COZUMEL 3/18-25/2012

THE FELIPE XICOTENCATL WRECK

Originally built in Tampa at the
Wilson Marine Shipworks in 1944.
Put into service as mine sweeper
for the US Navy as SCUFFLES.
In 1962, sold to the Mexican Navy,
converted to an Admiral Class
gun boat and named &
numbered FELIPE XICOTANCATL C-53.
From 1962 to 1999, patrolled the
Gulf of Mexico & Mexican Caribbean Sea,
serving in rescue missions and
patrolling for illegal arms & drugs.
After 55 years of service,
decommissioned & donated to
Cozumel underwater park.
C-53 was sunk in 1999 in 82'
of water just off shore
from Chankanaab Park
More information available HERE

154' (56.3 mts) long
33' (10.10 mts) wide
40' (12 mts) high
Displacement: 1000 tons

Jerry enters the wreck

The hatch to the engine room

The front of the engine

The engine room floor

Mike exits the wreck

Sheryl goes up the ladder from the engine room

Jerry's next

Out we come again, Mike follows me. We'll go back inside.

Sheryl crosses the bow; very strong current here.

Jerry crawls up the companion way to the bow; strong current.

Mike follows Jerry

Another group of divers.
The dive was well-organized with four divers to a dive master.
We didn't get in each others way,
and the wreck was relatively silt-free due to the strong currents.

The photographer is rarely photographed.

Frank: AVAST THERE, MATEY! TAKE MY PICTURE!

Anim

I switched to video so you could enjoy the virtual experience of a drift dive, Cozumel-style HERE

Anim

Not too sure where we're goin', but have a great view of where we've been HERE!

DIVE AT NIGHT HERE

Anim Anim Anim Anim Anim

*THE FELIPE XICOTENCATL* WRECK**

Originally built in Tampa at the Wilson Marine Shipworks in 1944. Put into service as mine sweeper for the US Navy as SCUFFLES. In 1962, sold to the Mexican Navy, converted to an Admiral Class gun boat and named & numbered FELIPE XICOTANCATL C-53. From 1962 to 1999, patrolled the Gulf of Mexico & Mexican Caribbean Sea, serving in rescue missions and patrolling for illegal arms & drugs. After 55 years of service, decommissioned & donated to Cozumel underwater park. C-53 was sunk in 1999 in 82' of water just off shore from Chankanaab Park More information available HERE
154' (56.3 mts) long 33' (10.10 mts) wide 40' (12 mts) high Displacement: 1000 tons Jerry enters the wreck The hatch to the engine room The front of the engine The engine room floor Mike exits the wreck Sheryl goes up the ladder from the engine room Jerry's next
Out we come again, Mike follows me. We'll go back inside.
Sheryl crosses the bow; very strong current here. Jerry crawls up the companion way to the bow; strong current.
Mike follows Jerry
Another group of divers. The dive was well-organized with four divers to a dive master. We didn't get in each others way, and the wreck was relatively silt-free due to the strong currents.
The photographer is rarely photographed.

Frank: AVAST THERE, MATEY! TAKE MY PICTURE!
I switched to video so you could enjoy the virtual experience of a drift dive, Cozumel-style HERE Not too sure where we're goin', but have a great view of where we've been HERE!