Cayman Islands Jobs
Living In The Cayman Islands
Hint: Experienced offshore financial services professionals are in extremely high demand throughout the offshore world. If you have relevant offshore experience for any of the jobs listed on our website you can normally add at least US$10 - 20,000 on top of the salary range stated.
Weather: Unlike most major financial centres, the Cayman Islands are blessed with fresh, clean air, rather than smog and pollution. George Town, the main business centre, is located right by the harbour so there is always a fresh sea breeze blowing through town. The temperature in the Cayman Islands remains consistently warm throughout the year. In the winter months, the temperature rarely drops below 22 degrees Celsius and in the summer months, it often rises up to about 31 degrees Celsius. Some of the nicest weather in Cayman is during the winter months which are December to April. For these months, there is little rain, consistent sunshine and lower humidity. Summer temperatures and humidity levels peak in July and August. The rainy season runs from May to November. This is the time of year when tropical storms and hurricanes are more likely to occur. Although hurricanes can provide some dramatic weather and sea conditions, they rarely pose any danger to the well-prepared island resident.
Expatriate Population: Of the 45,436 people living in the Cayman Islands, approximately 50% are expatriate workers; ex-pat professionals are primarily from the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
Law & Order: Due mainly to full employment and relatively high per capita income, the crime rate in Cayman is extremely low by comparison to most western nations. The Cayman Islands are protected by The Royal Cayman Islands Police (RCIP) which is comprised of officers who are Caymanian, Canadian, British and Irish.
Water Sports: Some of the best dive sites (
www.divecayman.com) in the world are located around the Cayman Islands. A number of local companies offer dive certification and tours. The crystal clear waters of Cayman also make it ideal for snorkelling around the beautiful coral gardens and reefs that are located just offshore. Other popular water sports include surfing, windsurfing, sailing, jet-skiing, wakeboarding and open-water swimming.
Sports Clubs: Grand Cayman's rugby pitch is managed by the Cayman Rugby Football Club (
www.caymanrugby.com) which co-ordinates full games on the weekends and touch rugby on weeknights. The CRFC also hosts the Gaelic Football Association (
www.caymangaa.com.ky) which runs games on Sunday evenings. For racquet sports enthusiasts, there is both the Cayman Islands Tennis Club (
www.tennis.ky) and The South Sound Squash Club (
www.squash.ky). There are soccer, volleyball, indoor hockey and baseball leagues. The Links at Safehaven is a semi-private golf course with a driving range and full 18 hole course [
http://www.safehaven.ky/links_course.htm]. The Hammerheads Swim Club and The Cayman Triathlon Association both have regular races, weekly training sessions and social events for their members.CML recruits enjoy a 25% discount (if purchased through CML) at the World Gym on Seven Mile Beach (
www.worldgym.com/grandcayman) which offers well-maintained, modern equipment and air-conditioned facilities. Joining a sports club or team is a quick way to meet people and build a social network with like-minded professionals.
Night Life: Grand Cayman has a number of bars and restaurants to choose from, each with a unique theme and atmosphere. Many of the restaurants have both indoor and outdoor seating and the majority of bars are open to the outdoors. Seven Mile Beach is where most of the restaurants and bars are located so this is the place to be on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. As the evening progresses, expats, tourists and locals all make their way into the nightclubs. On the night of a full moon, Calico Jacks is packed with people for their Full Moon Party which includes dj's playing house music and people dancing on the beach.
Transportation: The residential areas where most expats live are a 5 - 15 minute commute to and from George Town, the main business centre. This short commute not only eliminates a lot of stress from one's day but also frees up time for other more enjoyable activities. There is not a regulated public transportation system in Cayman but there are small buses in main tourist areas. The majority of professionals commute to work either by car or by scooter. New and used cars are available for sale and used models start at about US $3,500. Scooters start at about US $1,000 for a new model (
www.vespacayman.com) and used models are occasionally available. A brave few commute to work by bicycle but this can be quite a challenge to do in business attire both during the rainy season and the hot summer months. Taxis run 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
Accommodation: Apartments and detached homes are available for rent and for sale. The majority of expats tend to rent apartments, at least to start with and then, once established, some choose to buy. The local newspapers have a list of advertisements and there are a number of real estate agents who are on hand to assist with rentals and sales. Two bedroom apartments are the most popular and readily available but 1 and 3 bedrooms can also be found. Generally a 1 year lease is required with the upfront payment of a damage deposit (equivalent to 1 month's rent) and the first month's rent. Almost all of the apartments and homes that are available for rent or for sale are fully furnished and equipped. A 2 bedroom apartment starts at about US $1,700 per month (plus utilities). Some condominium developments offer additional amenities such as tennis courts and swimming pools. Monthly rent for a two bedroom apartment in such a development is usually in the US$2,200 - $3,500 range. Condominiums right on Cayman's famous Seven Mile Beach are also available for rent and generally start at about US$2,400 and can range up to $6,000 or more.
Travel: Major airlines provide direct flights to and from Grand Cayman, including British Airways, American, Delta, Continental, USAir, Northwest, and Cayman Airways. Charter flights are also available and usually coincide with bank holiday weekends. Most expats find that they prefer to get off the island every few months. A long weekend is the perfect opportunity to take a short trip and there are many direct flights available. Weekend trips to Miami are very popular for those wishing to do some shopping or experience the night life in South Beach. Cuba, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Panama and South America are also popular choices for weekend getaways.