Grand Cayman has a new shipwreck! On January 5th, the ex-USS Kittiwake was purposefully sunk off west side of Grande Cayman near Seven Mile Beach. From 1945 to 1994, the USS Kittiwake was a submarine rescue vessel and support ship in the US Navy. Now, the 251 foot long wreck of the Kittiwake sits upright at a depth of about 65 feet. The tall wreck reaches from the ocean floor to about 10 feet below the surface, making this site accessible to almost all scuba and skin divers.

As coral and other marine life slowly take up residence on the wreck, the USS Kittiwake will form the substrate for an artificial reef. Years, if not decades, are required for coral to claim a shipwreck so divers interested in a wreck thriving with marine life may have to wait. Still, early videos of the USS Kittiwake wreck show all levels of divers enjoying the dive site, which offers divers spectacular visibility and the chance play in three dimensions along the decks and passageways of the wreck.

The USS Kittiwake shipwreck is a private marine park – special entrance fees and permits apply.

Divers interested in going inside the wreck of the USS Kittiwake should remember that special training and certifications are needed to safely enter a shipwreck!

Source: About.com Guide, by Natalie Gibb