USS Kittiwake Wreck
USS Kittiwake
A former US Navy submarine rescue ship deliberately sunk in 2011, visible from shallow water, and one of the most popular wreck dive sites in the Caribbean.
The USS Kittiwake was a retired US Navy submarine rescue ship about 76 meters long. In 2011, it was sunk deliberately off the northern end of Seven Mile Beach to create an artificial reef. The hull lies between 5 and 20 meters deep, and its top is close enough to the surface that snorkelers can see it clearly. Divers can enter the hull, the bridge, and the decompression chamber. The wreck shifted slightly after a storm in 2017. It is part of the Marine Park, so a permit is required. Visits are usually arranged through dive shops or snorkeling boat tours, which cost about US$50 to 80.
Opening hours
Daytime only; go with a dive shop or boat tour
Nearby sights
- Hell
- Seven Mile Beach
- Cayman Turtle Centre
- Camana Bay
- National Gallery of the Cayman Islands
- George Town Waterfront
- Cayman Islands National Museum
- Smith Barcadere (Smith Cove)