalism. Highly recommend them.
Arun Chandrasekaran
30th December 2022
Incredible experience, along with incredible crew. Caring, entertaining, helpful. Would recommend to anyone. We went with a 10 and 13 year olds - who were apprehensive one with swimming with stingrays another with snorkelling. Both were eased into trying these activities and it was really great to see them both enjoy the trip thanks to the crew.
Olga Q
30th December 2022
We booked a trip for a family of 11 aging from 5 though 79. The employees were friendly and funny. Everybody got a chance to interact with the stingrays and all the equipment was in good working order. We were very happy that we went with Captain Marvin's.
Dan S
30th December 2022
I attended this excursion with my wife and 2 children (9 and 15). It was so much fun. Captain Marvin and his team were so helpful. The experience is one the my family will alway remember. They also took wonderful photos that documented this amazing experience. Hands down best part of our beautiful trip to Grand Cayman.
RobB.
30th December 2022
The captain and his crew did an excellent job in helping everyone, explaining the sting rays, conch & water life....over all very informative. We even had enough time to stop at Starfish Point which was the "icing on the cake"! I would highly recommend this trip.
Sue L
30th December 2022
Our staff was amazing. They took care of all our needs and made our trip super fun. We brought our 75 year old grandma and they gave her a VIP experience.
Melina Cunningham
30th December 2022
Excellent experience with very friendly and helpful crews. Watching and playing with the stingrays are so much fun.
Xu L
30th December 2022
Captain Marvin’s Sting Ray City with lunch never fails to impress, knowledgeable staff who enjoy their work, great boats that are not overcrowded and a quality buffet style lunch that leaves you full and satisfied a great value on GC…..and the stingrays are awesome for all who want to interact with them without snorkeling or diving, we are avid divers but still love this tour to get up close and personal with the Southern Stingrays! Ask for Leo and Keith, they really know how to treat their guests!
Turksadventurer
29th December 2022
We did the stingray and starfish with Jordan and Michael. They were awesome. Our whole family enjoyed both of them (including grandma!). They were patient and informative. My teens especially enjoyed the stingrays, holding and kissing them. We didn't see many starfish, but we saw a few and some conch. We learned a lot on this trip.
Patty E
29th December 2022
Wow!!! I attended this excursion with my husband and 2 children (9 and 15). It was so much fun. Captain Marvin and his team were so helpful. My daughter was a little nervous about snorkeling and the stingray experience and they helped to make us feel at ease. They also took wonderful photos that documented this amazing experience. Hands down best part of our beautiful trip to Grand Cayman.
hchereese
29th December 2022
This was a great experience. The crew was very engaged and friendly, which made for great memories!!
Tiffany L
28th December 2022
The smaller boat (20 of us or so) was a real plus when you see the other boats out there with tons of people packed like sardines. It was not an ideal day whatsoever, with extremely windy and choppy conditions. Despite that, the crew worked their tails off to make sure everyone was safe and still having a good time. My fiancé got stung by a jellyfish and the crew was extremely attentive to her and she was fine after 30 mins because they treated her and told her exactly what to do. Thanks very much to Jordan, Michael, Prince, and Berger!
Tom H
28th December 2022
Wow! What a wonderful experience. Who knew I needed stingray therapy? The crew and staff at Captain Marvin‘s water sports wereamazing, from the booking of my excursion to the treatment on the boat, to the ride back to the hotel. I felt completely safe with them as a single traveller and I had a wonderful experience in the ocean, despite the less than ideal weather conditions. The staff were watchful of the current and took us to places where we could be safe and have a lot of fun. The stingrays were amazing (and slimy) and I definitely want to do this again in the future! I know that there are a lot of companies offering this experience but my understanding is that Captain Marvins was the first outfit to provide a trip to Stingray City and you can tell that in the way they treat the customers and the wildlife.Pro-Tips!- Bring: sunscreen, snacks, water, Gravol (if you suffer from seasickness)- 2 towels - one to dry you off after each dip, And one to stay dry until you’re on the last leg home and ready to put on your clothes- A sweatshirt and sweatpants. If you’re like me, you will be very cold on the boat ride back And in the air condition vehicle that you will be sitting in while wet- there will be a “paparazzi“ staff with you who will take beautiful pictures of you while you’re in the ocean, but if you want to have your own experience, make sure to bring a waterproof cell phone or camera holder as the store might run out of them before your trip- Cash - USD for the pics if you want to buy them on board and some to tip the crew (I had an excellent experience, so I would recommend $10 USD for each of the four crewmembers what you can put in a tip jar)
NDC
27th December 2022
This was the highlight of our visit to Grand cCayman! Leo and Keith were the perfect tour guides. They are super knowledgeable and hilarious and made sure everybody felt safe and was having a good time. Swimming with the Stingrays is a life-changing experience! Even though the water was a bit rough, we had a blast and I would definitely do this again!
Mary C
27th December 2022
Great family excursion. So much fun seeing and touching the stingrays. The crew (Richard, George, Polo and Prince) was extremely friendly and helpful. They made it such a good trip. Definitely recommend.
chadt
27th December 2022
This was our third time using Capt Marvin’s Stingray City tour. The entire crew and tour was exceptional. The crew makes the tour great. You will not be disappointed.
William C
26th December 2022
I loved the entire experience! The two snorkling spots are rhe best on the island. Our family had some one on one time with a huge stingray and took photos- ot was the highlight of the tour. We even bought the digital photos that were taken by the photographer for $50. Great memories!
Cheryl
24th December 2022
Excellent! Very professional informative and super FUN tour. Got to hold and feed stingrays, starfish and snorkel and see really cool fish.
Lisa F
24th December 2022
Fantastic day on the Oh Boy with Captain Charles! We had the whole boat for our group of 19, from 8 months to teenagers, to 60+, and all ages had the best day ever! They tailored the schedule to what we wanted to do, and everyone was happy. We fished, caught lobster to take home and conch that they prepared for us right on the boat! We stopped at Stingray City, and Delroy did such a good job making everyone feel comfortable and get to enjoy the stingrays! The snorkel spots were incredible, and we saw such great wildlife and coral. The boat is large and has a bathroom and bedrooms where the little ones could take a nap, the kitchen area worked great for lunch, and there were many comfy spots to be in either the shade or the sun. We cannot recommend this boat and this crew enough, they were fabulous! We will definitely be back!!
Leah G
24th December 2022
We did snorkeling at the reef and looked for conch, it was fantastic, but the highlight of the trip was at the Stingray city, close encounter with the cute stingrays was unforgettable!. We had Captain Leo and Keith and they were the best, friendly, funny, kind and very professional. The conch sushi was delicious, thank you master chef Leo 😋I highly recommend Captin Marvin👍
Oppsa
23rd December 2022
Crew was great, Jordan and Michael were very knowledgeable about the waters and where the best spots were. They also shared information on how to handle the animals carefully so not to stress them out while being mindful of everyone’s safety in the process. The crew was also quite friendly ensuring everyone enjoyed themselves and were comfortable. I know my wife and I were a bit nervous going out into the open ocean for the first time ever but it was something we wanted to do that was outside of our norm and the crew helped to ease our anxiety. Great trip all around!
David H
23rd December 2022
Awesome experience. They tried to make our time the best we could have and were very nice through the whole thing. They really made the sting ray city a cool experience for everyone and you could tell they were very experienced with the sting rays which helped everyone be comfortable. Overall would recommend them for being one of the cheapest companies to take you to Stingray City and have a great time!
Sydney S.
23rd December 2022
We were on a cruise and the communication from Capt Marvin’s was great. Their meeting point was 2 blocks from cruise terminal. Easy walk. They then bus you to the dock about 15 min away. Then back to cruise terminal (or your hotel).The two snorkeling spots were great, although similar fish seen. The stingrays were the highlight along with the crystal clear blue water.
Elaine A
22nd December 2022
Sea sickness peeps: take 2 original formula dramamine and you'll be fine! I get motion sickness if I walk too fast but this was enough to make it an easy trip on water! I cant ride as a passenger in cars or fly in planes wout motion sickness but the water is pretty smooth on this excursion (even in December) and the dramamine one hr before getting on boat was enough for the 3.5 hr boat trip. Miss Anna was a fantastic boat with both up and downstairs areas, bathroom, and shade if u don't want too much sun. Big and FAST boat so we passed up the slow catamarans and smaller boats with no problem which is great for someone who is nervous about seasickness--the fast ride to stingray city, Coral Gardens and barrier reef was smooth and flat and so very relaxing. Dont get on a catamaran to stingray city if u get seasickness--takes longer and u feel every wave unnecessarily. Coral Gardens is a little choppier than barrier reef and not much to see in my opinion. Took my own snorkeling gear from Amazon (I am a newbie) and glad I did. So u could skip Coral Gardens easily but don't miss the barrier reef, though. It's an amazing, huge, underwater forest, just stunning. Water is warmer and calmer at reef and clear as glass. National Geographic stuff. Take an underwater gopro to capture it all. Stared down a 5ft barracuda for 5 minutes and so many bright fish and beautiful Coral to see. Touching one piece of Coral kills the whole thing so please leave them alone. Stingray City was great with lots of stingrays as soon as you step into the water. Team educates you on the animals and have even named some as they have spent much time with them and recognize their scars and other identifying features. Team ensures everyone gets to kiss, hold, feed and get a back rub by a stingray and photo prices are reasonable. The only con was the shuttle driver picking us up at our condo was late and that makes u nervous, so u gotta call the office to see what's going on...and so the beginning wasn't great but once u get to the boat it's nothing but sun and relaxation. The driver didnt explain the process either or say shop here for 5 mins when u check in, then get back on bus--instead just chaotic. But once on boat Richard, Davey, the photographer were amazing!! Very personable! My husband doesn’t like to swim so he only did stingray part so the guys kept him entertained when me and teens snorkeled! It was a fantastic, highly unique time for everyone and I wouldn't use anyone other than Captain Marvins when I return.
Ousssaa
21st December 2022
Book directly with Captain Marvin’s Water Sport store front (office) , opposite the Westin hotel. Staff and crew are helpful and vey nice. Make the trip fun and safe, even with the rough water to snorkeling. Highly recommend. They are the best!!!
puitrip
20th December 2022
Delroy and Mike were the best guides to have on this tour. They were by far the most engaged guides with their guest at the snorkleling site and stingray city. We saw other tours at both of these stops and their guides were not as engaged. I would definitely recommend this company for your tour. My 18 and 20 year old boys actually said they had fun and would do it again.
Cheryl M
19th December 2022
Wonderful personable experience! Kind and helpful staff. Very laid back and helpful staff. Knowledgeable and safe. Clean boat, spacious and they do not pack the people on.
kelly l
17th December 2022
Great snorkeling and the hands on Stingray experience was Awesome. Knowledgeable and friendly crew. Had a blast with Capt. Richard, George, Mitch, and Pollo. I highly recommend.
GoPlaces720549
15th December 2022
It was great. Captain Marvin team was very knowledgeable. Boat didn't have a lot of people which makes it very pleasant. No crowd. Experience with stingrays was awesome. You can feed them, swim with them. Excellent experience.
Nataliya V
15th December 2022
We saw several sting rays and even saw a shark on one of the snorkel stops! The crew was friendly and knowledgeable. The boat was a good size so it was a smooth ride out to Stingray City and it wasn’t crowded.
Dave C
14th December 2022
Honestly, totally fantastic experience. … Boat was not crowded (especially compared to other boats we saw) and Captain Leo, and First Mate Keith 100% made the experience. They were genuinely warm and friendly and especially great with kids. They didn’t rush any part of the experience.
M B
14th December 2022
I really wish I remembered our guides but the males escape me! What an amazingly fun and interesting trip. Don’t go crazy trying to photograph yourselves…Yes it’s pricey but you will not get better pics than the ones they take!!! Be brave!!! Enjoy and use NO OTHER CAPTAIN!!!!
Marissa
13th December 2022
Stingray city is a must for anyone on this island. I lived here years ago and captain Marvin’s is the only way to go. Friendliest people, wonderful boat. A fabulous day. The captain, first mate, and photographer were all wonderful.
Addison D
12th December 2022
Swimming with the stingrays was such fun and very exciting. Captain and crew were A+. They took great care of us! Would highly recommend.
daeb141
12th December 2022
Had a great time with Captain Marvin’s crew Leo and Keith this past Wednesday. What an experience it is to visit Stingray City. A big part of what made it so good was Keith’s care in making sure everyone was 💯 satisfied with their experience and also got great pictures. It was good to see how gentle he was with the stingrays. Leo was a great captain and gave us lots of information on conch. They were both amazing. I was really blown away at the attention to detail put into cleaning the conch shells for the people who wanted to take them home. Well worth the cost.
thesheppardcrew
11th December 2022
Segar and JJ did great work! We all had great laughs and most relaxed. Thank you to all the wonderful people of the Cayman Islands.
Shawna Y
11th December 2022
We went to Stringray City, Starfish Cove, and the Crystal Caves. The staff was excellent and extremely knowledgeable, courteous, and wanted to ensure we had a great experience. Stingray city exceeded my expectations; such great fun swimming among and fedding the stingrays! We learned about starfish, and searched for them at the cove, then went off to the Crystal Caves. At Crystal Caves we went on a nature walk, learning about the fauna and topography of the Cayman Islands, We visited 3 amazing caves resplendent with shimmering crystal stalagmites and stalagtites, witnessed bats, and even a pool of water. Then we relaxed and lunched at the fabulous Kaibo restaurant and listened to live music. A splendid day, beautiful done by Captain Marvin's crew!
Kathleen C
11th December 2022
Excellent service! Super friendly crew!Felt very comfortable thru out ! All experiences were first time and just loved it!!Highly recommend it !!!very kids friendly staff!
S. Z. H
10th December 2022
We had a wonderful afternoon on the water with Richard, George, Mitch and Paolo. We had an excellent snorkel at the Coral Gardens, a lot of playful fun with the Stingrays and some excellent education about the Starfish. All four of our crew were very responsive to the guests and made sure we had excellent instructions at all locations. They all seemed to care very much about the coral, fish, stingrays and starfish. Mitch was the one who we spent the most time with and he was extremely knowledgeable and provided us with a lot of great teaching about the stingrays and the starfish! This was one of the highlights of our trip.
DJR24
9th December 2022
This was a great trip and we really enjoyed the stingray encounter. The snorkeling was fine, but the stingrays were the best part and one of the highlights of our cruise.You should book this directly through Capt. Marvin's Watersports though. The information there is more correct and $15 less. Make sure you stay near the location once you check in. We were early and they said we could come back in 30 minutes and they would announce when our bus was ready. We came back 15 minutes later and they were already loading the bus. I guess they did the announcement very early. The group size is 30, if you come across a site that indicates a smaller group size with Marvin's it is wrong. We paid $15 extra for one that said the group size was 15, but it turned out that we just paid the extra $15 for nothing as the group size was 30 like the Marvin's website indicated.
Nels A
9th December 2022
The trip exceeded my expectations. The staff were helpful and attentive and made EVERY effort to take pictures of everyone during the stingray encounter. Available for sale, of course, but reasonable
Sue H
9th December 2022
Staff were very helpful and knowledgeable. Conditions were not ideal because of wind but they did a great job. Make sure to bring towels
Jeremy K
9th December 2022
Great time!! Astor, Joyce and Michel were the best!! Thank you so much for a wonderful experience Made it a safe, fun and memorable experience
Lauren M
9th December 2022
I did the 3 stop stingray/snorkel stop and the beach/lunch snorkel tour and had a great time with both!! Keith and Leo made sure everyone got to hold and feed a stingray on both tours. On the beach/lunch tour we were able to dive for conch shells, taste the conch, and bring a shell home! Joice took amazing photos with the stingrays! Thank you to Keith, Leo, and Joice for 2 amazing adventures!!! I'll upload pictures when I get home!
Hannah
9th December 2022
A can’t miss if you’re taking a trip to Grand Cayman. We had Richard’s crew, they were amazing. Friendly, knowledgeable, and fun.
Ben K
7th December 2022
Between the full moon + wind and whatever other factors the water was pretty rough but the tour guides were amazing. The constantly scanned the water and made sure everyone was ok and would ask folks if they needed help if they could not tell. I am not a fan of rough open ocean water and was not going to go back in but one of the guides offered to go with me with a float ring so I could see the snorkel sights. I did not catch his name but it is the guide in my photo.
KNC
7th December 2022
My husband and I traveled to Grand Cayman for the first time last week. We were initially very bummed to learn that many of these trips to Stingray City had been canceled due to the high winds, but we tried to rebook with captain Marvin‘s tour and hopes that it might work out. Although it was a little rough in the water, we are so glad that we were able to go on the excursion. Our excursion included, snorkeling, stingray city, and starfish point. Our three tour guides were phenomenal… Richard, George, and Sugar Bear. They were full of knowledge, and really wonderful tour guides! If you have an opportunity to take this tour, do it, and ask for Richard, George and Sugar Bear!
Ryan N
7th December 2022
Sugarbeard, Mitchell, and Joyce we're awesome. Made our excursion to Stingray city, Starfish cove, and snorkeling spot extraordinary. They were great with the kids, and taught everyone a lot about the animals and ecosystem. Can't recommend them, and Captain Marvin's business, enough! This is a must-do excursion!
Mario C.
6th December 2022
The crew was awesome! So nice, funny, and helpful. Made sure we had the experience of a lifetime and were safe!
Erika
6th December 2022
I am very tired from our amazing vacation but our trip with Captain Marvin’s was a highlight! Second trip with them and very glad we returned. Great day, excellent experience. Keith, Leo and little Drake were great! Helpful, knowledgeable and fun!
bubbadogmom
6th December 2022
These guys are the best!! The weather was a little choppy for stingray city( it had been closed the previous four days) so we were unsure if we would be able to stop there. The coastgaurd decides if in a day yo day basis. Captain Marvin’s crew assured us we would go or they would take us to the starfish if not….and when i say they mean what they say they really do!!! They were so much fun and Knowledgeable and made sure everyone on that boat was taken care of! We did end up getting to go to stingray city and the snorkeling Cove and at one time I felt nauseous because the waves were bigger than normal but the guys took care of me and would squirt me with water and find ways to make sure I was good! Amazing experience at a great price too!! Highly recommend!!
Sgsmom
6th December 2022
We had a fantastic time and saw an insane number of stingrays. The crew was knowledgeable, pleasant, and professional.
Nick
6th December 2022
We did our tour last Wednesday. Richard Paolo Mitch and George took great care of us. They were very professional and we felt safe. My wife appreciated that George guided her when snorkling since she is not a strong swimmer. We forgot to bring cash to tip them but we told them we would give them an A+ writeup. Also Timothy was an A+ driver and very friendly. Made us feel welcome. Thanks for the great service.Aaron and Tanya
A M
5th December 2022
We were really lucky to only have seven people on our tour, is worth asking how many are booked before booking and the afternoons are usually quieter as the cruise ship customers will normally go in the morning. The trip involved going to Stingray city, barrier reef, coral gardens. The boat is comfy with water and juice provided, all the staff are friendly. I hasn’t written a separate review for Stingray city but is crazy good, the barrier reef and coral gardens are very different but both really nice in there own ways. I would say you’d need some experience snorkelling previously to enjoy the trip and the sea can be quite choppy. Barrier reef is a morning red, whilst we saw more fish including; rays, barricuda, puffer fish at the gardens
adings
2nd December 2022
Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman and the most beautiful Seven Mile Beach
Three islands form the Cayman Islands: Grand Cayman, and the sister islands of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. While not quite seven miles long, the beach is still popular for its beautiful white sand and clear blue water teeming with marine life. A barrier reef at the northern edge of the North Sound at Grand Cayman is an excellent spot for a snorkel trip.
For such a small island, it is surprising to know that Cayman is home to over 100 different nationalities. The three islands are situated at the center of the western Caribbean Sea, surrounded by Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, and Central America. As one would expect, seafood is featured at most restaurants. You'll also find spicy dishes from Jamaica, like jerk chicken. The traditional dessert is cassava or "heavy" cake, made with grated cassava and coconut milk. The delicious cake is seasoned with vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, as most of our business is from the hotels and condos we do offer pick up along the 7 mile beach road.
Yes, we offer group rates starting with groups of ten or more for cash payment and 5% on credit cards payments.
Yes, we provide snorkel gear (mask, snorkel, fins and snorkel vest or life jacket) for everyone ages 4 and up, included in the price of your tour.
Yes, we would be happy to make your tour a private charter. Please see the rate sheet under 'Private Charters' on our web site.
We will not schedule you for a trip that will not work with your ship's schedule, and we have kept detailed records over the years so we know what time your ship's last tender will be.
We are the only provider with an office right across the street from the cruise terminals, so you are guaranteed to find us easily. Your reservation confirmation from us will give you walking directions to our office, and there is a photo of the building (Waterfront Centre) and a map on our web site.
We would be happy to drop you off at Seven Mile Beach after your tour with us. There are always local buses and taxis waiting at Calico Jack's and Tiki Beach, two of the more popular areas on the beach, both with restaurant/bar/restroom facilities. Bus fare back to the cruise terminal is US$2.50/person, and taxi fare is about US$5-7/person, subject to change.
We have no age restrictions on our tours. We ask that if you are bringing along children under the age of 4, you bring flotation devices for them as we do not provide them for children under age 4.
However, pregnant women are not allowed to do any of the dolphin tours.
It is recommended that you know how to swim if you intend to do any snorkeling. We have a lifebuoy that you may use to hang on to during the snorkel stops so you can see the fish and coral if you are not comfortable swimming.
The water at the Stingray City sandbar is 3-4 feet deep. We anchor the boat nearby in about 5-6 feet of water so we don't run it aground, and you then make your way over to the shallower area where you will stand in the sand while the stingrays swim around you. The snorkel stops are in 8-10 feet of water.
We recommend that you wear your swimsuit under a cover-up or shorts/t-shirt as the only place to change clothes at Stingray City is in the head on the boat.
We offer card-carrying travel agents a discount on our tours. Please let us know when you are making a reservation, and bring your IATA card with you for check-in.
We have several boats ranging from 34-47 feet in length, with capacities from 20-45 people. The average number of people on a tour is 25.
You may make your reservation at any time now for a future date; during the busy season (November to May) we urge you to make your reservation at least two weeks in advance as trips tend to fill up.
No, we do not do any SCUBA diving but we recommend DiveTech locally (www.divetech.com).
No, we do not offer shared fishing charters.
We strongly recommend that you know how to swim before taking a snorkeling trip, but our crew are experienced at teaching beginners how to snorkel. Just ask them when you get to the boat.
If you book online, you will be charged upon completion of your reservation. If you book by phone or in person, you will be charged when you check in with us on the day of your tour.
If your cruise ship cannot stop here on its scheduled day, or arrives too late for you to take our tour, you will not be charged. If you need to cancel your reservation for personal reasons, please do so at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged. If your ship arrives on time and you do not show up for your tour, you will be charged. If the weather is such that our captain cancels our boat trip, you will not be charged, but we do not cancel for rain only.
We have two-stop (2.5 to 2.75 hours), three-stop (3 hours) and beach lunch (5 hours) tours. These times are dock-to-dock; add 15-20 minutes for transportation each way.
You may book online by filling out the reservation form on our web site, or you may phone our office using one of the phone numbers on our 'Contact' page.
The stingrays are hungry morning, noon and night. The ones who have eaten in the morning will go off to their afternoon hangout, and others will take their place throughout the day.
Fishing is great in Cayman year-round.
The Stingray, Starfish and Snorkeling tour is approximately 40 min per stop giving you a bit more time per stop.
Yes, you may stay on the boat at any of the stops.
We provide snorkel vests and life jackets for everyone ages 4 and over. If you are bringing children under age 4 with you, please bring a flotation device for them.
Our private dock is about a 4-minute drive from our main location on Seven Mile Beach, and it's about a 15-minute drive from our location across from the cruise ship terminals.
Yes, on most of our tours we are able to accommodate a person in a wheelchair provided it is collapsible.
If your ship arrives too late for your tour with us, or is not able to stop at all, you will not be charged. However, in most cases, we will have been made aware in advance that your ship will be arriving late, and we will do our best to make adjustments to the timing so that you can still take your tour with us. Please check in at our office in the Waterfront Centre as soon as you are able to get off the ship to see what we have been able to arrange for you. If you have booked through a tour agency and have paid them in advance, you will need to deal with them directly to receive a refund.
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