Divers headed for the Dominican Republic now have a new shipwreck site to explore with the dedication last month of the Living Museum of the Sea off Catalina Island near Bayahibe.
The museum, which lies in 10 feet of water 70 feet from shore, is the site of the wreck of the Quedagh Merchant ship, abandoned by the pirate Capt. William Kidd in 1699 and discovered three years ago by a team of researchers from Indiana University.
The dedication ceremony took place on May 23, the 310th anniversary of Kidd’s hanging in London for his crimes of piracy.
The protected site now includes underwater and above-water interpretive plaques to guide divers around the Kidd ship as well as to the relics and corals at the other nearby shipwreck sites.
Divers can see the ship remains, including several anchors and dozens of cannons.
Resorts in the Bayahibe hotel zone, including the Viva Wyndham Dominicus Beach and Viva Wyndham Dominicus Palace, offer dive packages to the Living Museum.