US Navy ship sunk to create new diving attraction

Posted by x-treme Odd 7:00 PM

USS Kittiwake, a decommissioned US navy submarine rescue ship, has been intentionally sunk to create a scuba diving attraction.

Now lying on the ocean floor off the Cayman Islands, the 251-foot long, five-deck military ship, will become an artificial reef for divers to enjoy.

Officials say after acquiring the ship they cleaned it before flooding the rusty hull so it would sink upright and then punching holes into the hull and pumped in sea water.

This caused the Kittiwake to sink dramatically in a cascade of bubbles, but don't take our word for it, check out the amazing pictures below.

The ship is now sitting under 60ft of water just off the coast of Grand Cayman Island and is quickly becoming home to curious creatures including stingrays, barracuda and various schools of smaller fish.

It is hoped Kittiwake Cayman will soon become a destination for divers who will be able to snorkel overhead and see the main decks and topography of the ship or explore rooms of the wreck.

A spokesperson for Cayman Islands Tourism Association said: "The Kittiwake is quite at home at her new home with the fishes.

"Day by day she will transform in to a living coral reef and habitat for hundreds if not thousands of reef fish."


Speaking of the project, Premier McKeeva Bush, of the Cayman Islands, added: "The sinking of the ex-U.S.S. Kittiwake represents the single most significant occurrence in a decade for Cayman's dive industry.

"Since the last year, the Ministry and Department of Tourism have been working hand in hand through many processes to ensure the cleaning and safe movement of the vessel to the Cayman Islands."

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