live and work on cayman islands?

[rogerneo87]

hello!!

If someone want to help me a little..... I want go living on cayman islands, looks very nice, but I have some questions about the life on the island? like the home rent, the public transport of the island, the price of the food.

also I see that the island its so nice for diving, so if someone can help, I want to go there for work of padi dive instructor...

I think the high season starts on november right? just now on summer its low-medium season?

if someone know any dive center or hotel that have work say me please.

thanks for all!

 

[diversteve]

Rent is expensive - that may be one of the cheaper costs. Here's a ballpark idea from one of the realty sites: Cayman Islands Real Estate Property - Properties For Rent in Cayman Islands IDK about your exchange rate but the CI$ is .80 to the U.S. dollar so everything costs us 20% more than in the U.S.

Food is very expensive. Some of these link to menus with prices: http://www.caymangoodtaste.com/
Food in the markets is also very expensive.

This may be of help: Cayman Islands Information - Relocating, Moving, Living and Working in the Cayman Islands

There is public transportation all over the island. Grand Cayman's Public Bus Service

I'm fairly certain to work on Cayman requires that a shop sponsor you and they obtain your work permit.

 

[Drew Sailbum]

The Cayman New Resident website contains a lot of information about moving to Cayman. It is the single best resource but it is targeted to professionals and assumes higher pay and higher expenses than most dive staff will earn or spend.

Dive Instructors tend to share housing and live much cheaper. Typically dive instructor pay no more than about CI$700 per person for rent monthly.

You can check out supermarket ads to get an idea of food prices. All prices are in CI$. CI$1 = US$1.25
Foster's Food Fair
Hurley's Supermarket
Kirk Market

Public transport has very limited hours, particularly to the Eastern Districts. It does not cover the Rum Point area at all and is sporadic at best if you are trying to get to/from work at the East End dive shops. Coverage elsewhere on the island is reasonable.

Dive shops like to hire well before the start of high season. It takes up to a couple months to process the work permit. The employer must solicit this visa on your behalf. You really must already hold your PADI Instructor card in order to get hired. Very few shops hire at the DM level in Cayman.

My suggestion is to put together a resume and send it out to all the Cayman dive shops you can find online.