I've booked a diving holiday to the Cayman Islands, staying on Grand Cayman. Do you have any ideas of what to do there above water? Carl Greenway, Dundee

Doc Holiday responds: The country has superb diving, with excellent reefs and wrecks, and the famous Stingray City, where you can feed rays as they glide by at close quarters.

There are a good few distractions above water too, and if you aren't expecting too much, then you'll probably be pleasantly surprised. George Town and Seven Mile Beach is a mix of old-world charm and cosmopolitan shopping, eating and drinking opportunities - good for evening strolls. It's also home to the Cayman National Museum, and the bizarre Elmslie Memorial Church, with a roof that looks like a ship's hull. There are dozens of good sundowner spots, and Hemmingway's (00 345 9491234) serves top-notch seafood.

North of George Town is West Quay, where you can visit the Cayman Turtle Farm. Hatchlings are reared to over 300 lbs, and while most of the output ends up in US restaurants, almost 30,000 have been released into the wild. Nearby is the little hamlet of Hell, which has a tiny post office doing a lively trade thanks to its amusing postmark.

Along the south coast, it's well worth visiting Pedro St James - an 18th Century mansion that's now a museum to the island's history. Opposite on the North shore is Rum Point, a perfect place to grab a hammock and some punch and let the afternoon drift by. The Wreck Bar there serves excellent cocktails.

Scratch the surface of Grand Caymans sophistication and tourist development, and you'll soon find that the Caymanians still enjoy a delightfully laid-back lifestyle. However, if you make a short trip out one of the two sister islands - Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, you'll find more great diving, and an even more easy-going approach to life. Cayman Airways (www.caymanairways.com) has return fares from Grand Cayman to Cayman Brac or Little Cayman from £69.

For further information, try Cayman Islands (Bradt Guides, £12.95, www.bradt-travelguides.com), and Cayman Islands Insight Pocket Guide (£7.99, www.insightguides.com). Or visit www.caymanislands.co.uk

Times recommends

• The HQ of the great morairaway.com villa scam: a postbox
• The bloggers' travel guide to. . . Copenhagen and Malmö
• A Devon holiday with mates - on a budget