USS Kittiwake Shipwreck - Grand Cayman

The Kittiwake is a total joy of a wreck, truly. Purpose-sunk in 2011, she’s become a fantastic artificial reef, sitting upright in the sand. We love how accessible she is, with multiple entry and exit points cut into the hull, making it a dream for penetration, even for newer wreck divers. You can glide through the engine room, past the galley, and even peer into the recompression chamber. Light streams in everywhere, illuminating schools of Glass-eye Snappers that shimmer like scattered jewels. Our favourite part has to be the bridge. Imagine hovering there, looking out through the windows, as if still commanding the ship. Around the mast and superstructure, the corals are really taking hold now. We've seen some impressive Mustard Hill Coral and Great Star Coral growing, and it’s a constant parade of little reef fish. Look closely for the Peppermint Bass tucked into crevices, or a shy Roughhead Blenny peering from a pipe. For photographers, the sheer amount of natural light makes for incredible wide-angle shots, especially mid-morning when the sun is high. We’d suggest going early if you can; it gets popular, and a clear run through the interior makes all the difference. While the wreck itself is the star, don't forget to check the sandy bottom nearby for a curious Seagrass Eel or a well-camouflaged Conchfish.

Location: Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Caribbean
Coordinates: 19.362076, -81.401350
Type: wreck

Marine Protected Area: West Bay Cemetery - Victoria House (Grand Cayman)

Best Time to Dive in Grand Cayman

The warmest water temperatures in Grand Cayman occur in September, averaging 30.4°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 26.9°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 27.3°C
February: 26.9°C
March: 27.0°C
April: 27.7°C
May: 28.7°C
June: 29.2°C
July: 29.8°C
August: 30.3°C
September: 30.4°C
October: 30.0°C
November: 29.0°C
December: 28.0°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Grand Cayman

Nearest Dive Centres to USS Kittiwake Shipwreck

Atlantis Dive Center
Divers Down - PADI
Divers Supply
Divetech - PADI
Diving Center - SSI, PADI, CMAS, NAUI, FEDAS, ACUC
Don Foster's Dive Cayman, Ltd. - ["PADI"]

Marine Life in Grand Cayman

Home to 332 recorded species including 276 reef fish, 30 hard corals, 5 other, 5 seagrass & algae, 4 whales & dolphins, 4 sharks & rays.

Notable Species

Elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) - Hard Corals
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea siderea) - Hard Corals
Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
Gutong (Scarus iseri) - Reef Fish
Dark Green Parrotfish (Sparisoma viride) - Reef Fish
Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
Gutong (Sparisoma aurofrenatum) - Reef Fish
French grunt (Haemulon flavolineatum) - Reef Fish
Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals
Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
Finger Coral (Porites porites) - Hard Corals
Butterfly (Chaetodon capistratus) - Reef Fish
Schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) - Reef Fish
Grunt (Haemulon plumierii) - Reef Fish
Lettuce Coral (Agaricia agaricites) - Hard Corals
Bluestriped Grunt (Haemulon sciurus) - Reef Fish
Sheephead (Microspathodon chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Sammy Johnson (Scarus taeniopterus) - Reef Fish
Cola (Ocyurus chrysurus) - Reef Fish
Graysby (Cephalopholis cruentata) - Reef Fish

Recommended Packing List for USS Kittiwake Shipwreck

Based on average water temperature of 28.7°C, currents 9 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 29°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories