The Titanic , discovered in 1985 deep beneath the ocean off of Newfoundland, is the most iconic shipwreck in the world. The massive luxury liner sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg, but it was well preserved in its freezing resting place on the ocean floor. In 2021, the Oceangate, a state-of-the-art submersible, made it possible to visit the site, but just two years later, everyone aboard the vessel was tragically killed when it imploded deep in the blue, and all the crew members were lost to the sea.
So, for obvious reasons, visiting the ship today is mostly off-limits. But luckily, if you’re a shipwreck enthusiast, there are plenty of other ships in the sea. 1.
Grand Cayman The U.S. Navy launched the USS Kittiwake in 1945 and used it until 1994.
In 2011, it was deliberately sunk off the coast of Grand Cayman to serve as an artificial reef. Today, it’s one of the most famous and largest shipwrecks that’s regularly and easily visited. Located at Seven-Mile Beach in Grand Cayman, it’s a popular wreck to visit either as a snorkeler or a scuba diver.
The 251-foot vessel boasts nearly 500 species of marine life, from garden eels to stingrays, sea turtles, and barracuda. Additionally, according to Ashlea Flowers of the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, the Cayman Islands are home to 240-plus accessible shipwrecks. “A few of the world-famous wrecks include the USS Kittiwake , Oro Verde, and Captain Keith Tibbetts ,” Flowers says.
Read More: Shipwrecks Teem With Un.