Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from Sunny Silver Sands!

From the sunny Cayman Islands we are wishing you all a wonderful holiday season wherever you might be. Enjoy time with family and friends and we can't wait to see you down here in at Silver Sands again soon!

Photos by Heather Holt Photography

Days of Cayman's Past: Pedro St. James

Pedro St. James is a fantastic day trip from Silver Sands. Just a 30 minute drive and you will be transported to one of Cayman's most interesting historical sites.

William Eden, a mariner and early English settler, established a cotton and mahogany plantation on Savannah's Pedro bluff in 1780. With its spectacular view of the Caribbean and convenient anchorage for ships right offshore the location was ideal. St. James was a remarkable building for that period and it was the only house on Grand Cayman that survived the devastating hurricane of 1785. The original ruins beneath the "castle" are the oldest structure in the Cayman Islands. By 1823 the house and grounds were being used as a courthouse, jail and public pound. 

Today you can visit these ruins and get a look into how the early people of the Cayman Islands lived. The grounds are open daily during the hours of 9-5, admission is CI$8/US$10 and kids 12 and under are free. Please contact www.pedrostjames.ky for directions as well as further information.

Please visit the Cayman Islands official website for more history and information of the Cayman Islands at www.caymanislands.ky

The above photo is a typical bedroom in the house while the kitchen is outdoors in a separate building.

Photography by Heather Holt Photography, and www.pedrostjames.ky

Marine Parks: Keeping Cayman Reefs Alive and Healthy

Ever wondered what the Cayman islands are doing to keep these beautiful turquoise waters and coral reefs thriving with life? Well the Department of Environment has not only clear rules about what people can catch while fishing and a list of protected species they also have Marine Parks with clearly marked usage zones. 

As a visitor to Silver Sands, when you step onto the beach and look out to sea in front of the property you can see the area of Marine Park that is situated right in the heart of 7-Mile.

As you can see from the above chart curtesy of the DoE,  some of the different zones include:

Marine Parks

Environmental Zone

Replenishment Zone

Designated Grouper Spawning Area

Wildlife Interaction Zones

No Diving Zones

You might see some of these zones marked along the beaches as you explore the island, however if you have any further questions please check out this link to the DOE Marine Park Rules for exact rules.

One of the most well known Wildlife Interaction Zones is the famous Stingray City, a definite must during your visit to Cayman!

As you can see from the above chart, there are also rules about what you can take, hunt and fish. Line fishing from shore is legal, however spear fishing is highly restricted and you must get a special license to do so. There are also certain times of the year where catching conch, lobster and other ocean delicacies are legal, leaving the rest of the year for the stocks to replenish. For more rules and regulations on Catch Limits please follow this link to the DoE.

The DoE is also in charge of protecting and managing the land and all the terrestrial animals that make the Caymans as diverse and special as it is.

Respecting these rules as a visitor to the Cayman Islands are very easy… take lots of photos and leave only sandy foot prints and bubbles!

Photo Credits: Chase Darnell and Heather Holt Photography