Grand Cayman wreck diving - USS Kittiwake

This is a great wreck dive in grand cayman and one of the best in the caribbean The USS Kittiwake was reefed a less than two years ago and the site is maturing very well.  The ship has five decks, is a little over76 meters in length amd 12 meters  in beam and about 50 feet high.  The vessel was designated specifically for submarine rescue and was launched on July 10, 1945 and she was reefed in Grand Cayman in January 2011.

The following is a description of the dive, a little history and information concerning the vessel and an guide of what you can find on the shipwreck.  Review the entire [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/ photo gallery]  on the website and see the internet blogsite entry for the [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/  USS Kittiwake] for supplementary data on the wreck plus a history of the ship.

The Dive:

There are five decks on the [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Wcb0w0RopvI USS Kittiwake]. To meet caymanian requirements for wrecks, a portion of the upper mast was removed. The are two bridges on the upper decks (both an external and internal bridge to allow operations in heavy seas) along with the radio and navigation room. The has also been removed from the ship. The Captain and XO's quarters are also on the upper decks.

On the main deck, from bow to stern, internally you will find a number of different rooms or work areas including the recompresson chambers, the rec room and toolshop. You will also see a large [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000nrOSPnFJRtU a-frame structure] on the stern which rescue divers, along with the diving bell where divers would enter to return to the ship from the ocean and then be placed in the chambers for decompression.

Below the main deck, 2 decks exist that include the crews quarter, medic/hospital station, engine and propulsion rooms,[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000QmV9jUuDJyQ  air bank storage] and compressors, as well as the steering gear, shaft, gyro, ammunition lockers, cold storage and barber shop to name a few areas. While there are now a number of  large[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000evHtkg3GaYQ  access holes] in the sides of the ship, all of the space on the ship was used while in service.

Be sure to lay out your dive well. I would recommend heading to the stern prior to entering into the shipwreck to take photographs around the[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000MlfKl.47lgI  "USS Kittiwake" logo] on the stern and in addition get photographs by the screw (propeller) and rudder.  For Divers that plan on penetrating the wreck, you can then make your way to the top of the ship and go into  the main funnel which is on on the Top Deck.  Should you not plan on penetrating the wreck you may begin your exploration on the deck just above the Propeller.

The main [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000ndu7PcxF.bM funnel entry makes an excellent underwater photograph] and I would suggest taking the photo looking up from the bottom of the funnel to the top of the funnel.  I would suggest silhouetting one of your dive buddies diving down into the wreck.  You can then exit the shaft on the first platform or in the hold.  Note the hold deck does not have any exterior exit points and is not recommended for divers that do not have an advanced certification and prior wreck experience.  On the first platform you can see the Engineering logo in the Motor Room section.  This area is easily accessible and makes for a extremely good underwater photo near the "[http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery-image/USS-Kittiwake-Grand-Cayman/G0000JtpXOPWAQac/I0000Y0UeUwX5JJc Engineering Mural]".  The silt may be heavy here so you must move slowly to prevent clouding up the water.  For advanced divers you may also explore shaft alley as well as the front hold areas of the ship.  For other divers you may check out the various compartments on the first platform and then begin going  up one deck at a time and then finally coming to the Bridge (Pilot House) where you can do you safety stop as it is at about 5 to 6 meters or 15 to 18 feet.

Review photographs of additional [http://stevenwsmeltzer.com/gallery/Shipwrecks/G0000OtMyTETA74I/ shipwrecks] on  http://www.stevenwsmeltzer.com or visit  his [http://blog.stevenwsmeltzer.com/dive-site-reviews-and-listings/dive-sites/scuba-diving-grand-cayman-uss-kittiwake-shipwreck/ blog] for critiques of specific shipwrecks.