Home to about 60,000 people and with a total land mass of 100
square miles, these diverse, cosmopolitan and vibrant trio of islands have been attracting some two million curious or loyal sun-seeking tourists annually, whether by cruise or air.
The Cayman Islands lies just south of Cuba and west of Jamaica,
and is a short one-hour flight from Miami and the North American continent. Several American airlines operate direct flights to Grand Cayman from major US cities and the Islands’ national carrier, Cayman Airways, flies directly to Miami, Tampa, New York City, Chicago and Washington DC. Canadian carrier Air Canada offers flights direct from Toronto to Grand Cayman, and WestJet Airlines recently launched its service, also direct from Toronto to Grand Cayman.
Few other sun-kissed islands in the Caribbean can offer the
diversity of experiences in one package that the Cayman Islands can. Grand Cayman, the largest of the three islands, offers a bustling, cosmopolitan scene, where several first-rate hotels and numerous condos dot its world-famous Seven Mile Beach.
Within Grand Cayman’s 76 square miles lie not only the financial
services and infrastructure that have cemented the Islands’ reputation as a leading offshore centre, but it’s easy to find a wide range of world-class shopping, an eclectic collection of fine restaurants, art galleries, local craft markets, night clubs, and several natural and man-made attractions that ensure there is always something to do and something for everyone.
Affectionately known as ‘the Sister Islands’, Cayman Brac and
Little Cayman offer up an unspoilt landscape with stretches of pristine beaches and several intimate resorts and dive lodges set in a tranquil environment. Both islands retain the rare quality of being untouched by major development, but still boasting top-quality, modern amenities that offer a different vacation experience to which loyal visitors return year after year.
Cayman Brac’s 14 square miles of rugged topography, including the
elevated bluff that runs through its spine, offer nature adventures including climbing and bird watching for those so inclined—in addition to a choice of white sand beaches.
70 CAYMAN CAPTIVE
Little Cayman’s undisturbed 10 square miles also has an abundance of
white, sugary beaches, along with miles of untouched vegetation and wildlife such as the rare blue iguana, and is consequently a favourite get-away for naturalists and visitors who relish a true escape.
The Cayman Islands’ credential as a magnet for visitors has
been long established—in fact, since the 1950s, when the Cayman Islands began showing off its underwater wonders to dive aficionados. Long recognised as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands is today rated as one of the top five dive spots around the world.
It is easy to see why. With its number of officially named dive
sites expected to grow to 365, the Cayman Islands offers the diverse experiences of its warm waters—pristine coral reefs, breathtaking wall dives, legendary wrecks and visibility that often extends beyond 100 feet. Each of the three islands is surrounded by shallow, environmentally protected coral reefs.
With the absence of major development on Cayman Brac and
Little Cayman, their coral reefs teem with marine life perfect for dive exploration. Among Cayman Brac’s popular dive attractions is the 330-foot M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts, a Russian-built Cuban naval frigate, which was sunk off the island’s northwest coast in September 1996.
Little Cayman has earned the acclaim of divers for its famous
Bloody Bay Wall and Jackson Point. Bloody Bay Marine Park is one of the world’s truly legendary dive sites—the sheer coral wall begins at 20 feet and plunges to 6,000 feet.
Dive vacationers on Grand Cayman can choose from more
than 159 dive sites, both natural and man-made, including steep, deep walls or shallow reefs, and wrecks. Perhaps none is more famous than Stingray City, known as the world’s best 12-foot dive. The latest addition to the man-made sites is set to be the USS Kittiwake, a 251-foot, 2,200-ton diver/submarine vessel, which was decommissioned in 1994 and is to be sunk in the waters off the northern end of Seven Mile Beach in December.
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iStockphoto.com / jsnover
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