The Cayman Islands is now the proud owner of the ex-U.S.S. Kittiwake, soon to be Grand Cayman’s newest dive attraction. The Kittiwake left the James River Reserve Fleet in St. Eustis, Virginia on February 18, 2010 and will be towed to Grand Cayman after being cleaned. The 251-foot military vessel will be sunk on the north end of Grand Cayman’s world famous Seven Mile Beach, providing underwater enthusiasts of all skill levels with a new year-round diving destination that is both easy to access and a thrill to explore.
The Ministry and Department of Tourism in partnership with the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) embarked on the project some seven years ago and are all eager to witness the sinking of the Kittiwake slated for July/August of this year.
The 5-deck, 2200-ton Kittiwake was originally commissioned as a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship in the United States Navy during World War II. Now it will join the MV Captain Keith Tibbetts, a Russian Frigate sunk off the coast of Cayman Brac in 1996, at the forefront of the artificial reef movement in the Caribbean.
The Kittiwake will be an interesting attraction for divers to explore, with lots of rooms such as the recompression chamber, air bank storage, engine room and dive locker. Being sunk in only 65 feet of water, the top of the bridge and smoke stack will be 20 feet from the surface, perfect for snorkelers
Prior to sinking, the Kittiwake will be thoroughly prepared for guests. All hazardous materials and chemicals will be removed to ensure that they won’t leach into Cayman waters. Multiple vertical and horizontal cutouts will open up the ship to allow natural light to flood the body and enable divers to explore the entire ship.