Page 135 - Mexico Diving From the Caribbean to Pacific Isles
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Felipe Xicontencatl (C-53) Wreck
O riginally built in Tampa at the Wilson easy access into the interiors. The Ship itself is
Marine Shipworks in 1944. Measuring 184 154 feet (56m) long, 33 feet (10m) wide and was
feet long, 33 feet wide and 40 feet high from keel sunk to land perfectly upright resting on the sea-
to the top of the super structure, this ship was bed in 80 feet (24m) of water. The superstructure
put into service as mine sweeper for the US Navy. of the ship rises to 40feet (12m) from the seabed
Popularly known as “The Cozumel Wreck”, the allowing divers to reach the superstructure of the
Felipe Xicotencatl or C-53 is perhaps one of the wreck by descending just 20 feet from the sur-
most popular wrecks and dive site in Mexico. In face. The wreck itself was chained to the sandy
1962 she was decommissioned and sold to the seabed to prevent the wreck from shifting in case
Mexican Navy, and was renamed ARM General of storms or hurricanes. The C-53 is an easy to
Felipe Xicoténcatl (C53) where she patrolled the explore wreck with large openings to penetrate,
Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea serving however the site is known to have the occasional
search and rescue missions and patrolling for strong current, often making it sometimes a
illegal arms and drug trafficking. After 55 years bit challenging to navigate. Still it is known as
of service the ship was finally decommissioned a beginners wreck, and also makes a great dive
in 1999 and donated to the Cozumel underwa- for more experienced wreck divers. The wreck
ter park and sunk in 1999 in 82’ of water to be itself even after 11 years since being sunk has a
turned into an artificial reef . relatively clean exterior possibly owing to the
currents, however has great variety of marine
The C-53 is a perfect Divers wreck, as the ship life and sponges beginning to thrive on it. Large
was scrubbed of all harmful and non biode- schools of barracuda frequent the site, grouper,
gradable material, and large openings were cut eel and a wide variety of other reef fish can also
into the decks, hull and corridors to allow divers be spotted here.
