Grand Cayman wreck diving - USS Kittiwake
This is the top shipwreck dive in Grand Cayman and one of the top ten in the Caribbean. The USS Kittiwake has been on the reef for a little over one year and the site is maturing well. The shipwreck has five decks, is 251.6 ft (76.7 m) in length, 42ft (12.8 m) in beam and around 50 feet high. The vessel was built specifically for submarine rescue and was launched on July 10, 1945 and which was sunk in Grand Cayman in January 2011.
This article provides an overview of the dive, a little history and other data on the subject of the shipwreck and an synopsis of what you can find on the wreck. You can see the whole photo gallery on the website and see the blog entry for the USS Kittiwake for supplementary information on the wreck and a history about the ship.
The Dive:
The vessel was sunk In january 2011 off the north end of Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman. There are five decks on the USS Kittiwake. To meet caymanian law regarding reefed ships, a portion of the upper mast was removed. The are two bridges on the upper decks (both an external and internal bridge to allow operations in heavy seas) along with the navigation and radio rooms. The has also been removed. The Captain and executive officer's quarters are located on the upper decks On the main deck, from bow to stern, internally you will find the rec room, mess hall, ironing room, small tool workshop and recompression chambers.. You will see an a-frame structure on the stern which supported submarines and hard hat divers, as well as the diving bell where divers would enter to return to the ship from the ocean and then be placed in the chambers for decompression. Below the main deck, 2 decks exist that include the crews quarter, medic/hospital station, engine and propulsion rooms, air bank storage and compressors, as well as the steering gear, shaft, gyro, ammunition lockers, cold storage and barber shop to name a few areas. While the USS Kittiwake has been opened up with large access holes in the sides of the ship, every space on the boat was used when she was in service. Make it a point to plan your dive well. I would recommend heading to the stern before entering into the vessel to get photos near the "USS Kittiwake" logo on the stern and also get photographs by the screw (propeller) and rudder. For Scuba Divers that intend on penetrating the shipwreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship and go into the main funnel which is located on the Bridge Deck. If you do not intend on entering the wreck you can start your investigation of the ship on the deck just above the Propeller. The entry through the funnel can be a great location for underwater photography . try silhouetting your dive partner in the shaft diving down into the shipwreck. You can exit into the ship on several of the decks including the first platform or in the hold. The cargo hold should only be entered by experienced advanced divers. When you exit to the first platform you will see the Engineering emblem in the Motor Room section. This area is easily accessible and makes for a incredibly interesting underwater photograph near the "Engineering Mural". The sediment can be substantial in this location so you must move gradually to prevent clouding up the water. For experienced wreck divers you can also look at shaft alley and the front hold regions of the shipwreck. For others you can view the various compartments on the first platform and then begin making your way up deck by deck and then finally coming to the Bridge (Pilot House) where you can do your safety stop.
Check out images of other shipwrecks on http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com or visit his blog for reviews of other wrecks.
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