Augustus
Contributor
In 1948 a small freighter named the Narwhal sank on the rocky point of Ixpalbarco on the east coast of Cozumel. It was carrying a cargo of bananas and likely was salvaged soon after its sinking. Strangely enough this loss led to the discovery of Cozumel as a tourist attraction. The ship’s owner, Carlie Fair came to Cozumel soon after the Narwhal was lost. He was impressed enough with the island to recommend Cozumel to his friend John Humphyrey who was a travel writer with Holiday Magazine. This led to an article in the August 1955 issue of Holiday Magazine and again in May 1958. From this beginning Cozumel found itself placed on the tourist map.
Nowadays the wreck is badly broken apart and there is no intact structure of the ship remaining. The two ships motors can be seen along the water’s edge. You can also see the remains of the rudder off the tip of Ixpalbarco. Various fragments of the hull are scattered around Punta Ixpalbarco in up to twenty feet of water. The propeller and anything of value was quickly salvaged. Still bits of the ship are recognizable when the conditions are calm enough to dive.
