Scuba Diving in Cayman Islands
Description
The Kittiwake is one of Grand Cayman's great new wrecks, having been sunk 6 years ago in shallow Cayman waters and in 2017 rolled deeper and onto its side during storm Nate.
The Kittiwake is a Marine Park owned by CITA (Cayman Islands Tourist Association). This fully penetrable wreck was sunk by divers for divers and is accessible to all levels of certified diver.
The 2nd dive of the trip is to a 60ft Reef site, along 7 mile beach, specific site picked on the day dependent on conditions.
Our dive tours are fully guided and we offer small group sizes.
The Kittiwake is a Marine Park owned by CITA (Cayman Islands Tourist Association). This fully penetrable wreck was sunk by divers for divers and is accessible to all levels of certified diver.
The 2nd dive of the trip is to a 60ft Reef site, along 7 mile beach, specific site picked on the day dependent on conditions.
Our dive tours are fully guided and we offer small group sizes.
Your Dive Expert
The Lobster Pot Dive Center is based between George Town and 7 mile beach in Grand Cayman. We are a 5 Star PADI Dive center and we offer all levels of diver training. We run daily boat diving trips, have full shore diving facilities, equipment rental services and a fully stocked gift shop. We have on site parking and WIFI.
Who's It For?
Open Water Diver
What's Included
- Kittiwake Marine Park Fee
- 2 tank boat trip
- Tanks and weights included
- Onsite parking and local area 7MB pick up.
Dive Spots
1
Kittiwake
Depth 22 m · Visibility >30 m
On January 5th 2011, the Kittiwake (an ex USA Navy Vessel) was brought to the Cayman Islands and sunk to make an artificial reef off Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach. In her day, the Kittiwake was a submarine rescue vessel.
The Kittiwake was in service from 1945 to 1994, serving more than 50 years. After she was retired from duty in 1994 the Caymans Islands Government purchased her to make an artificial reef. In preparation for sinking the Kittiwake was cleaned of all chemicals and oils to insure that no pollutants could harm the nearby coral reefs, and had most of her internal fixtures removed to make the vessel as diver friendly as possible.
The Kittiwake is a large vessel measuring 251 feet long, hosting 5 decks, and weighing 2200 tons. She sits in ~60 feet of water. Open water divers can swim the first three decks, and advanced divers can swim through all five decks. Some highlights of the dive include two recompression champers, which served the divers who got decompression sickness on the Kittiwake, the bathroom which still has mirrors so you can see yourself, and the mess hall which still has tables and chairs.
Most of the Kittiwake’s missions are still classified to this day, however a quick search online gets plenty of hits to some of her adventures. Most notably in 1986 the Kittiwake recovered the Blackbox from the Challenger Space Shuttle disaster. The Blackbox was recovered from the Atlantic Ocean.
Today the Kittiwake lays in a marine park serving as an artificial reef. Divers and snorkelers are not allowed to take or touch anything in the marine park. To dive or snorkel the Kittiwake, you must go on a licenced vessel.
From
$125 USD per package
