Kittiwake 1st dive

Credit: Sean Crothers

After an epic seven years in the making, the Kittiwake, the former US submarine rescue vessel, has finally made it to her new home: The seabed off Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman where she has become the newest artificial reef in the Caribbean.

Yesterday, the USS Kittiwake met her final resting place in the warm, clear water off Grand Cayman. Cathy Church was immediately in the water as well as a few others to catch the first images, but still and video. Make sure to see our You Tube video below or go to our Facebook site to see more!

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Kittiwake
• 1st
• dive

[zephcruze]

@jgoodstein - not wanting to start a you tube comment battles but that is definitely a mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis). the black spot on the side is always present on mutton snapper and the body is much deeper, the anal fin has a pronounced point to it as well. mahogany snappers (Lutjanus mahogani) have larger eyes more slender bodies and the tail has a very prominent red margin. i have a marine biology degree and taught divers to do reef surveys in the bahamas in 2009.

[jgoodstein]

@zephcruze Could be a Mahogany Snapper as well, I don't see teh blue around the eye that usually identifies a mutton snapper.

[PotatoMichael]

I'm familiar with seven mile beach. How far from shore is the site? Where exactly, off seven mile beach is it located? Can you swim from shore to snokel at the site? Thanks much

[zbuddha2001]

As an American, I am proud of this happening! It is good for marine life when there is stormy weather. It will protect the small fish and wildlife. It will be a home for crabs and lobsters. It will blend with nature and like the other ships that sunk in the Cayman Islands, it will grow coral and spongy that will feed the fish and maintain oceanic food chain. You bet your dollar - you will see me in the Cayman Islands this summer!

[bonna2100]

Great u/w footage! I was right there with you. Do ya you spose the fish are saying to each other, "Hey mon, take a look at dis ting ere!"

[zephcruze]

cant believe how quickly the southern stingrays came in to check her out !!

[zephcruze]

@requin1966

its a mutton snapper, Lutjanus analis - pretty common in the area :)

[requin1966]

What is that second silver fish (with the black dot) in the video? I saw one recently but it's not in my Caribbean fish book.

[pogiguy05]

Also most people who are just tourist type divers are probably only certified to dive 60fsw. I bet they did this in about that range of depth so it was open to everyone.

[pogiguy05]

OH crap there a no trespassing sign??