Home

Specials

KITTIWAKE SINKS OFF SEVEN MILE BEACH

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (January 5, 2011)
After seven years of dedicated effort and planning, the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, in collaboration with the Ministry and Department of Tourism, successfully laid the former submarine rescue ship in its final resting place off the Country%u2019s famous Seven Mile Beach where it will provide both a snorkeling and dive attraction.

The ex-USS Kittiwake was a Submarine Rescue vessel (ASR-13). She was part of the 6th Submarine squadron (SUBRON 6) home ported at the Destroyer-Submarine piers in Norfolk, VA.

The Kittiwake is 251 feet long, 44 feet on her beam, and drafted 19 feet fully loaded. Her light displacement was 1704 tons and full displacement was 2193 tons. After removal of much of the equipment and steel on board, her displacement is around 1800 tons of steel for sinking.

She is a very solid steel hull/steel superstructure that had 18 bulkheads, a single screw propeller made of solid brass that is still on board, and had a complement while in active duty of 10 Officers and 98 enlisted service personal. Her armament was removed before export from the USA.

DIVING/SNORKELING:
You can snorkel overhead and see the main decks and topography of the ship plus take a look down the smoke stack that opens up straight down to the bottom of the hull and the engine rooms. There is no end of rooms to explore this wreck, that will soon enough become an artificial reef, enhancing the marine environment with new fishery stock and habitats for marine life.

The Kittiwake is situated in marine park that is protected under law in Cayman, with no touching or taking of anything, no gloves allowed and no fishing allowed on the wreck/Kittiwake site. It requires an entrance fee to visit from a licensed operator, with the fees going towards the ongoing maintenance and protection of the new artificial wreck/reef plus natural reefs. An exception to taking fish is made for culling lion fish, an invasive species to Cayman waters.

Kittiwake Schedules and Rates

Catamaran Snorkel Sail
9:30AM - 12:00PM: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat
1:00PM - 3:30PM: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs, Fri & Sat
Price: US$65 pp (kids 3-11 yrs - US$35) *Includes US$5.00 wristband
Departs: Grand Cayman Beach Suites / Westin & Sea Grape
Reservations: toll free 877-506-6368 or email info@redsailcayman.com

Diving
2 Tank Dive 8:15AM - 12:30PM: Monday
1 Tank Dive 8:15AM -11:AM: Fri / 2:15PM - 4:30PM: Wed
Price: 2 Tank Dive = US$140.00 / 1 Tank Dive = US$95.00 *Includes US$10.00 diver medallion
Departs: Grand Cayman Beach Suites / Westin
Reservations: toll free 877-506-6368 or email info@redsailcayman.com