First discovered by Columbus in 1503 and named "Tortugas" in deference to the turtles clustered around the two smaller islands, the Caymans were eventually colonized by the British, and remained a British dependency until gaining their independence in 1962.

The Cayman Islands, comprised of three islands: Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac, are located at 19 30 N, 80 30 W, approximately midway between Cuba and Honduras.