A multitude of private and public sector bodies came together to help the Kittiwake project come to fruition.
These sponsors were hailed at a special anniversary reception at Government House on Wednesday, 4 January, hosted by Cayman Islands Governor Duncan Taylor.
“I can hardly believe it is a year already but it is great to be celebrating,” he said.
Mr. Taylor said as a keen swimmer, he previously had an opportunity to swim over the Kittiwake prior to her shift due to Hurricane Rina.
“It is fantastic to have the attraction here and it is great to have the people that made it happen here to thank [them],” he said.
Momentous occasion
Acting Chief Officer at the Department of Tourism, Leonard Dilbert, said while Premier McKeeva Bush was away on ‘pressing business in Jamaica’ he had sent his good wishes.
He welcomed all sponsors and guests who had travelled from overseas for the ‘momentous occasion.’
“The arrival of the Kittiwake on Christmas Day 2010 marked a proud moment for the Cayman Islands community, particularly those in the dive and water sports sectors,” he said. “It is indeed a fitting end for the Kittiwake that it will spend the remainder of its existence in the pristine waters off Seven Mile Beach becoming an artificial reef and home to marine life.” He added that the project had taken eight long years but that its timing could not have been better in terms of impact on local tourism. He said that TripAdvisor travellers had voted Cayman a top destination, a humbling accolade, said Mr. Dilbert, who noted the first year of the Kittiwake had seen 20,000 visitors, which was double the figure anticipated.
Harry Lalli, president of the Cayman Islands Tourism Association, said the foresight of supporters and Nancy Easterbrook had made a successful dive site, which added diversity to the offering from Cayman.
He reminded guests of the history of the project since its outset and that Cayman was the pilot project for the donation of a ship by the United States to a foreign government for artificial reefing.
“I believe we have shown that with the support of our sponsors and the hard work and dedication of all involved that this is a successful programme,” he said, thanking all for their support.
Astounding cooperations
Project leader Nancy Easterbrook spoke to great response and praised the cooperations between all involved.
“It was pretty astounding,” she said, highlighting the genesis of the project in 2002 and the steps involved in making things come together over the years.
“She was a very strong and determined ship and I guess she didn’t want to be sank so it took quite a while to get her down. That’s understandable as that ship fought all her life to rescue divers, sailors and other ships so she really had it in her to stay afloat.”
Ms. Easterbrook said the project could not have happened without the tremendous support behind the scenes including admin staff, a supportive government, customs, RCIPS, immigration, shipping registry and sponsors, plus those who cleaned the Kittiwake, brought her to Cayman and sunk her.
She said the Department of Environment and Tourism were ‘absolutely stellar’ in making it happen and thanked the water sports operators out there every day taking people out to enjoy the ship. Mrs Easterbrook had a special word of thanks for her husband, Jay, who had been of great personal support during the project.
The invited guests then enjoyed drinks and canapes and shared stories of their own experiences.
Platinum and Gold sponsors received a lifetime medallion and special certificate and Silver and Bronze sponsors were presented with certificates of appreciation.
Platinum Sponsors
Cayman Islands government; Cayman Islands Tourism Association; Maritime Administration
Gold
Dive Training Magazine; Divetech; Sport Diver Magazine; Red Sail Sports; Scuba Diving Magazine; Skin Diver Magazine; Cobalt Coast Dive Resort; Caradonna World Dive Adventures; SSI; Aqualung; PADI; DAN; Aggressor Fleet; Oris Watches; Camana Bay
Silver
Seven Fathoms Rum; Reef Photo & Video; Rogest; Ocean Frontiers; Margaritaville; Sunset House; Divers Down; Christopher Columbus Condos; Marcus Cumber; In Depth Water sports; Altantis Adventures; Bob Soto’s Diving; Cayman Airways; Captain Marvin’s Watersports; SITA
Bronze
Caribbean Marine Service; Caribbean Club; Cayman Luxury Tours; Comfort Suites; Deep Blue Divers; Divers Supply; Guy Harvey Research Institute; Indigo Divers; Lighthouse Point; Living the Dream Divers; Off the Wall Divers; Seasports; Wall to Wall Divers
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