I saw a picture in a magazine recently of the C-52 wreck in Cozumel.It looks like an interesting dive. Can anyone tell me about it and how deep it is ?Do the charters go out to it ?
C-52 Wreck
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jlyle
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C-53 Felipe Xicotencatl is in about 75 feet of water near Chancanaab Reef. Any of the dive operators can take you there. It's a neat dive. The boat's been down long enough to attract a lot of fish life.
I just did the C-53 wreck dive at the end of October and it was great. The operator that took us was Del Mar Aquatics. We did it as our 3rd dive of the day in the afternoon after two morning dives. Went to 79 feet. It was my first wreck dive. You will want a good divemaster to lead you. There were no ropes/lines to lead you. We penetrated the wreck and went from the galley, engine room, head and many other rooms in the ship. Several holes are cut in the wreck to help with lighting and exits. It was very interesting and many in our group thought it was the highlight of our trip. There were several first time wreck divers in our group and all felt very comfortable. You should take a dive light as it does get dark inside several rooms. (take a camera too). You should have good buoyancy control to do it. There was some swift current outside the wreck and while doing the safety stop. We actually held on to a safety line from the dive boat at the end of the dive due to the strong current.
Looking forward to it. Going down in Jan.
JohnF
Guest
For those of you whose families insist on the creature comforts of nearby Cancun for holidaying, there are two sister ships of the C-52 just off Punta Cancun. These are regular stops for the dive ops now and make nice dives. Depths are about the same, in the 75' range. Best dived by dropping up-current and drifting down onto the wreck. A good captain will be able to hit it for you so you don't have to do any hard swimming. I have some photos on my website from 2001.
JohnF
What website is that.
R_Deluca
Contributor
Looking forward o diving this wreck in Jan.!
Safe Diving!
Safe Diving!
JohnF
Guest
http://www3.sympatico.ca/johnfrancis/cavern2001.htm
One of the DM's (the diver sitting on the toilet) from our resort was experimenting with a new camera and asked me to join him on his day off to visit the newly sunk minesweeper. He'd even scammed a 6-pack from the competition for the two of us. I guess it sometimes pays off to tip the dm's. As for the pics, the scans aren't great. I should go back and rescan them. Mebbe I've learned a little bit in the last 3 years. 8)
JohnF
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The Felipe Xicotencatl, or C-53, was built in Florida in 1944, donated to Mexico by the US in 1962 & retired from service in 1999, having variously served as a minesweeper, anti-drug patrol boat, search and rescue ship, troop transport & Mexican Naval Academy cadet training craft.
She was sunk on June 6, 2000 just outside of Balones de Chankanaab, on a sandy plain between Tormentos & Chankanaab. As such, don't expect to dive anything other than the wreck--the immediate environs are strictly featureless sand flats. All dive ops make regular trips. It could be done as a shore dive from Chankanaab Park under the proper conditions, hitting the Balones de Chankanaab on the way out, but would be a very healthy swim with scant to see in transit. No special certification is needed for this dive, although it most definitely is an overhead environment & the inexperienced diver should understand what this means & be comfortable with it.
Marked by a highly visible buoy, the vessel is 184 feet long & 33 feet wide, and consists of 4 decks. The sinking job by the Mexican Navy & wreck experts was quite remarkable in that it rests almost perfectly upright & flat with the bow facing SSE & stern NNW. According to my depth gauge, the superstructure starts at 26', the main deck at 54' & the bottom, which is secured to prevent movement in storms, is at 78'. The craft is intact as sunk with the exception of one rudder which is now about 25' to the stern.
While the wreck is not especially tight inside if you follow the marked route, it is snug at points & of course buoyancy control throughout is a must. There are large plates removed from the sides at regular intervals, which usually provides ample light & a ready escape route. Do be aware, however, that the edges of removed areas are sharp in spots, and there are opportunities to snag/impale yourself on main deck & superstructure features, so best not to go bolting about. Some hydroids & small anemones are taking hold, another reason to watch what you are contacting. The primary route through the boat is marked with penetration line & the occasional tag, and these are easy to follow. There are possible side trips, but I'd suggest you skip them unless wreck experienced. Do take a light if possible.
A good approach is to drop in behind the stern & take in the two massive screws, then raise to the aft most hold & enter through the main deck. The entry is a bit snug, so make sure you don't have a case of the "danglies." Simply follow the line to the fore, which later reverses and takes you back to the aft for exit. There is no need to hurry the dive, as any normal diver will have plenty of bottom time for a leisurely tour of the innards, which include holds & cabins, and exterior.
Not to in anyway discourage divers from doing this enjoyable site, but rather to prepare them, IMHO the wreck currently is a somewhat nasty appearing affair. The first layer of surface growth is well underway and is of the expected green algae, presenting a dirty & scummy mien. That a number of unspeakably boorish divers have written their names/initials in this doesn't make it anymore fetching. The algae has also attracted animal life of somewhat more substantial cortical endowment, such as piles of small, drab snails which look like animal droppings until one gets closer. Finally, the overall atmosphere is not enhanced by heavily peeling paint, gray linoleum tiles starting to detach from the floors & the odd bit of unremoved insulation hanging from the ceiling. I did not observe any traces of petroleum residue, although I understand from contacts there was some present at the time of sinking.
On a brighter note, I did observe a modest sized Nassau Grouper at the stern who apparently likes to take up position in the crow's nest, a couple of modest sized Great Barracuda just below the surface exercising their notorious curiosity, small schools of Glassy Sweepers and Silversides holding forth inside, and a variety of juvenile tropicals. There is every reason to expect that the wreck will continue to encrust & draw fish life, and be quite a nice piece someday.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
She was sunk on June 6, 2000 just outside of Balones de Chankanaab, on a sandy plain between Tormentos & Chankanaab. As such, don't expect to dive anything other than the wreck--the immediate environs are strictly featureless sand flats. All dive ops make regular trips. It could be done as a shore dive from Chankanaab Park under the proper conditions, hitting the Balones de Chankanaab on the way out, but would be a very healthy swim with scant to see in transit. No special certification is needed for this dive, although it most definitely is an overhead environment & the inexperienced diver should understand what this means & be comfortable with it.
Marked by a highly visible buoy, the vessel is 184 feet long & 33 feet wide, and consists of 4 decks. The sinking job by the Mexican Navy & wreck experts was quite remarkable in that it rests almost perfectly upright & flat with the bow facing SSE & stern NNW. According to my depth gauge, the superstructure starts at 26', the main deck at 54' & the bottom, which is secured to prevent movement in storms, is at 78'. The craft is intact as sunk with the exception of one rudder which is now about 25' to the stern.
While the wreck is not especially tight inside if you follow the marked route, it is snug at points & of course buoyancy control throughout is a must. There are large plates removed from the sides at regular intervals, which usually provides ample light & a ready escape route. Do be aware, however, that the edges of removed areas are sharp in spots, and there are opportunities to snag/impale yourself on main deck & superstructure features, so best not to go bolting about. Some hydroids & small anemones are taking hold, another reason to watch what you are contacting. The primary route through the boat is marked with penetration line & the occasional tag, and these are easy to follow. There are possible side trips, but I'd suggest you skip them unless wreck experienced. Do take a light if possible.
A good approach is to drop in behind the stern & take in the two massive screws, then raise to the aft most hold & enter through the main deck. The entry is a bit snug, so make sure you don't have a case of the "danglies." Simply follow the line to the fore, which later reverses and takes you back to the aft for exit. There is no need to hurry the dive, as any normal diver will have plenty of bottom time for a leisurely tour of the innards, which include holds & cabins, and exterior.
Not to in anyway discourage divers from doing this enjoyable site, but rather to prepare them, IMHO the wreck currently is a somewhat nasty appearing affair. The first layer of surface growth is well underway and is of the expected green algae, presenting a dirty & scummy mien. That a number of unspeakably boorish divers have written their names/initials in this doesn't make it anymore fetching. The algae has also attracted animal life of somewhat more substantial cortical endowment, such as piles of small, drab snails which look like animal droppings until one gets closer. Finally, the overall atmosphere is not enhanced by heavily peeling paint, gray linoleum tiles starting to detach from the floors & the odd bit of unremoved insulation hanging from the ceiling. I did not observe any traces of petroleum residue, although I understand from contacts there was some present at the time of sinking.
On a brighter note, I did observe a modest sized Nassau Grouper at the stern who apparently likes to take up position in the crow's nest, a couple of modest sized Great Barracuda just below the surface exercising their notorious curiosity, small schools of Glassy Sweepers and Silversides holding forth inside, and a variety of juvenile tropicals. There is every reason to expect that the wreck will continue to encrust & draw fish life, and be quite a nice piece someday.
Best regards.
DocVikingo
JohnF
Guest
d33ps1x:
I forgot to ask when you're going. I'll be in Cancun for the first two weeks of January and might do a day trip to Coz again, unless I spend too much time at Akumal.
JohnF
I forgot to ask when you're going. I'll be in Cancun for the first two weeks of January and might do a day trip to Coz again, unless I spend too much time at Akumal.
JohnF
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