I have been asked a few times by friends if the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico will affect the Cayman Islands.  In short : it’s extremely unlikely.

Here is a current map I found.

As you can see, the main current enters the Caribbean near the Leeward Islands (St-Lucia, Dominica, etc) and then flows towards Cayman.  From there it passes between Cuba and the Yucatan and into the Gulf of Mexico.  Once in the Gulf, it flows east (“loop”) towards Florida (which is why they are unfortunately now getting oil on their shores) and then out towards the Keys and up the eastern seaboard.  The whole time it goes east, Cuba is sort of “shielding” Cayman.

I am sure many of you have seen the terrible pictures of those birds covered in oil.  So sad.  However, I am glad to say that Cayman’s amazing beaches and marine life are safe from the oil.