The Kittiwake was Damaged by a Storm

[KathyV]

Apparently the wheelhouse is gone:

Kittiwake damaged in storm | Cayman Compass

 

[scoobydrew]

If you look at the picture on the newspaper article, I am the bald guy on the boat pulling up metal. I work for Divetech and we work on the Kittiwake periodically to ensure it remains a safe wreck for people to swim around on as well as if any bits of wreckage are disconnected from the wreck that they are removed from the sea to prevent them getting washed on to the nearby reef. It was hard work and there is still a little more to go, more pics below

 

[guruboy]

Wheel is still there.

 

[Doctorfish]

Inevitable.
I'm old enough to remember when the Tibbets on the Brac and the Oro Verde on GC were both completely intact.

 

[uncfnp]

It felt kinda silly at the time but now I appreciate the pic.

 

[drrich2]

What amazes me about this is the example of how storm surge at depth can bring to bear such a rending force, and yet coral reefs are subjected to this and seem to largely get through unscathed.

Richard.

 

[Joneill]

Apparently the wheelhouse is gone:

Kittiwake damaged in storm | Cayman Compass

I saw that on Divetech's Facebook page - too bad as the enclosed bridge with the window frames was a cool swim through - it had "atmosphere". Quick Snap from 2015:

 

[scubadada]

It's inevitable, the sea is relentless and powerful

I've been diving in Boynton Beach, FL since 2009, including on the wreck of the M/V Castor. It was sunk in 2001 and was upright until 2012, when Hurricane Sandy knocked the stern off to the starboard. The bow suffered the same fate with Hurricane Matthew in 2016. A great dive year round, a prime Goliath Grouper aggregation site late August/September.

Remember when Hurricane Dennis righted the Spiegel Grove in 2005?

 

[uncfnp]

I was scheduled to go out of Morehead City the morning Hurricane Irene hit. It moved the Spar 200 feet.

 

[tkaelin]

Last time I dove the KW, 2014 I think, the concern then was that it was moving further out towards the reef and wall despite the anchoring system.