Top Tips for a Green Vacation in Grand Cayman

SAY “NO” TO PLASTIC BOTTLES

Carry a reusable water bottle. You will find water stations at hotels and around Camana Bay. Cayman’s tap water is perfectly safe to drink and people are happy to refill your bottle.

CARRY A REUSABLE BAG

These can be bought at all supermarkets, or better yet, travel to Cayman with one in your luggage. Also don't use the small plastic vegetable and fruit bags in the grocery stores. Do like the French and just put your fruit and veggies in your shopping cart un-bagged. Help us prevent plastic bags from ending up in the landfill site, or even worse in the sea and tangled up with coral, fish and turtles.

REFUSE PLASTIC STRAWS

Refuse plastic straws at bars and restaurants or buy a metal straw locally. Most restaurants and bars use paper straws. If they don't, just refuse the straw and send the message that you won't accept them.

EAT LOCAL AND AVOID EATING GROUPER

Shop for local produce at the supermarkets and farmers markets. Choose local produce on restaurant menus. Try to eat local fish such as lionfish, snapper and mahi, and avoid the endangered local grouper. If you see grouper on a restaurant menu ask them why they are serving grouper. It is the puppy dog of the sea and are far far more valuable left alive. We have many other fish we can eat before removing these glorious creatures from the reef. Don't even eat grouper if the restaurant says it is from another country!

WATCH YOUR POWER AND WATER USAGE

Take short showers, keep air con use to a minimum, turn off lights when you don’t need them, ask for your towels not be changed daily and reuse beach towels. Being low lying islands with very little rainfall during the winter months, fresh water supplies are limited. Try to limit your use of fresh water where possible: do not leave taps running unnecessarily or take hour long showers, etc.

RECYCLE

Take your aluminium, cardboard and plastic (1 & 2) to recycling stations at local grocery stores or in Camana Bay.

USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT AND BICYCLES

Buses are common around the Seven Mile Beach area and fares are very reasonable. Alternatively, rent a bicycle from Cycle Cayman, Paddlewheel or Adventura Cayman.

PICK UP LITTER

Pick up any litter you see around, or join one of the monthly local beach clean-ups. Visit www.facebook.com/plasticfreecayman for details.

USE REEF-SAFE SUNSCREEN & AVOID TOUCHING CORAL

Chemicals in many sunscreens stunt coral growth, cause coral bleaching and kill marine life such as shrimp and clams. Use rash guards so you don't have to put sunscreen on the parts covered with a UV top, or purchase reef-friendly sunscreens available from Waterman and Kirk Market. Coral is extremely delicate and takes many years to grow just an inch or two. One careless kick with a fin can easily damage or kill centuries’ worth of growth, so be very careful where you put your hands and feet and never touch the coral. Be particularly careful with fire coral which inflicts a sting similar to stinging nettles.

DRINK LOCAL!

Discover interesting beers and spirits produced in Cayman. The Cayman Islands Brewery offers nine regular beers locally and three seasonal beers that can be found in most bars and liquor stores, 19-81 Brewing Co. produces three craft beers and Cayman Spirits produces a variety of rums, gins, vodkas and liqueurs. They also offer tours of their distillery. Enjoy!

FEEDING THE FISH

As tempting as it may be, avoid feeding the fish your leftover picnic sandwiches. Human food does not contain the nutrients that fish require and feeding them regularly may affect their natural feeding habits.

TURTLE HATCHLINGS

Turtles come ashore to lay their eggs every year and a few weeks later the hatchlings climb out of the nest and, all being well, head for the sea. Should you happen to see turtle hatchlings on the beach do NOT touch them or attempt to help them, as you could do more harm than good, but contact the Department of Environment immediately. Tel: (345) 949 8469. If you own a condo or house on the beach make sure you change your outside lights to turtle safe amber lights.