LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Cayman Islands: Worlds
built 656 days ago
Overview: In per capita terms, Cayman Islands is among the wealthiest economies in the world. The country has no direct taxation and a high percentage of home ownership. The economy is based on high-class tourism and offshore financial services, with a tiny proportion of the population engaged in agriculture and fishing. The economy grew slowly in the 2000s, surging by 6.5% in 2005, due mainly to the increase in construction activity following hurricane Ivan in September 2004.
Source:
If you could drain all the water out of the Caribbean, the Cayman Islands would be an amazing sight indeed! Like towering sky-scrapers they rise from the abyssal plains of the Central Caribbean. Throw in some gin-clear water and for divers this means some of the most amazing wall diving in the world.
Source:
World-renowned for its warm, clear waters and sheer wall dives, the Cayman Islands have much to offer divers. Whether you’re in the mood for deep or shallow dives, reefs, walls or wrecks, the Caymans have it all. Little Cayman’s famous Bloody Bay Wall Marine Park is arguably one of the world's best dive sites. The Cayman Islands are recognized as the birthplace of recreational diving in the Caribbean. The warm, calm waters, 100 ft. plus visibility and breath-taking variety of marine life offer a world of exciting logbook entries. In general, the weather is good all year and the cool tradewinds ensure it doesn’t get too hot.
Source:
The Cayman Islands have more than 200 documented scuba diving sites, claimed to offer some of the best underwater diversity in the world. Dramatic walls adorned with corals and sponges. Shallow reefs teeming with schooling fish. Several wrecks, each with its own particular charm. There's ... legendary Stingray City, the world's best 12-foot dive. It's all yours to enjoy 80°F waters, with visibility that often exceeds 100 feet.
Source:
Just south of Jamaica, the Cayman Islands have truly grown up the past thirty years, driven by tourism and banking. The Cayman Islands rank as the world's fifth largest offshore financial centre. Bank secrecy laws make it illegal to reveal the identities of accounts owners - unless of course, shady dealings are suspected. Through the years, regulations have been severely tightened making it nearly impossible to launder cash here.
Source:
The Cayman Islands were first sighted by European eyes when Christopher Columbus, on 10 May 1503, encountered them during his disastrous fourth and final voyage to the New World. He named them Las Tortugas after the numerous sea turtles there. The first recorded English visitor to the islands was Sir Francis Drake, who landed there in 1586 and named them the Cayman Islands after the Neo-Taino nations term (caiman) for crocodile (Zayas, 1914).
Source:
MORE ABOUT
Worlds