kittiwake dive operators

Date of experience: December 2016 Ask AfricaEddie about Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef In July of 1960 the USS Kittiwake stood ready to assist the George Washington, which launched the first successful Polaris ballistic missiles. Only licensed operators are allowed to enter, and fees go towards maintaining and protecting the wreck. The Kittiwake is a designated Marine Park and is only accessible by licensed CITA watersports operators such as Divers Down. Ask for crew for your medallion as a keepsake of your dive. Those who want to visit the Kittiwake are asked to only use licenced operators. Deep Blue Divers is one of the best scuba diving and scuba certification establishments in Grand Cayman. There are all sorts of cool things to find on the wreck including her name across the stern, the propeller & rudder, mirrors that still hang in the bathroom, diving bell, recompression chambers, water cannon, smoke stack, steering wheel, compass and so much more. Recently a new tenant has taken up residence on the massive shipwreck — a great barracuda. With year round diving conditions, this site is … This is very popular with our guests, since it offers a unique … Scuba diving on the USS Kittiwake Wreck is a must when you are diving in the Cayman Islands.The former World War II ship was bought by the Cayman Islands government in 2010 and sunk in Grand Cayman for scuba divers to enjoy. The best dive operators Grand Cayman can be found here. Retail Dive Shops Divers Supply. Kittiwakes are the only gull-like bird in the world to make cliff dwellings. I have dove the Kittiwake a couple times and it continues to be an amazing wreck dive. tel: (345) 916 1293 ... the USS Kittiwake, or world-famous dive site Stingray City! Voted top dive operator in Grand Cayman, Deep Blue Divers has over 75 years combined underwater experience. Once aboard the dive boat he commented, “I’ll be curious to see what they left on it and what the government had removed to avoid polluting the water. Ocean Frontiers is a licensed operator. This is a ex-US Navy vessel that was purposely sunk off of Seven Mile Beach for our island to dive at. Grand Cayman There are several operators who can organise trips to dive or snorkel the Kittiwake. The Kittiwake is a source of pride for Divemasters (DMs) on the island, as many consider the wreck to be a highlight of their diving adventures. Our concierge service is more than happy to help you choose which will be best for you! She then assisted with search and recovery of torpedoes while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. All operators that visit the wreck are licensed and the marine park fee is included in the cost of the trip. This 251 foot long, ex-submarine rescue vessel is perfect for divers of all skill levels. To find In late 1965 the Kittiwake assisted in the recovery of a German submarine (S-171). Deep Blue Divers is proud to be one of the few dive operators licensed to use Grand Cayman's newest water sports attraction, the USS Kittiwake, which opened January 6th 2011. Deep Blue Divers: Kittiwake Dive (Carnival Cruise) - See 656 traveler reviews, 238 candid photos, and great deals for Grand Cayman, at Tripadvisor. The USS Kittiwake was decommissioned on September 30, 1994 and then purchased by the Cayman Islands government in 2004. Tour Operators; Caribbean Dive Home. To visit the Kittiwake your must use a CITA licensed dive/snorkel operator. All kinds of cool critters can be found living in the structure from macro life like peppermint shrimp, fire worms, arrow head crabs and banded coral shrimp to larger than life creatures like barracuda, schools of horse eyed jacks, turtles and even a semi resident goliath grouper. As there is a significant amount of boat and jet ski traffic around the Kittiwake site, swiming from shore is prohibited. The Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA) is aware of the after-effects of this week’s Tropical Storm Nate on The Kittiwake dive site. Snorkelers are welcome  on the boat for any of our trips subject to there being space. Divers and Snorkelers visiting the Kittiwake site are required to pay the following entry fees, and must use a licensed dive/snorkel operator. Learn about the history of the Kittiwake, find dive operators and snorkel trips for guided tours, view photos, and more from Cayman's best travel guide. According to the Kittiwake's website, these operators will do a 2 tank dive in the am. We operate the newest dive boats in the Cayman islands. The cost of the fee is $8.00 for Scuba Divers and $4.00 for Snorkelers. During the 1960's she continued to support submarines in Rota, Spain, and Greece. Our concierge service is more than … Cayman Islands Newest Dive Attraction, Kittwake Sunk Off Seven Mile Beach January 10, 2011. Ask for crew for your medallion as a keepsake of your dive. info@deepbluediverscayman.com, 251 feet long with a 42 foot beam making it one of the largest shipwreck attractions anywhere, Five open decks for access into the wreck (wreck diving specialty required), 5 mooring balls from the bow to the stern of the ship providing space for multiple boats. All divers and snorkelers must display their entrance fee BCD tag (for divers) or wristband (for snorkelers) which is issued to all passengers prior to jumping in. Divetech is open for resident business! Cayman Diving Guide; Dive Operators; Wall Diving; Reef Diving; Shipwreck Diving; USS Kittiwake Diving; Shore Diving; Night Diving; Stingray City; Dive News; Dive Site Map; Dive Equipment and Rental; Fish ID Card; Underwater Webcam; Dining. Snorkelers are welcome on the boat for any of our trips subject to there being space. The Kittiwake is a pristine wreck dive, situated in a marine park that is protected under law in Cayman. It requires an entrance fee to visit from a licensed operator, with the fees going towards the ongoing maintenance and protection of the wreck, and other natural reefs. ScubaBoard.com is the world's largest scuba diving online community. The best dive operators Grand Cayman can be found here. All divers and snorkelers must display their entrance fee BCD tag (for divers) or wristband (for snorkelers) which is issued to all passengers prior to jumping in. People who are not certified to dive are able to experience the Kittiwake through our PADI Discover Scuba Diving program. Deep Blue Divers is proud to be one of the few dive operators licensed to use Grand Cayman's newest water sports attraction, the USS Kittiwake, which opened January 6th 2011. The ship is a few hundred metres off the beach and dive operators offer tourists the chance to dive through the ruins. Our most popular dive is at the Kittiwake. Whether you have dived the Kittiwake before or want to make your first ever wreck dive, the new angle is guaranteed to deliver an outstanding experience. To experience the USS Kittiwake you do not need any special training. This is a ex-US Navy vessel that was purposely sunk off of Seven Mile Beach for our island to dive at. Although Nate was a good distance away from the Cayman Islands, the storm surge was so powerful it managed to shift the retired naval vessel to where it currently lies. We ask that if you see a non-licenced vessel/individual at the Kittiwake you report it to the Cayman Islands Tourism Association (CITA): (345) 949 8522 or Kittiwake@cita.ky . Over the weekend, it was discovered that due to heavy waves and currents, one of Cayman’s beloved dive sites, The Kittiwake artificial wreck and reef was turned on its p ort side and shifted from its resting place. Learn more. The fascinating story of this 251’ vessel continues to evolve. No detail has been over looked to guarantee a perfect dive charter. Ocean Frontiers Dive Shop Kittiwake is well worth the dive. Sitting in just 60ft of water, the Kittiwake shipwreck is one of Cayman’s most impressive dive sites. Not only is the ship itself fascinating, as an artificial reef it is teeming with fish. In the 1950's she was stationed in the Atlantic and served "silent service" ships. Retail Dive Shops Divers Supply. The bridge personnel saw the submarine approaching and ordered an increase in speed to avoid the collision. Scuba Divers and snorkelers are given yellow plastic tokens to carry as tickets to dive the Kittiwake. Dive Operators There are tons of dive operators and snorkeling tours that will take you to the Kittiwake Wreck in Grand Cayman. Prepare to be blown away! One notable example was when Kittiwake assisted the USS George Washington during the first successful firing of a Polaris missile … With year round diving conditions, this site is … Voted top dive operator in Grand Cayman, Deep Blue Divers has over 75 years combined underwater experience. Guide to the Kittiwake wreck in Grand Cayman - a great dive and snorkelling located on the West side of the island between Seven Mile Beach and West Bay. The cost of the fee is $8.00 for Scuba Divers and $4.00 for Snorkelers. PO Box 11369 Deep Blue Divers is one of the best scuba diving and scuba certification establishments in Grand Cayman. Designed as a submarine supply ship, the USS Kittiwake was built in Savannah, Georgia, USA. In some instances, the ship would act as a running target or recover practice torpedoes and mines. According to the Kittiwake's website, these operators will do a 2 tank dive in the am. Only licensed operators are allowed to enter, and fees go towards maintaining and protecting the wreck. In July 2010 she was sunk off the west coast of Grand Cayman and became an artificial reef. Construction and commissioning. Participate in over 500 dive topic forums and browse from over 5,500,000 posts. This 251 foot long, ex-submarine rescue vessel is perfect for divers of all skill levels. Visibility was about 90 ft and the coral was incredible. Given its proximity to the surface, the Kittiwake makes a great snorkel site too. Come explore this simple and safe wreck guided by the Deep Blue team! Since 2000, ScubaBoard has been the place to go for internet based discussions related to all things Scuba. George Town, Grand Cayman On the day of the dive Larson checked in with local dive operator Divetech, who had been instrumental in the acquisition and sinking of the Kittiwake. See more ideas about Cayman, Cayman islands, Grand cayman. Tel; (345) 916 1293 The Kittiwake is situated in marine park that is protected under law in Cayman, with no touching or taking of anything, no gloves allowed and no fishing allowed on the wreck/Kittiwake site. You can swim in and out of a lot of the the wreck safely without needing technical diving skills or equipment. Also, I wanted to show the Kittiwake as a great wreck dive for beginner scuba divers. KY1-1008, 245 N Church St Why was Scuba Diving the Kittiwake on my bucket list? The first dive will be a guided dive on the wreck of the Kittiwake, which is then followed by a second dive to a shallow reef or top of the wall site. Communicate privately with other divers from around the world. SCUBA Diving. All scuba divers visiting the Kittiwake are required to wear the medallion on their BCD and all dive vessels are required to be licensed. With such perfect conditions, she’s an ideal location for snorkelers, people diving for the first time and of course those that are fully certified. Assigned to support and … More than 30 dive operators are doing business throughout Grand Cayman, offering everything from an introductory resort course to technical diving courses and instructor training, as well as trips to the Kittiwake. What's Included: Boat Trip, Air Tank, Guide, Towel, Drinking Water, Lead Weights, Belt, 1st Rate Dive Operator. Divetech offer one and two-tank trips out to the Kittiwake on different days throughout the week. The association is advising scuba dive operators to ensure their staff dive the site first, without customers, to get used to the new layout before guiding visitors. The first dive will be a guided dive on the wreck of the Kittiwake, which is then followed by a second dive to a shallow reef or top of the wall site. Once used as an old submarine rescue ship, it was purposefully sunk in 2011 and is now home to an abundance of marine life. This is a great dive operator, highly recommended. We prefer to visit the ship in the afternoon when the area is not so busy and the sun is directly overhead providing the best natural visibility and conditions for photography. Let our trainer, experienced and friendly crew take you on an unforgettable private drive charter. The USS Kittiwake is Grand Cayman’s most impressive wreck and is often regarded as a “must do” for divers and snorkelers visiting the island. We have custom design these vessels to be the perfect dive platform for you. Support Divetech by buying photo prints! tel: (345) 916 1293 ... the USS Kittiwake, or world-famous dive site Stingray City! The Kittiwake can now be found on its side at the top of the world famous underwater wall that surrounds Grand Cayman. She was tugged to the west side of Grand Cayman and sunk to serve as an artificial reef and the final dive site featured in Cayman’s Dive 365 Initiative. Following 50 years of active service in the US navy as a submarine support vessel, the Kittiwake was sunk near Seven Mile Beach to make an artificial reef and playground for divers. The Kittiwake is situated in a Marine Park that is protected under law in Cayman, with no touching or taking of anything, no gloves allowed and no fishing allowed on the wreck/Kittiwake site. These briefings often reference the involvement with the Challenger salvage operation and are sometimes punctuated with a story about how she recovered the black box from the wreckage. She was the first US Navy ship intentionally sunk outside of US waters and throughout her naval service, had a storied career as an Auxiliary Submarine Rescue vessel. The wreck of the USS Kittiwake and the surrounding area is designated a marine wildlife area dedicated for the use of snorkeling and scuba diving. Just recently it was in the spotlight again when hurricane Nate passed by leaving a trail of destruction throughout the Caribbean. I'd prefer Eden Rock or Divers Down, but Divers Down doesn't do 2 tank dives there in the am, and Eden Rock is by request, and they require 4 divers to do the trip. The Kittiwake is a Chanticleer-class submarine rescue ship that served with the 6th Submarine Squadron for 49 years during World War II. The wreck of the USS Kittiwake and the surrounding area is designated a marine wildlife area dedicated for the use of snorkeling and scuba diving. It was an excursion off the Carnival Conquest. Diving at the wreck is open to all levels of dive experience. Both kinds of Kittiwake – the Black-Legged Kittiwake and the Red-Legged Kittiwake - are found in North America, but only the Black-Legged Kittiwake is found in Europe. Being sunk in only 65 feet of water, the top of the bridge and smoke stack will be 20 feet from the surface -- perfect for snorkelers,” commented Easterbrook. People who are not certified to dive are able to experience the Kittiwake through our PADI Discover Scuba Diving program. First, her history. Cayman Islands Jul 24, 2018 - Explore Magnificent Blue Water's board "MARINE • USS Kittiwake, Cayman Island", followed by 534 people on Pinterest. For a list of licenced operators click here. For rates on Kittiwake dives please refer to our general Boat Diving page. Learn more. The Kittiwake can now be found on its side at the top of the world famous underwater wall that surrounds Grand Cayman. The Kittiwake will be an interesting attraction, with lots of rooms such as the recompression chamber, air bank storage, engine room and dive locker for divers and snorkelers to explore. Scuba Divers: US$10.00 / CI$8.00 per day This resulted in the stern of the Kittiwake hitting the Bergall's sonar dome. This is very popular with our guests, since it offers a unique …