Stephen Weir articles, editorials and popular social media weir postings

  Cayman Brac   “The Russian Destroyer” Cayman Brac - Reef Divers' crew prepare for a morning dive on the Russian Destroyer Wrecked  - Diver Magazine Feature by Stephen Weir September 2012. Sidebar 3 The Russian destroyer was actually a Russian Patrol Frigate based in Cuba. It was Patrol Vessel 356 until just before her sinking when she was named the Dive Captain Keith Tibbetts Length 330’ Width 42’ Commissioned in 1984 Decommissioned in 1992 Sunk in 1996 Last passenger on ship – Jean Michelle Cousteau Armament – Two 5” deck gun. Reef Divers, Cayman Brac visit the Destroyer almost daily, and occasionally will dive her at night.   The Cayman Aggressor live-aboard usually dives her weekly.   When conditions are right, she can be dove from shore. Reef Divers at Brac Reef Beach Resort Cayman Brac 1-800-594-0843 info@866thebrac.com Full Story: http://stephenweirarticles.blogspot.ca/2012/08/cover-story-diver-magazine-september.html 

The sinking of the MV Keith Tibbetts - The Russian Destroyer Diving Cayman Brac's Historic Russian Destroyer Off the north shore of Cayman Brac, in 1996, while film cameras whirled, Diver Magazine columnist Jean Michel Cousteau rode a decommissioned Cuban/Russian warship 30 metres down to sandy bottom close to shore. One of the world’s first artificial reefs for divers, the well publicized sinking made a worldwide statement about turning weapons of mass-destruction into eco-friendly tourist attractions! The wreck is the only diveable Russian built warship in the Western Hemisphere.    Prior to sinking, the 285 ft long ship (known as number 356) was named the Captain Keith Tibbetts after a local dive operator and businessman.   The name hasn’t stuck too well, more often than not she is called the Russian destroyer even though she is a much smaller Koni II class anti-submarine frigate. 16 years after her sinking underwater journalist Stephen Weir, wearing a mini-under