Located in the Western Caribbean Sea about 400 miles South of Miami and 180 miles South of Cuba, the Cayman Islands are a British crown colony with a stable democratic government and British Governor.
These beautiful islands are lucky enough to enjoy summer like weather all year round. Lying between the latitudes of 19° and 20° North in the far Western Caribbean, the Cayman Islands are tempered by cool trading winds.
The currency is the Caymanian Dollar (KYD) which is pegged to the US Dollar at a fixed rate of 1 KYD to 1.25 USD.
The Caymans are widely acknowledged as the premier diving destination in the Caribbean and one of the top 10 dive destinations on the entire planet alongside The Great Barrier Reef and The Maldives.
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three islands, has an area of about 76 square miles and is approximately 22 miles long with an average width of four miles. Its most striking feature is the shallow, reef-protected lagoon (the North Sound) which has an area of about 35 square miles. Topographically, the island is low-lying with the highest point about 60 feet above sea level.
One of the many attractions on Grand Cayman is Seven Mile Beach (which is not actually seven miles long!). With sand stretching as far as one can see, it is considered by many to be the most beautiful beach in the Caribbean. A stroll along this stretch of Cayman beach will bring you to the most exclusive beach property. Grand Cayman is also the home of the capital George Town and has some of the finest culinary and tax-free shopping experiences available in the entire Caribbean.
This is an island particularly well known for its spectacular diving and snorkelling and features many reefs and walls with many sites accessible by swimming from shore.
Cayman Brac is the second largest of the islands – 12 miles long by 2 miles wide. The skyline on Cayman Brac sets it apart from the other islands and is easily recognisable with a skyline of sheer limestone bluff which runs through the centre of the island. The highest elevation above sea level on the island is 140 feet and the island is home to approximately 1,800 residents.
The natural attractions of the island include the picturesque surrounding waters which make Cayman Brac renowned for some of the world’s finest diving and it is rated amongst the top ten destinations by major diving magazines. Divers can enjoy more than 70 local dive sites with the waters offshore having more than 10 species of coral and more than 500 kinds of fish.
With virtually no crime, unemployment, poverty or homelessness – Cayman Brac is a blissful piece of paradise located within a tropical context with no ownership restrictions or the potential headaches commonly experienced with overdeveloped locations.
Little Cayman is the smallest of the islands – 10 miles long by 1 mile wide. It is the least developed island and with approximately 170 very wealthy inhabitants, there are more rare birds and iguanas than there are humans.
This island is truly an untouched tropical wilderness with sparkling beaches where visitors and inhabitants can find the perfect combination of privacy and relaxation soaking up the sun on deserted beaches or taking a private swim on the remote South Hole Sound Lagoon.
For divers, the island also boasts legendary diving with more than 50 dive sites – Bloody Bay Wall and Jackson Point being two of the most renowned. At Bloody Bay Marine Park, the sheer coral wall begins at 20ft and plunges to 6,000ft, with exotic tropical fish, coral gardens and sea plumes; all of which makes for a truly spectacular diving experience.
