Kittiwake Receives 2013 Trip Advisor Award of Excellence

• Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef

The Cayman Islands Tourism Association, managers for the Kittiwake Marine Park and dive site, announced that the Kittiwake has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor. Only the top-performing 10 percent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, the Kittiwake attraction had to maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor, and had to have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

The Kittiwake was sunk in Grand Cayman, off West Bay, on 5 January 2013, as an artificial reef. It is part of the newly completed Dive 365 initiative, which identifies 365 dive sites around the Cayman Islands to provide for a new diving experience for every day of the year. Since opening as a dive/snorkel nearly 2 ½ years ago, approximately 40,000 divers and snorkellers have enjoyed exploring the Kittiwake. As an added boon to tourism in Cayman, the Kittiwake has been thoroughly covered by media worldwide and is a very popular site for locals and visitors to Cayman to enjoy.

Renew your Kittiwake license for 2013-14!

It's time to renew your license for the Kittiwake!

The new licensing year for the Kittiwake runs July 1, 2013--June 30, 2014. Those who are interested in uninterrupted access to the Kittiwake can renew their vessel license and/or annual pass at the CITA office beginning June 1, 2013.

  

Annual passes cost CI$25 each; private vessel licenses are CI$50 (includes 2 annual passes and 2 dive slates).

 

The simple process to renew a private vessel involves the following steps:

* complete & sign the renewal paperwork

* pay vessel licensing fees (CI $50 each)

For a NEW private vessel license, the licensing agreement can be downloaded here or completed at the CITA office at 1320 West Bay Road during regular hours, Monday--Friday 9am-4:30pm and Saturdays from 9am-2pm. Please contact CITA at 345-949-8522 with any questions.

Vessel licensing fees, annual pass and one-day passes support the Kittiwake Marine Park, including all maintenance of the site, as well as contribute towards an environmental contingency fund.

CITA and its watersports members appreciate the public's support of the Kittiwake, which continues to be a wonderful addition to the Cayman Islands dive products and Dive 365!

Cayman Islands Completes Dive 365

The Cayman Islands highlighted its unparalleled array of diving locations at the Dive Equipment and Marketing Association's annual trade show with its completed DIVE 365 initiative. Featuring 365 diverse dive spots, Dive 365 opened its final mooring last month, indulging enthusiastic divers in Cayman’s pristine crystal blue waters and spectacular underwater landscape, offering a new experience for each day of the year.

Since launching in 2008, the Dive 365 initiative has highlighted the Cayman Islands’ dedication to providing divers with more opportunities while preserving the precious marine environment. Adding 68 new dive sites around Cayman, the initiative has aimed to alleviate the environmental impact of recreational diving at more popular sites while simultaneously offering divers the opportunity to immerse in Caymanian dive culture, opening up the lesser-known gems for safe public use. The 365 sites offer dives for all skill levels and, with new locations including secret spots of some of the destination’s top dive masters.

The initiative has added several high-profile dive destinations over the years, including the Kittiwake, a former US submarine rescue ship sunk off the shores of Seven Mile Beach. Approaching the second anniversary of its sinking in January 2011, the Kittiwake is now an artificial reef, housing an abundance of spectacular marine life. Other dive attractions include the wreck of the Russian-built Cuban naval frigate 330 ft. M/V Captain Keith Tibbetts off the coast of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman’s legendary Bloody Bay Wall, a plunging coral wall with a sheer drop of more than 6,000 feet.

Ghost Mountain Dive site“Recognised as the birthplace of recreational diving, the Cayman Islands strives to continue to expand and diversify our dive offerings,” Cayman Islands Premier McKeeva Bush says. “As the Caribbean’s premier diving destination, we aim to sustain the environment that draws divers to our unique underwater landscape.”

With 40 dive operators, a unique combination of deep wall and shallow reef diving, and a rich history, as well as year-round 80 degree water temperatures, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism director Shomari Scott says Cayman’s dive program continues to cement the Cayman Islands as the top diving destination in the Caribbean.

“The Cayman Islands is the ultimate destination for divers of all skill levels, providing PADI-certified classes on-island, environmentally conscious dive spots worthy of both professionals and recreational divers, and a dive culture unique to Cayman ” Scott says. “With 365 dive locations to offer, Dive 365 is an example of not only our commitment to providing new and challenging experiences to the dive community, but also our dedication to sustaining the environment crucial to our underwater playground.”

For more information on diving in the Cayman Islands and to plan your dive trip, visit www.cita.ky.

Visting the Kittiwake--It's Not Just For Divers!

Snorkellers can access the bridge and have a moment at the helm.Did you know that the Kittiwake is a great snorkel site, as well as a fabulous dive?

Last weekend, I had the chance to snorkel on the Kittiwake with Red Sail Sports during their Saturday snorkel cruise on board one of their catamarans. Even though the Kittiwake has been a popular tourist attraction since January 2011, this was my first outing to the Kittiwake Marine Park. Having been visited by more than 30,000 visitors since her sinking, I had to see for myself just how great the Kittiwake was for a visit.

Most visitors know that you can dive the Kittiwake, and she is a great dive for those who are interested in wreck diving--or anyone who simply wants to experience one of Cayman's newest sites! But, it seems that many were not aware that the Kittiwake is a great snorkel site, too! In fact, when former sailors of the Kittiwake visit Grand Cayman, they book a snorkel experience. Some of the former sailors tell us that they 'want to touch the Kittiwake one more time.' Snorkelling certainly allows one to do so!

As soon as I jumped off the catamaran and put my head down in the water, I saw a school of jacks swimming in and around the bridge. There were many other fish at various levels of the wreck, including a couple of midnight parrotfish grazing along the top decks.We even saw a couple eagle rays casually gliding by in the distance, serving as a surreal backdrop to the Kittiwake. The top of the Kittiwake is about 15 ft from the surface, making it easily accessible to beginning snorkellers. For those who can dive a bit deeper, the wheelhouse is a popular destination. Make sure you have a friend that can dive down, too, and snap a photograph of you at the helm for a fun memory of your visit!

All too soon, it was time to head back to the catamaran, so I swam the 251 ft length of the Kittiwake to head back to our boat. I reluctantly got on board, waving goodbye to this fun, interesting and easy snorkel site. Maybe I will have to return for a dive to explore her even further, but for now, I know that she is a great site to go for a snorkel!

Red Sail Sports runs a regular 2-stop snorkel trip (includes the Kittiwake) every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The trip is 2 1/2 hours long. Boats depart from the Westin or Grand Cayman Beach Suites. Contact Red Sail Sports for details.

While Red Sail is the only licensed Kittiwake operator to offer dedicated snorkel trips, many other licensed operators will take snorkellers out as well! Click on any of the licensed Kittiwake operators on the right side of this webpage to contact them about dive or snorkel trips to the Kittiwake.

Swim with the jacks that spend a great deal of time in and around the upper areas of the Kittiwake!

Kittiwake Vessel Licensing for 2012-13 Year begins June 1, 2012

Any commercial operator or private vessel owner wishing to license their vessel for the Kittiwake Marine Park for the upcoming licensing year (1 July 2012--30 June 2013) will be able to complete the necessary paperwork beginning 1 June 2012. The simple process involves the following steps:

* complete and sign all pages of the licensing agreement

* provide proof of insurance for the vessel (commercial operators only)

* have current membership with CITA (Cayman Islands Tourism Association; commerical operators only)

* pay vessel licensing fees (commerical vessels: CI $150 for first vessel, CI $75 each additional vessel; private vessels: CI $50 each)

Click here to download the license application for COMMERCIAL VESSELS.

 Click here to download the license application for PRIVATE VESSELS.

All paperwork can be completed at the CITA office at 1320 West Bay Road during regular business hours, which run Monday--Friday 9am-4:30pm and Saturdays from 9am-2pm. If there are any questions about the process, please contact CITA at 345-949-8522.

Vessel licensing fees, annual pass and one-day visit passes help to support the Kittiwake Marine Park, including all maintenance of the site, as well as contribute towards an environmental contingency fund.

CITA and its watersport members appreciate the public's support of the Kittiwake, which had more than 20,000 divers and snorkellers in its first year as a dive/snorkel attraction. It has been covered by media worldwide and is a very popular site for locals and visitors to Cayman to enjoy!