Cayman Islands (Global Adventures): The former U.S. Navy submarine rescue ship USS Kittiwake is set to become the latest addition to the Cayman Islands artificial reef program. After 7 years of planning the Cayman Islands Tourism Association says that the sinking of the 251 feet (77 meter) long ship has been confirmed for July 27, 2010. Divers will be able to visit the wreck two days later after it settles on the seafloor.

Built in Savannah, Georgia, the Kittiwake was commissioned on July 18, 1946. The 1,780 ton vessel accompanied submarines during sea trials and maneuvers to monitor diving operations. She operated along the East Coast all the way up to Greenland and in the Caribbean. Carrying 102 officers and enlisted personal, the USS Kittiwake participated in maneuvers and rescue operations in the Mediterranean and North Seas, and visited ports in Scotland, France and Spain. The boat was decommissioned on September 30, 1994 and struck from the Naval Vessel Register on the same day. The government of the Cayman Islands bought the Kittiwake in November 2008 for an undisclosed amount.

A week of festivities will proceed the sinking of the ship, which will arrive in the Cayman Islands on July 20. Unique artifacts and tickets to be among the first divers or snorkelers to visit the wreck will be auctioned off on July 24 during a gala dinner. For the last time, the Kittiwake can be visited topside on July 26 from 9 am to 2 pm before the planned sinking on July 27 (10 am to 2 pm).

Final preparations to secure the wreck for divers and snorkelers will commence on July 28. After safety inspections, anchors will be set and moorings installed. Professional divers working at dive stores in the Cayman Islands will have a chance to get a guided tour of the former submarine rescue ship later in the day.

If the sinking goes as planned, all divers and snorkelers can start exploring the new artificial reef on July 29. Since the wreck will be operated as a private park managed by the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, divers are required to pay an entry fee of $10 per dive. The fee for snorkelers will be $5, and all boats visiting the site will need a special license. A website dedicated to the Kittiwake is available here.

The undated picture shows the USS Kittiwake at sea. Photo: Tom Langford/Public Domain

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