The Cayman News Service offers a regular column called "Ask Auntie" that answers questions about visiting/living in the Cayman Islands. They recently received a question about penetrating the Kittiwake after the wreck moved and fell on its' side last fall in a storm last year, see the response below.
The Kittiwake site is a park and there is a park entry fee, see the link below. We have always done it as a guided dive with a licensed Cayman dive op, and I believe that is required for both divers and snorkelers.
Divetech is the op that maintains the site and they did the clean-up after the storm last fall. Most dive ops offer Kittiwake trips on various days during the week. It's a very interesting dive.
Dive 365
Ask Auntie CNS:
Diving back into the Kittiwake - CNSLocalLife
Question: Can anyone advise if the Kittiwake site is open and divers are able to go throughout the ship like previously? Additionally, what is the new depth?
Auntie’s answer: Yes, the site is open for divers. For those who don’t know, the USS Kittiwake was a US naval vessel sunk off West Bay in 2011 to create an artificial reef and dive attraction.
Divetech, which runs dive trips to the Kittiwake, confirmed that it is still possible to go through the same compartments as before Hurricane Nate moved the ship onto her port side in October last year.
A Divetech representative explained that the maximum depth if you are on the sand outside the wreck is 70 ft but the majority of the dive is at 50 ft, which is where people can swim through the main compartments.
In addition, the wheelhouse, which is at the top of the wreck, is at 20 ft.
The Kittiwake site is a park and there is a park entry fee, see the link below. We have always done it as a guided dive with a licensed Cayman dive op, and I believe that is required for both divers and snorkelers.
Divetech is the op that maintains the site and they did the clean-up after the storm last fall. Most dive ops offer Kittiwake trips on various days during the week. It's a very interesting dive.
Dive 365
Ask Auntie CNS:
Diving back into the Kittiwake - CNSLocalLife
Question: Can anyone advise if the Kittiwake site is open and divers are able to go throughout the ship like previously? Additionally, what is the new depth?
Auntie’s answer: Yes, the site is open for divers. For those who don’t know, the USS Kittiwake was a US naval vessel sunk off West Bay in 2011 to create an artificial reef and dive attraction.
Divetech, which runs dive trips to the Kittiwake, confirmed that it is still possible to go through the same compartments as before Hurricane Nate moved the ship onto her port side in October last year.
A Divetech representative explained that the maximum depth if you are on the sand outside the wreck is 70 ft but the majority of the dive is at 50 ft, which is where people can swim through the main compartments.
In addition, the wheelhouse, which is at the top of the wreck, is at 20 ft.