By Chase Sheldon
In 1503, the Cayman Islands saw their first European explorer, Christopher Columbus. These uninhabited islands were then known to be called Las Tortugas, named after sea turtles residing in the waters that surrounded the islands. Teeming full of sea turtles, as well as other reptilian groups of animals, Las Tortugas became hunting ground for turtle meat, a source of protein for the many seafaring explorers of this era. Rations of food would spoil after long voyages, and stocking up on turtle meat was a way for crews to stay fed while on board. After several hundred years the population of sea turtles severely depleted. However, it important to note this is no longer the case for the present-day Cayman Islands population of sea turtles.
Learn more about the Cayman Islands.
Even before and after European explorers set themselves upon this set of islands, the Caymans remained largely uninhabited, except for the native species of turtles, crocodiles, and lizards that called the islands home. People who attempted inhabitation were said to have been driven off by pirates in short order. It wasn’t until the 1660’s, over one hundred years after the first European explorations of the island that there came some vestige of inhabitance. The Cayman Islands became a den of piracy which would act as a both a rest stop to repair ships from their journeys, and a place to restock on water, turtle meat, and any other goods. Pirates returned to life on the Caribbean Sea with open sails, prepared to ransack ships and their cargo bound for Europe.
It wasn’t until the 1730s that actual settlement of the islands began from inhabitants migrating over from Jamaica. The economy of the Cayman Islands was dependent on Jamaica’s need of cotton, turtle meat, and other goods being exported to Jamaica. Early inhabitants consisted of British colonists and slaves of African descent, all who had to survive poverty conditions in the early days of settlement. The Cayman Islands became an exporter of trade goods, as well as a center of agriculture, this harsh history helped to shape the people who would continue to grow and survive until the modern day, becoming the people of the Cayman Islands. Learning from the brutal past humankind has done to the population of marine life and its ecosystems, there have been conservation efforts to sustain the population of sea turtles, developing a coral garden to help efforts to regrow coral reefs, as well as measures to educate the populace on critical issues facing these marine ecosystems.
Before the 1950’s, these islands were proud, but poor, living on subsistence farming and trading, with little else. Since then, the introduction of tourism and new financial measures encouraged growth with people from over 130 countries now come to call these islands home, with more than two million people coming every year as tourists. From the opening of its first airfield, hospital and commercial banks, the Caymans morphed into one of the most prosperous nations in the Caribbean. In-time soon came the first commercial dive center on Grand Cayman, and today the Cayman Islands have a well-deserved reputation as one of the premier dive locations in the world.
To learn more about diving, read Discovering Grand Cayman's Diving Diversity.
But you cannot truly experience the Caymans by reading about them. If you want to experience a taste of history - visit the Cayman Island’s Pirate Festival in November and contact your Caradonna agent to inquire about our travel packages for Pirate's Week.
Or if you are jumping to get back into diving, Caradonna Adventures has a variety of dive package specials meant to fit your needs. To learn more, give us a call at 800-330-6611 or send us an email to sales@caradonna.com.