Grand Cayman Scuba Diving

grand cayman scuba diving

Why The Cayman Islands Sunk A US Navy Vessel

The Cayman Islands have long been associated with a degree of artifice. A tax haven and sometime money laundrette, the financial interest it attracts is all front and little substance. But as a Caribbean island, it has as much sun and sand as any other. It's also a fine location for Scuba Diving holidays and the growth of tropical island tourism. So how to keep things fresh for experienced divers, whilst the number of visitors increases? The local government, diving groups and even environmentalists are behind the recent sinking a decommissioned US ship, the USS kittiwake.

This unusual littering job is all to establish a new wreck to dive at the north end of Seven Mile Beach, off Grand Cayman isle. This will be a very safe site to dive, indeed. The Kittiwake came to rest on a seabed only 19 meters (62 feet) deep, making this far from a Shark Diving level of scuba risk. Because the vessel itself is 14 meters tall (47 feet), the deck is only 5 meters below the surface - and snorkel accessible. For now, divers will be content to explore the bowels of a man-made construct on the ocean floor. But the long term picture is one where the wreck slowly fills with life, an artificial reef with terrific biodiversity and plenty of photo opportunities. Interested sealife has already begun circling the stricken wreck, and they'll soon move in to provide surprises for divers.

The Kittiwake was in service between 1946 and 1994 as a submarine rescue vessel. For the first week, the dive site is off limits as the safety of the hulk has to be ascertained by local contractors. They will be establishing moorling lines on the seabed, as well as removing airpockets and ballast all in the name stability. The Cayman Islands really have the whole tropical island experience down pat, and they're a wonderful alternative too to Maldives diving.

HD Scuba Diving in Grand Cayman