Retired U.S. Navy Ship to Become Caymans Dive Site

The USS Kittiwake, a decommissioned naval ship, will be sunk in the waters off Grand Cayman next June to create a dive site and artificial reef. The ship will be transferred to the government of the Cayman Islands before the end of the year.

“The ship fits the Cayman Islands’ positioning as a dive destination,” said Charles Clifford, the Cayman Islands’ minister of tourism. “Our seafaring heritage, our interest in presenting varied tourism offerings and our belief in preserving the environment played a role in our decision to acquire this latest diving attraction.”

The USS Kittiwake was built in 1945 and made numerous voyages over the years between the U.S. East Coast, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean to support submarines and conduct rescue missions for the U.S. Navy.