BonnierWatersports. The Cayman Islands Tourism Association ( CITA ) is pleased to confirm that the ex- USS Kittiwake , a US Naval Submarine Rescue Ship ( ASR -13), which has been a work in progress for over seven years is going to be sunk this July. To join us in giving the old girl a big underwater anniversary kiss, give us a call on 946-5658 or shoot us a message at info@divetech.com . Kittiwake is well worth the dive. The Kittiwake is a large vessel measuring 251 feet long, hosting 5 decks, and weighing 2200 tons. In this photo released by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, divers watch the sinking of the USS Kittiwake, a 1945-vintage submarine rescue ship, off the Cayman Islands, Wednesday Jan. 5, 2011. The location for sinking the Kittiwake is at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach, on the West or lee side of Grand Cayman. She sits in ~60 feet of water. Its keel was laid down, January 5, 1945, at the Savannah Machinery and Foundry, Company shipyard in Savannah, GA. She was decommissioned September 30, 1994 and struck from the Naval Register September 30, 199 Decommissioned in 1994, the Kittiwake was sunk early in 2011 as an artificial reef just off the island of Grand Cayman in the Caribbean Sea. The sinking ceremony on the 5 th is expected to draw huge crowds and be covered by the media fully. Not just SCUBA, but snorkeling and skin diving as well! She was cleaned and made safe for divers in Virginia. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Your Privacy Controls. Prior to Sinking, significant portions of the Kittiwake were removed to make her safe in her new environment. Though not a warship - in comparison to most modern corvettes and other such vessels the Kittiwake certainly ranks as good sized. Find out more about how we use your information in our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Wreck of USS Scorpion (SSN-589) View of the sunken submarine’s sail, probably taken when Scorpion was located by USNS Mizar (T-AGOR-11) in October 1968, on the Atlantic Ocean floor 10,000 feet deep, some 400 miles southwest of the Azores. Description . Feb 4, 2014 - Pictures of just before the sinking of the USS Kittiwake. Plans called for the USS Kittiwake, a 1945-vintage submarine rescue ship, to rest on a sandy bottom off Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach. Contractors flooded the decommissioned U.S. Navy ship to sink it in the waters off the Cayman Islands where officials hope the vessel will attract tourists and fish. The USS Kittiwake was in service from 1945 to 1994 and was a United States Navy Chanticleer-class submarine rescue vessel. 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. Kittiwake The ex-USS Kittiwake was a Submarine Rescue vessel (ASR-13). In 2009, the ship was donated to the Cayman Islands for the purpose of being sunk as an artificial reef. The Cayman Islands Tourism Association has elaborate plans to convert the wreck into a private park and attraction named the “Kittiwake Shipwreck Park” that is managed by Tourism Association where Scuba Divers will be expected to pay an entry fee of $10 per visit/dive and snorkelers $5 per visit and will be issued a BCD tag or wristband for snorkelers. The Kittiwake is magical and mystical, she is soaking in the heritage of. In preparation for sinking the Kittiwake was cleaned of all chemicals and oils to insure that no pollutants could harm the nearby coral reefs, and had most of her internal fixtures removed to make the vessel as diver friendly as possible. The 47-foot-tall (14-meter) ship will be at a depth of 62 feet (19 meters), so the top deck should be close to the Caribbean Sea's surface, making it easily accessible for snorkelers and divers. After almost 50 years of active surface in the US Navy, the USS Kittiwake was decommissioned from the Navy. Sinking the Kittiwake. There is good news on the horizon for the USS Kittiwake sinking project. Kittiwake was decommissioned on 30 September 1994 was transferred in November 2008 for an undisclosed amount to the government of the Cayman Islands who intended to sink this 251 ft (76.61 m) vessel to serve as an artificial reef off Seven Mile Beach, Grand … The 47-foot-tall (14-meter) ship will be at a depth of 62 feet (19 meters), so the top deck should be close to the Caribbean Sea's surface, making it easily accessible for snorkelers and divers. Since her sinking five years ago, a great number of divers have explored the Kittiwake Wreck, one of Grand Cayman’s hottest dive sites, but none with the personal connection of Kelly Stuart who dove the wreck in December. - kittiwake ship stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images. Adult Stock Photo. Browse more videos. One of the most plausible theories about the sinking of Scorpion is that of a Training. There'll be barnacle cake all round and sea shanties sang in her honour. Blog. But on January 5, 2011, the USS Kittiwake (ASR-13), a chanticleer-class submarine rescue vessel that was launched on July 10, 1945 and decommissioned on September 30, 1994, began the next phase of her long and distinguished career as an artificial reef off the northern end of Seven Mile Beach on Grand Cayman Island. She was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register on September 30, 1994 . In service from 1945 to 1994, the ship’s most memorable duty was the diligent recovery of the Challenger Space Shuttle. In this photo released by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, divers watch the sinking of the USS Kittiwake, a 1945-vintage submarine rescue ship, off the Cayman Islands, Wednesday Jan. 5. The primary mission of the Kittiwake was to rescue sailors from downed submarines. Kittiwake Sinking – She Landed Straight Up! USS Kittiwake wreck is a very large dive site and actually has several dives per day to offer. In this case a sea-horse. USS Kittiwake. Before her sinking, several holes and entry points were carefully cut into the ship's hull to allow for ease of entry, exit and navigation. It was launched on July 10, 1945 and commissioned as the USS Kittiwake (ASR-013). The Sinking Of Uss Kittiwake, Grand Cayman by Amanda Nicholls canvas art print arrives ready to hang, with hanging accessories included and no additional framing required. Since the postponement of this amazing event in July the Kittiwake sinking committee have been working tirelessly to move forward with this much need and exciting artificial reef project. The USS Kittiwake, a 1945-vintage submarine rescue ship, now rests on the seabed 62-feet underwater off Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach. back to top go to the end of the page back to top go to the end of the page To find out more about the scheduled sinking of the Kitiwake visit http://www.kittiwakecayman.com/, images from US Navy Archives & flickr by Willamor Media. We welcome everyone, from the … In this photo gallery, watch the ex-USS Kittiwake sink off the coast of Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands Government were given her in July 2009. The steep angle of the wreck is a little odd, but we were able to see the screw, the The ship is still pretty much intact, sitting on its keel with the top part reaching shallow water. Let’s dive deeper into the history of this iconic shipwreck. Plans called for the USS Kittiwake, a 1945-vintage submarine rescue ship, to rest on a sandy bottom off Grand Cayman's Seven Mile Beach. One of the best dive areas the USS Kittiwake has is the upper deck of the ship where divers can look inside of the bridge and the mast where there is the most fish life. The Tourism association has already printed out wreck dive slates providing visitors with detailed information about the wreck available for purchase from a Licensed Kittiwake Dive Operator. Orland … There is good news on the horizon for the USS Kittiwake sinking project. The Kittiwake was sunk in 2011 Cayman’s on the west side just off Seven Mile Beach, at latitude 19 21.714’N – Longitude 081 24.073′W. Photography. Diving The Kittiwake In Grand Cayman. Cayman Islands: Kittiwake Wreck Grand Cayman. There is no touching or taking of anything, no gloves and no fishing allowed on the wreck/Kittiwake site. In service from 1945 to 1994, the ship’s most memorable duty was the diligent recovery of the Challenger Space Shuttle. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Hotels near Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef: (0.39 mi) 4-Bedroom Private, Modern Family Bungalow on Seven Mile (0.54 mi) Aqua Bay Club Condos (0.59 mi) Discovery Point Club (0.50 mi) Silver Sands (0.64 mi) Christopher Columbus Condos; View all hotels near Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef … She was decommissioned and struck from the Naval Register on September 30, 1994 . The Kittiwake has a max depth of 65 ft deep with the top of the wreck in around 15ft. SportDiver. ScubaDiving. The Cayman Islands Tourism Association ( CITA ) is pleased to confirm that the ex- USS Kittiwake , a US Naval Submarine Rescue Ship ( ASR -13), which has been a work in progress for over seven years is going to be sunk this July. Since the postponement of this amazing event in July the Kittiwake sinking committee have been working tirelessly to move forward with this much need and exciting artificial reef project. Art. On Sunday local and international divers broke the news about the USS Kittiwake, which has fallen onto its port side and drifted towards the reef, where divers believe parts of the shipwreck have been crashing against the natural reef. Contact us. It's unusual because there is almost no silt. 206 votes, 15 comments. Over the years, the underwater wreck has blossomed into a beautiful and dynamic environment for marine life. The historic Ex-USS Kittiwake has been on the ocean floor since it’s sinking in January of 2011. It's double digits! USS Kittiwake (ASR-13) USS Kittiwake (ASR-13) History; Namesake: The kittiwake, any of several gulls of the genus Rissa, found along the coast of North America: Launched: 10 July 1945: Sponsored by: Mrs. Howard S. Rue, Jr. KITTIWAKE was subsequently towed down the James River to Norfolk, Va., to be cleaned and prepared for sinking. 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