Kittiwake Shipwreck & Artificial Reef

Grand Cayman Travel Guide

"A purposely sunk dive site (2011) that has become an accessible underwater attraction populated by turtles and tropical fish; its shallow, easy access makes it a popular option even for less-experienced divers and snorkelers looking for a unique wreck exploration." - Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila Carley Rojas Avila is a bilingual travel writer, editor, and content marketer. She is an expert on Latin America, the Caribbean, and Cuba, as she lived and worked in four different countries in that region. Carley founded the digital travel publications Loosely Local and Home to Havana. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

23 Best Summer Vacation Ideas for 2025

"Pointed out as an underwater attraction offering eerie, photogenic dive opportunities; included in a list of the destination’s compelling snorkeling and diving experiences." - Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel Lydia Mansel is a writer with more than eight years of experience editing and writing for both brands and online publications—with a particular focus on travel, fashion, and lifestyle. She’s also the founder of the travel site justpacked.com.  Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

"While Grand Cayman’s waters harbor legendary coral reefs, there’s another treasure waiting to be discovered below the surface in a marine park off Seven Mile Beach. About 60 feet downrests the intentionally submerged Kittiwake , a historic U.S. Navy rescue ship renowned for—among other feats—finding the long-sought black box from the space shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. Whether you’re snorkeling above the vessel’s smokestack and main decks or diving into the engine rooms, decompression chambers, captain’s bridge, showers, bathrooms, galley, and crew quarters, the251-foot Kittiwake makes for a surreal outing. Among other denizens, barracuda, garden eels, horse-eye jacks, and the occasional nurse shark await you there."