Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, West Bay: See 970 reviews, articles, and 314 photos of Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 12 attractions in West Bay. Lots of the wreck's features are really well preserved. Learn about the history of the Kittiwake, find dive operators and snorkel trips for guided tours, view photos, and more from Cayman's best travel guide. #af-form-1090581944 input,#af-form-1090581944 button,#af-form-1090581944 textarea,#af-form-1090581944 select{font-size:100%;} #af-form-1090581944 .af-standards .af-element{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;} The Cayman News Service offers a regular column called "Ask Auntie" that answers questions about visiting/living in the Cayman Islands. Wit the new depth we have changed this dive to the first dive of our trip. The USS Kittiwake is a 251-foot submarine rescue vessel that was launched in WW2 and decommissioned in 1994. Famous Cayman Wreck Moved and Damaged by Hurricane Nate The USS Kittiwake, lying on it's port side with the broken anchor chains (Photo: Jason Washington/iDive Global) By Mark 'Crowley' Russell One of the Caribbean's most famous wrecks has been moved, pushed onto its side and damaged by the passing of Hurricane Nate. Over the weekend, it was discovered that due to heavy waves and currents, one of Cayman’s beloved dive sites, The Kittiwake artificial wreck and reef was turned on its p ort side and shifted from its resting place. Almost immediately, the wreck gave the island a special new attraction for snorkelers, scuba divers and freedivers. The water was clear and wreck was placed shallow enough to allow a novice diver like myself to fully explore from the outside. .af-clear{clear:both;} The Kittiwake is a Marine Park owned by CITA (Cayman Islands Tourist Association). The 70usd may seem a bit steep for a snorkel (cruise ships offer pre paid packages on board but if you can buy before hand like we did you can pay as low as 40usd on the island for a tour) but even for the 70 is dis is well worth it. Great sea life. Dive the Kittiwake Wreck every Tuesday afternoon with Ocean Frontiers on this 1-Tank Boat Trip. .af-form-wrapper{text-indent:0;} ... We chose a two stop wreck and reef snorkel with an early start time. The Kittiwake began to topple after Nate on Oct. 12. The 251ft/76m former submarine rescue vessel is one of the foremost scuba diving attractions in the Cayman Islands, and with a depth of only 18m/60ft rising to 5m/15ft is popular with divers of all experience levels, as well as snorkellers. There really wasn't much of an alternative. Press the Apple or Android image below to download the DIVE app for your device or the PC/Mac image to read DIVE on your desktop. This is the 4 th time for us to dive this wreck over the last few years. Best safety stop ever. Do yourself a favor and book through Red Sail Sports. The Kittiwake is a pristine wreck dive, situated in a marine park that is protected under law in Cayman. Let’s dive deeper into the history of this iconic shipwreck. I did two fantastic dives on the Kittiwake wreck, Grand Cayman during the annual Focus Underwater event hosted by Divetech. They have this down to a science. Kittiwake wreck dive and Stingray City are unforgettable adventures – even if you do get bit. The new resting position of the Kittiwake provides a whole new view on the massive shipwreck. The Kittiwake ship wreck is a private park and attraction that is managed by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association. ', The wreck as it stood almost upright before tropical storm Nate (Photo: Jason Washington / iDive Global), Love diving? In 1994, after nearly 50 years of US Navy service as a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue vessel, the USS Kittiwake was decommission and has now found it’s resting place in 60 ft of crystal clear water a half mile off Grand Cayman’s west side. 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 Wreck of Kittiwake. The funds collected from the entry fee are used to maintenan the ship wreck, and for safety equipment and management of the attraction. Very cool. USS Kittiwake snorkeling tours Although the Kittiwake shipwreck lies relatively close to the shore, you cannot swim to it on your own. #af-form-1090581944{display:block;} The wreck sits upright and intact in the sand and clear water off Seven Mile Beach at a depth easily accessible to both recreational divers and snorkelers. The U.S.S. With the last hurricane the wreck has moved. Do yourself a favor and book through Red Sail Sports. USS Kittiwake Wreck and Reef Snorkel. We have also had to change the amount of penetration due to the limited light and extreme angle of the ship. With the last storm, tropical storm Nate, the wreck which used to be upright was knocked over and moved out a little and now sits at 45 degrees. Coral has grown on it relatively quickly, and sea life life is abundant. Initial reports suggest that the wreck might be unsafe, however a press release from the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA), released on 10 October states that the dive site is open, but operators must have their staff dive the site first, without customers, to reorient themselves to the wrecks new depth and layout. The 251-feet-long Kittiwake was purposely sank on the west side of Grand Cayman in January 2011. #af-form-1090581944 .buttonContainer{text-align:left;} One of the Caribbean's most famous wrecks has been moved, pushed onto its side and damaged by the passing of Hurricane Nate. A week long event bringing together Rebreather divers and Underwater Photographers and Videographers. It was sunk in 2011 as a dive site/artificial reef. There have even been manta ray sightings and whale sharks (although very rare)It really is an absolute must for any on island visitors and a definite maybe if on a cruise and looking for something to see you will never forget. West Bay rarely gets winds from this direction, the last time winds of this direction and magnitude was hurricane Dennis in 2011, which was also the last time the Kittiwake moved from her original sinking location. If you have been before then I would probably encourage you to at least take another look. #af-form-1090581944 form,#af-form-1090581944 textarea,.af-form-wrapper,.af-form-close-button,#af-form-1090581944 img{float:none;color:inherit;position:static;background-color:none;border:none;margin:0;padding:0;} In 2017, Tropical Storm Nate broke her anchor chains and now she rests on her port side. DIVELive is free, full archive available to digital subscribers, ©Syon Geographical Ltd. All Rights Reserved. We never share your data. This is the latest addition to Grand Cayman’s arsenal of excellent wreck dive sites. It can also be snorkeled, though is it a little deep for a great view. Recently Kittiwake has moved to deeper water in recent storms….it’s a bit deep but I reckon I can handle it, so I dive down deep and give you a good view of what I see when I am down there. The Kittiwake is an impressive wreck dive located just off the ‘Public Beach West Bay Dock’ at the north end of Seven Mile Beach. Bing a camera for super pictures. Unsubscribe anytime. #af-form-1090581944 .af-body input.text, #af-form-1090581944 .af-body textarea{background-color:#FFFFFF;border-color:#FFFFFF;border-width:2px;border-style:solid;color:#8F888F;text-decoration:none;font-style:italic;font-weight:normal;font-size:14px;font-family:inherit;} Its convenient location, just off Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, and shallow depths make it a popular site among scuba divers as well as snorkelers and freedivers. more. Hurricane Nate picked up and moved the massive Kittiwake a hundred feet I’m a wreck junkie. The USS Kittiwake is one of the best-known wreck dives in the Caribbean, if not the world. #af-form-1090581944 .af-quirksMode{padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;} Strong wave action from Hurricane Rina last week shifted the former USS Kittiwake wreck about 60 feet out to sea. The Kittiwake wreck moved and changed her original position after being hit by tropical storms and hurricanes over the years. After the wreck moved the Cayman Islands government closed the wreck. If you like to dive shipwrecks, this one is fun. However, if the new cruise ship dock is built, this wreck is scheduled to be destroyed or moved; so dive it … After a 15-minute boat ride, our first stop was the USS Kittiwake wreck. Ask robbp826 about Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, Ask johnsan1616 about Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, Ask Barry F about Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, Ask QuickLeave about Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, Ask Justin_Time_For_U about Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, Ask davesep203 about Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, InterContinental (IHG) Hotels in Grand Cayman, Hotels near Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef, Hotels near Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounter, Hotels near Blue Horizon Charters Cayman Islands, Hotels near (GCM) Owen Roberts Intl Airport, Hotels near International College of the Cayman Islands, Military Bases & Facilities in Grand Cayman, Points of Interest & Landmarks in Grand Cayman, Historical & Heritage Tours in Grand Cayman, Boat Tours & Water Sports in Grand Cayman, Parasailing & Paragliding in Grand Cayman, Surfing, Windsurfing & Kitesurfing in Grand Cayman, Health/Fitness Clubs & Gyms in Grand Cayman, Game & Entertainment Centers in Grand Cayman, Cayman Spirits Co. Distillery: Tickets & Tours‎, Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef: Tickets & Tours‎, Cayman Turtle Centre: Island Wildlife Encounter: Tickets & Tours‎, The Cayman Islands Brewery: Tickets & Tours‎, Porto di Georgetown (Port of George Town): Tickets & Tours‎, Barker's National Park: Tickets & Tours‎. DIVE magazine is the world's leading scuba magazine - both in glorious print or cutting-edge digital app. In October 2017 the wreck moved towards a nearby natural reef and fell to its port side due to wave action from passing Tropical Storm Nate. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Amazing... You can still snorkel overhead, … .af-element label{text-align:left;display:block;float:left;} .af-body.af-standards input.submit{padding:4px 12px;} This fully penetrable wreck was sunk by divers for divers and is accessible to all levels of certified diver. Kittiwake is well worth the dive. Jason Washington, manager of iDive Global and co-owner of Ambassador Divers, a resident Cayman scuba instructor and photographer, posted pictures of the damaged ship on his blog after diving the wreck on 8 October. .af-body .af-textWrap{text-align:left;} Simply give us your best email address in the box below to stay connected. Visitors enjoy safe swim-throughs and the marine creatures that have moved in − making it a fascinating experience for divers of all skill levels. She is easily accessible and sits upright in 62 feet of water on a sand bottom. The wreck of the Balboa contributed to George Town Harbour becoming a Mission Blue ‘Hope Spot’, a prestigious title given to special places that are deemed critical to the health of the ocean. .af-form{text-align:left;margin:auto;} Then came a school of lavender jacks. Freedive the Kittiwake wreck is on the top of our list of things to do in Grand Cayman. Kittiwake’s Diving Location The Kittiwake was sunk in 2011 Cayman’s on the west side just off Seven Mile Beach, at latitude 19 21.714’N – Longitude 081 24.073′W. Part 1 of diving the Kittiwake wreck off the coast of Grand Cayman island. She is surrounded by flat sandy with thousands of small garden eels, conchs and occasionally stingrays and star fish. To dive the Kittiwake you have to go through a dive shop and pay a fee for a pass. Of course it is still very clear water and you can dive throughout without getting caught on anything. It is an absolute must. USS Kittiwake Wreck The USS Kittiwake, a de-commissioned naval ship, was sunk January 5th, 2011 at 2:34 PM 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 … Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. #af-form-1090581944{background-color:#ECECEC;border-color:#D5D5D5;border-width:1px;border-style:none;} We used to schedule the Kittiwake as the second dive of our two tank dive trip. Kittiwake, Grand Caymans immensely popular shipwreck, is being shaped by the sea as it undergoes its natural life cycle in the shallow waters off Seven Mile Beach. .af-element{padding-bottom:5px;padding-top:5px;} Recent rough seas moved the wreck slightly, so the Kittiwake now leans on her port … Jul 24, 2018 - Explore Magnificent Blue Water's board "MARINE • USS Kittiwake, Cayman Island", followed by 534 people on Pinterest. We stopped at the wreck to snorkel. Ancient or modern, it doesn’t matter so long as I have a camera in my hand. Join us on social and keep updated daily... 10 REASONS WHY THE RED SEA IS STILL THE BEST. This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Things to do near Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef. body { Amazing dive site or snorkel. Tropical Storm Nate moves Kittiwake While the wreck made some contact with the wall, damage only occurred in an area of 150 square feet of reef (14 square meters). The crew gave us a dive briefing and some history about the ship. The tropical storm, which had previously caused severe damage and 22 fatalities across Costa Rica, Honduras and Nicaragua, struck Grand Cayman earlier this month, where the USS Kittiwake was sunk as an artificial reef in 2011. The ship had already been pushed close to the reef during tropical storm Rina in 2011. All visitors to the Kittiwake ship wreck are required to pay an entry fee. Try one of our featured destinations from DIVE's travel partners. They have this down to a science. Famous Cayman Wreck Moved and Damaged by Hurricane Nate, The USS Kittiwake, lying on it's port side with the broken anchor chains (Photo: Jason Washington/iDive Global). The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) is aware of the after-effects of this week’s Tropical Storm Nate on The Kittiwake dive site. There is a lot of marine life inside the ship and around it. Still a great wreck to... .af-body input.image{border:none!important;} #af-form-1090581944 .buttonContainer input.submit{background-image:none;background-color:#6D8CE8;color:#FAF7FA;text-decoration:none;font-style:normal;font-weight:normal;font-size:16px;font-family:Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;} Either if you are visiting for a day on the cruise ship. There is a rather large grouper living at the bow of the ship. The swell from Nate hit the monster wreck on its starboard beam, breaking loose the giant anchor chains, moving Kittiwake once again closer to the edge of the wall. #af-form-1090581944 button,#af-form-1090581944 input,#af-form-1090581944 submit,#af-form-1090581944 textarea,#af-form-1090581944 select,#af-form-1090581944 label,#af-form-1090581944 optgroup,#af-form-1090581944 option{float:none;position:static;margin:0;} #af-form-1090581944 select,#af-form-1090581944 label,#af-form-1090581944 optgroup,#af-form-1090581944 option{padding:0;} PHOTOS: JASON WASHINGTON, iDIVE “What we will witness now is the slow deterioration of the wreck … read more, This is the 4 th time for us to dive this wreck over the last few years. What is nice about this ship is you can dive it in multiple ways...passing over the top for a shallow dive, swimming through the hull, and going down to the sand and sea floor around it. See more ideas about Cayman, Cayman islands, Grand cayman. We had great visibility, so we were able to really take it in even from the surface. A fish ball floated by me during the safety stop. It is 800 yards off shore, so you really have to take a boat to it anyway. Much fun. .af-body input.text{width:100%;float:none;padding:2px!important;} Website design by     Member Magazine Publishers. The heaped sand shows how far the wreck was pushed, close to the adjacent Sand Chute (Photo: Jason Washington / iDive Global), Hurricane Nate, downgraded to a tropical storm by the time it hit the Cayman Islands, has broken the Kittiwake free of its anchor chains and the wreck, formerly sitting almost upright on the bottom, has been pushed over onto its port side, and now sits some 7m/20ft deeper than previously, perilously close to the edge of a nearby reef and drop-off known as the Sand Chute. 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