The Islands - Romantic Escapes in the Caribbean: Lovetripper Guide - page 161

Located in the westernmost reaches of the Caribbean, about
180 miles west of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands are composed of
three islands: Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little
Cayman. Grand Cayman is the largest of the trio, spanning 76
square miles. Called the sister islands , Cayman Brac and Lit-
tle Cayman are located about 80 miles east-northeast of Grand
Cayman, separated by seven miles of sea.
The three islands are actually the peaks of a submarine moun-
tain range, the Cayman Ridge , part of a chain running from
Cuba to near Belize. They are actually limestone outcroppings
with little soil, so vegetation is not as lush as on some islands.
Most of the rain is quickly absorbed in the porous limestone, so
there are no rivers. That means little runoff and therefore
greater visibility in the waters surrounding the islands. Divers
rave about the visibility, often 100 to 150 feet.
Each island is surrounded by coral reefs, producing some of the
best snorkeling and scuba diving in the Caribbean. The deepest
waters in the Caribbean are found between this nation and Ja-
maica, depths that plunge into inky blackness over four miles
beneath the ocean's surface.
The Cayman Islands have taken strict measures to protect the
marine life of these waters. Today the sea turtle is protected
and no one may disturb, molest, or take turtles in Cayman wa-
ters without a license. Other marine conservation laws prohibit
the taking of any marine life while scuba diving or damaging
coral with anchors. Over 200 permanent boat moorings have
been installed to prevent further coral damage by anchoring.
Festivals
The Cayman Islands observe special holidays throughout the
year. The month of June is Million Dollar Month, when fish-
ermen from around the globe come to try their luck. Mid-June is
also the Queen's Birthday, a date observed with bands and
colorful parades.
At the end of October, it's shiver-me-timbers time during Pi-
rates Week. The islands celebrate their buccaneering history
with treasure hunts, parades, and plenty of excuses to dress as
pirates and wenches.