New wreck for Caymans

The 77m-long USS Kittiwake has been put down in just 18m of water off Grand Cayman’s Seven Mile Beach.

Sitting upright, the wreck rises to within about 4m of the surface, making it attractive to snorkellers as well as scuba divers.

The ship entered commission in 1946 and, in a career which lasted for more than 50 years, carried out submarine-related and salvage operations.

Its sport diving visitors will be enjoying a wreck whose crews were kindred spirits. The ship was, says its dedicated website, “very much a diving vessel”.

For the full USS Kittiwake story, including footage of the vessel’s sinking and first dives on it, go to www.kittiwakecayman.com.