Diving the USS Kittiwake : Grand Cayman Island

Рет қаралды 6,978

Жыл бұрын

In the heart of West Bay, Grand Cayman Island, lays the scuttled USS Kittiwake - a 250ft US Navy Chanticleer class submarine rescue vessel that remained in service from 1946 to 1994. In 2011, it found its final resting place at the bottom of West Bay, and has since become one of the most renowned wreck diving experiences in the entire Caribbean.
The USS Kittiwake dive is considered one of the most accessible, memorable, and visually striking dive sites in the Cayman Islands. Where is the Kittiwake shipwreck? Amazingly enough, it is directly offshore of Seven Mile Beach, which is famous for its luxury hotels, pristine white sand beaches, and tranquil azure waters.
A myriad of dive operations run daily trips to the USS Kittiwake, but you would be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't visit this iconic wreck with Cayman Turtle Divers (caymanturtledivers.com). These guys know how to run a dive boat, and if you're lucky enough to have TJ at the helm...well, you're in for a great time! The USS Kittiwake depth is 70ft, making it easily accessible for divers of all skill levels. In fact, prior to its sinking in 2011, the wreck was "opened up" to enable divers of all skill levels to easily penetrate all decks, creating an exceptional opportunity to explore an extraordinary piece of US Naval history...inside and out.
One of my favorite aspects of the USS Kittiwake dive is the visibility and calm conditions that are more or less guaranteed in West Bay. While Grand Cayman Island is known for its exceptionally clear water most of the year, West Bay is very protected from the wind, which means waves and swell are a rarity. Current is almost nonexistent on this wreck, which is a refreshing change of pace from what we're used to in the Florida Keys. The calm water, excellent visibility, and relatively shallow depth of this spectacular wreck create the perfect conditions for amazing photos and video. I do hope you'll enjoy this video, and that it inspires you to take your own trip to Grand Cayman Island so you too can enjoy the USS Kittiwake dive.

Пікірлер: 14

@kirbypierce5095 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for doing what you do!

@BonaFideWorldGuide Жыл бұрын

Thank you for stopping by to watch the video!

@WesLovelace Жыл бұрын

Enjoyed the clear water dive and to see the colorful soft coral formations that are becoming more prevalent with the passage of time😎👀🤿!!

@BonaFideWorldGuide Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! It's amazing to think about how that wreck, and the reefs which surround it, will change during the next decade.

@danp148 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I’m going to the Caymans in March for a liveaboard. Can’t wait to do that dive.

@BonaFideWorldGuide Жыл бұрын

You're in for one hec of a trip! Visibility should be phenomenal during March.

@itsManilaBaybee Жыл бұрын

Fantastic shots, so crisp and clear. I can't recall if I mentioned it when we were out last week, I grew up on Grand Cayman. Went to Triple C Middle School, and then back for College at I.C.C.I. I lived in West Bay the whole time, those beaches look different, back in the day you couldn't see the road from the beaches, it was all jungle, no parking lots. The wreck looks amazing, what did you shoot this with?

@BonaFideWorldGuide Жыл бұрын

The King of Makati himself! Yes - I recall that story. What an exceptional place to grow up. It must have been extraordinary to see jungle leading right up to the beach. Sad to think they tore down all that magnificent foliage to make parking lots, but that seems to be a trend in the Caribbean. The whole video was shot on a Hero 10! Thanks for stopping by the channel.

@itsManilaBaybee Жыл бұрын

@@BonaFideWorldGuide you did talk up the GP10, and I felt like I was sold, you weren't kidding. I know GCI Is crystal clear, but your content is pristine, it really is top shelf. I'll hit you on whatsapp to follow up on where we left off. Looking forward to seeing your Palawan adventure

@chrcook01 10 ай бұрын

I think I dove with TJ at the Sunset House in 2019

@BonaFideWorldGuide 9 ай бұрын

He is one of a kind!

@RedLeader182 11 ай бұрын

Well. This is high on my list of dive sites now. What camera was this recorded with?

@BonaFideWorldGuide 11 ай бұрын

This is the quintessential dive site when visiting Grand Cayman Island. You'll love it! I filmed this on a Hero 10 Black mounted on a tray with two 3,000 lumen broad beam SUPE lights.