Trip Report KITTIWAKE WRECK DIVE!

[Collin O'Brien]

Hello all!
Here is a quick video of the popular Kittiwake wreck dive just off the west coast of Grand Cayman! From its history as a submarine support vessel to the vertigo you feel the first time you enter its hull due to it being on its side, it is quite the experience! If you are comfortable going through the engine room at the bottom, it is highly recommended.
For anyone wondering, I went out with Dive Tech Grand Cayman and could not have had a better time. Great crew and owner!

 

[Dano7175]

Hello all!
Here is a quick video of the popular Kittiwake wreck dive just off the west coast of Grand Cayman! From its history as a submarine support vessel to the vertigo you feel the first time you enter its hull due to it being on its side, it is quite the experience! If you are comfortable going through the engine room at the bottom, it is highly recommended.
For anyone wondering, I went out with Dive Tech Grand Cayman and could not have had a better time. Great crew and owner!

My experience was the opposite and would never recommend Dive Tech. While inside Kittiwake the lead Dive Master got too far ahead of me and subsequently his torch light got dimmer and eventually I was left in utter and complete blackness. Thankfully I didn’t panic and eventually saw one of the escape hatches.

i feel it is absolutely the Dive Masters responsibility to ensure his/her customers are navigating and safely moving thru the Kittiwake. Just writing this pisses me off.

 

[steinbil]

My experience was the opposite and would never recommend Dive Tech. While inside Kittiwake the lead Dive Master got too far ahead of me and subsequently his torch light got dimmer and eventually I was left in utter and complete blackness. Thankfully I didn’t panic and eventually saw one of the escape hatches.

i feel it is absolutely the Dive Masters responsibility to ensure his/her customers are navigating and safely moving thru the Kittiwake. Just writing this pisses me off.

Wait a sec. Are you saying you did a penetration of the wreck, going into an overhead, without even a single light? Talk about a trust-me-dive. Hopefully you have been trained to be responsible for your own safety and not blindly follow a DM into a dangerous situation. If not, your instructor failed you.

Of course, the operator also should not allow or encourage this practice.

 

[Collin O'Brien]

My experience was the opposite and would never recommend Dive Tech. While inside Kittiwake the lead Dive Master got too far ahead of me and subsequently his torch light got dimmer and eventually I was left in utter and complete blackness. Thankfully I didn’t panic and eventually saw one of the escape hatches.

i feel it is absolutely the Dive Masters responsibility to ensure his/her customers are navigating and safely moving thru the Kittiwake. Just writing this pisses me off.

 

[Joneill]

Wait a sec. Are you saying you did a penetration of the wreck, going into an overhead, without even a single light? Talk about a trust-me-dive. Hopefully you have been trained to be responsible for your own safety and not blindly follow a DM into a dangerous situation. If not, your instructor failed you.

Of course, the operator also should not allow or encourage this practice.

I’m a bit puzzled as I’ve done the Kittiwake a few times and, unless you head to the lower decks, you pretty much always can see light and a way out. I’ve not seen an area of complete blackness?

I do agree that the DM should have made sure not to get too far ahead and they should not have taken folks to darker sections (assuming they did) without the right training and should have ensured they had lights!

I also always have 2 lights clipped on my harness on every dive I do (day or night).

 

[Dano7175]

Wait a sec. Are you saying you did a penetration of the wreck, going into an overhead, without even a single light? Talk about a trust-me-dive. Hopefully you have been trained to be responsible for your own safety and not blindly follow a DM into a dangerous situation. If not, your instructor failed you.

Of course, the operator also should not allow or encourage this practice.

 

[Dano7175]

I did not have a torch and was told I didn’t one. It was my 1st wreck dive and assumed the professional dive guide would ensure safety.
I’ve got 10 dives logged and not experienced to know what questions to ask during dive briefing. Ie what to expect from dive guide.

A lot of details I’m leaving out but overall Dive Tech sucked!

 

[Dano7175]

Wait a sec. Are you saying you did a penetration of the wreck, going into an overhead, without even a single light? Talk about a trust-me-dive. Hopefully you have been trained to be responsible for your own safety and not blindly follow a DM into a dangerous situation. If not, your instructor failed you.

Of course, the operator also should not allow or encourage this practice.

We dove with both Ocean Frontier and Dive Tech. Ocean Frontier was thorough, competent, fun and had an experience. For example, I was reaching my dive limit at 108ft (Nitrox) and the dive master scolded me afterwards and rightfully so. My point is he was watching and took corrective action. Dive Tech were a bunch of ass&holes !