The USS Kittiwake was recently sunk off Seven Mile Beach, adding another intriguing option for lovers of the underwater world. The former submarine-rescue ship came to the climax of its seven-year journey to Grand Cayman, in a joint project by Cayman Islands Tourism Association, the Ministries of Tourism, Finance, Investment and Commerce, the Department of Tourism and private sector sponsors.

The USS Kittiwake, a chanticleer class submarine rescue ship, was built in 1945 and was in service until 1994. The 2290 ton vessel is 251 feet long, a huge vessel that is guaranteed to delight divers.

In order to ensure the USS Kittiwake was safe for Cayman’s water, the submarine underwent a significant process of environmental mitigation, cleaning and inspection by environmental protection agencies both in the United States and Cayman.

The vessel’s sinking adds another tourism element to the islands for divers and snorkellers alike, a final resting place for a distinguished Navy boat that was used in the Cold War and space shuttle recovery. The USS Kittiwake will not only enchant tourists and locals, but also provide refuge for Cayman’s diverse marine life as an artificial reef. It is an opportunity for ecologists to study biodiversity on the new reef and its relationship with surrounding natural reefs.