Staniel Cay is inhabited by a small Bahamian village which lies on the western shore.

The village is composed of residential housing, a few restaurants, a church, a police station, post office, a library, three small retail stores and marine supply shops.

[3] Staniel Cay was established in 1783 when the American loyalist settled the entire archipelago of Exuma.

[4] The island gained its popularity with the establishment of The Staniel Cay Yacht Club in 1956, founded by Bob Chamberlain and Joe Hocher.

[5] A variety of businesses operate on Staniel Cay to provide accommodation and organize activities.

[19] Moreover, cloudy days are often warm and the precipitations are concentrated in the warmest months, which are July, August and September.

In 1986, due to unverifiable pressure on fish, lobster, coral reefs and other marine life, the Trust declared the entire park a “fishery reserve”.

[21] Tourism together with tourism-driven construction and manufacturing accounts for approximately 60% of GDP and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago's labor force.

The BNT established a Project Management Group consisting of local stakeholders as well as representatives from the Ministry of Tourism.

20% belong to Anglican groups and about 24% are Protestants, such as the Methodists (6%), the Church of God (6%), Seventh-day Adventists, and members of the Salvation Army.

There are also groups of Jews, Baháʼís, Muslims, Hindus, and Rastafarians and a strong Greek Orthodox community.

[26] Staniel Cay has a variety of activities and events for tourists and residents to participate in on the island.

The waters surrounding the islands are clear and shallow, making snorkeling easy for first-timers, but a variety of places exist for more experienced divers.

Light enters through a vaulted ceiling and a variety of sea-life swim in the water below, including the purple parrotfish, yellowtail snappers, Angelfish and Sergeant Majors.

[28] Snorkeling does not require the specialized technique, training and gear which means it is available from many activity providers, including hotels, lodges and resorts on and around Staniel Cay.

Staniel Cay and the surrounding islands within Exuma contain a wide range of scuba diving attractions, such as steep reef walls, historic ship wrecks, coral reefs, and a diverse range of marine animals.

Because of the clarity within the water, Staniel Cay and the surrounding islands offer good conditions for underwater photography and video.

All training takes place in warm, clear water, and is sanctioned by top certifying agencies.

Due to the weather conditions the possibility to reserve a kayak and discover the Exuma Cays by water is offered at any time of the year.

Periodically, inhabitants of Staniel Cay would head over to the island, pick the fattest pig, and share the meat to locals.

This event attracts visiting yachtsmen cruising The Exuma Cays to test the speed of their craft in a competition against traditional Bahamian sloops.

[39] In August, the Annual Staniel Cay Bonefish Tournament occurs, another important event which attracts foreigners and brings home the locals.