This impressive 251' ship was a fully equipped diver support vessel designed to assist submarines in distress. Following 50 years of active service in the US navy as a submarine support vessel, the Kittiwake was sunk near Seven Mile Beach to make an artificial reef and playground for divers. 7. Furthermore, the ship provides a great opportunity for training on wreck diving and exploration. This really consists of two dives back-to-back: a free dive, then a SCUBA dive. Discover Grand Cayman's most requested dive, the USS Kittiwake. The wreck is very “diver friendly” and allows for a lot of penetration opportunities. After shakedown, Kittiwake departed Charleston, South Carolina, 3 October for Balboa, Canal Zone, arriving 8 October. This dive was more planned out than the first and began with a lot more historical research. Share. Discover the Cayman Islands #1 requested dive, the USS Kittiwake, sunk January 5, 2011. She says choosing the USS Kittiwake was the easy part of her eight-year effort. First off, it's not a "wreck" but was sunk on purpose (in Jan 2011) to create an artificial reef. of the surface. Located off of 7 Mile Beach, the ex-USS Kittiwake was sunk on January 5th, 2011 to serve as a dive site for the Cayman Islands. This makes the wreck great for the first time wreck diver or one who wishes to take part in a “wreck specialty” course. Diving the USS Kittiwake wreck is a spectacular experience as the wreck has managed to remain pretty much intact. All rights reserved. Our dive group was lucky enough to… Diving the USS Kittiwake … Save. Divers from the Kittiwake recovered the black box from the space … The ship is still pretty much intact, sitting on its keel with the top part reaching shallow water. With numerous entry and egress points diving the USS Kittiwake is safe and quite interesting. As I said in the beginning, Grand Cayman is one of the best places in the world to scuba dive. Located off of 7 Mile Beach, the ex-USS Kittiwake was sunk on January 5th, 2011 to serve as a dive site for the Cayman Islands. Prior to her sinking, the Kittiwake was prepared to make a safe environment for divers to explore with additional entrance and exit holes cut into the thick steel structure to make more fluid routes to swim in and around the wreck. The Kittiwake is magical and mystical, she is soaking in the heritage of She was very much a dive boat. Under direct supervision Open Water divers are allowed to dive decks 1-3 of the Kittiwake and Advanced Open Water divers are allowed on all decks in areas where there is direct surface access. The USS Kittiwake was originally commissioned as a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship in the United States Navy during World War II. There is no touching or taking of anything, no gloves and no fishing allowed on the wreck/Kittiwake site. Liveaboards to the Ex-USS Kittiwake will take divers to one of the most sought-after dive sites in the Cayman Islands.Lying in shallow crystalline waters off Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach, the wreck of the Ex-USS Kittiwake - a former US submarine rescue ship is now a thriving artificial reef.. Following almost 50 years of active service in the US Navy, she was sunk deliberately on January 5th, 2011 to make an artificial reef, divers playground and an ocean tribute to seafarers worldwide. Grand Cayman Snorkeling. This is a wreck dive we went on in 2016 (Greg Rowe, Lisa Rowe, Josh Duren) USS Kittiwake Dive - Grand Cayman - October 2016 on Vimeo Join Whether you are a recreational or beginning diver to an experienced wreck diver, diving the USS Kittiwake offers a wonderful scuba diving adventure. Kittiwake was decommissioned on 30 September 1994 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same day. Following almost 50 years of active service in the US Navy, she was sunk deliberately on January 5th, 2011 to make an artificial reef, divers playground and an ocean tribute to seafarers worldwide. The first ship in the Navy to bear the name, the USS KITTIWAKE was one of the CHANTICLEER - class Submarine Rescue Ships. The USS Kittiwake served for 50 years as a submarine support and rescue vessel. The main role of the USS-Kittiwake was to rescue sailors from submarines. Both decommissioned and stricken from the Navy list on September 30, 1994, the USS KITTIWAKE spent the following years laid up in the National Defense Reserve Fleet, James River, Fort Eustis, Va., awaiting final disposal. Tom runs a first class diving operation. Originally intended to be sunk in June 2009, she was finally sunk off Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, on 5 January 2011 in Marine Park Kittiwake Shipwreck Scuba Dive Dive the latest and most exciting attraction in Grand Cayman - the former USS Kittiwake!She is now 64-feet under the crystal waters off the North West point of Seven Mile Beach and makes for one of the best Adventure Scuba Dives in Grand Cayman. 6. Living The Dream Divers, Seven Mile Beach Picture: USS Kittiwake wreck dive. We had an amazing two weeks of diving with Off the Wall Divers in July. Anniversary of the sinking of the lovely lady USS Kittiwake, we will be paying her a visit tomorrow night at 5.15pm There'll be barnacle cake all round and sea shanties sang in her honour. Scuba diving on the USS Kittiwake Wreck is a must when you are diving in the Cayman Islands.The former World War II ship was bought by the Cayman Islands government in 2010 and sunk in Grand Cayman for scuba divers to enjoy. of water an the superstructure comes with 10-12ft. Share on Twitter Share on Facebook. Discover Grand Cayman's most requested dive, the USS Kittiwake. During her years of service she had some interesting times including the rescue of a stranded battleship. Her title was transferred in November 2008 for an undisclosed amount to the government of the Cayman Islands for the purpose of using Kittiwake to form a new artificial reef. - Check out Tripadvisor members' 11,980 candid photos and videos. It's unusual because there is almost no silt. We got the chance to dive the USS Kittiwake while we were in Grand Cayman this past week. If you said the Kittiwake, you are correct! 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