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I have actually being doing some research just this morning, and have only found two US Warships that had twin screws that were sold to Mexico after WWII. Both are destroyers, and indeed sister ships of the Fletcher Class. They are the DD573, the USS Harrison, and the DD574, the USS John Rodgers. Both were built, along with the 173 others between 1941 and 1943. The Fletcher class Destroyers saw action everywhere, and sustained heavy losses in the Pacific theatre. Of the two mentioned above, the John Rodgers sadly is now laying derelict alongside some pier in Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico. I would LOVE to be able to bring her here and sink her as an artificial reef, guns and all!!
The ship then that I believe this wreck to be is, or rather was, the USS Harrison. She was loaned to the Mexican Navy on May 1st 1968, and commissioned into service that same day as the BAM Cuauhtemoc (E-01). The name Cuauhtemoc was in honour of the last Aztec Emperor of Mexico. She was then used as a fast patrol vessel ranging from Endenada down to Cabo SL and up into the Sea of Cortez. She was stricken (taken off the books) of the US Navy and sold to Mexico formally on 19th August 1970. She was finally decommissioned by the Mexican Government in 1982.
I could be wrong about this wreck, but everything I have read this morning leads to her ID. The length is about correct, as is her beam. The round bridge and the more angular pilot house were destinctive features of the Fletcher class. Her twin screws match also. I need more dives on her, and to take some form of measuring device down with me, a slate, pencil and a camera, or two. Not too mention a couple of tanks and a dive computer. However, no matter her name, or her origin, her fate placed her on the bottom in divable depths, and she has become the home of so much in the way of marine life. I thank the Mexican Government for the foresight in placing her where she lies.
I do have other info on the USS Harrison should anyone be interested, but nothing on her time in Mexican hands. Maybe that’s for the future…
Yesterday, Thursday May 20th, I was in my office, and I was conducting two wreck dives on a pre WWII US Warship that was sold to the Mexican Government (name unknown) not far from here.
This warship was sunk as an artificial reef by the Mexican authorities about eight to ten years ago. Sadly they removed the guns, but opened up the ship to divers by cutting penetration holes all around the ship. Magic!! Whatever she is called, she looks glorious in her new colours of black coral, encrusting sponges of all colours, that literally festoon the ship.
She is twin screwed, and twin ruddered, all of which are still in position, and offer so much in the way of photography. She is about 11m/36ft to the upper decking, and sits upright on the sand at a depth of 23m/76ft. So this beautiful wreck is for every diver, including juniors of a young age.
The viz was about 18-20m/60-66ft, the water warm, with so much in the way of marine life. Huge File Fish, Cortez Angels, free swimming and hidden Morays, fair sized to large Grouper. The list is too long to mention. Between dives we went off to a nearby island, and had our lunch/surface interval. There, there is a bay that comes straight ouf a Jamaican travel brochure. Just beautiful!!
Then it was back to the wreck for the second dive, which was equally glorious to say the least. On the return to shore, and after off loading the dive gear, tanks, BCD’s etc, just as I was about to wave the boat off, there it was, some kilometer (3/4 mile) offshore, a large black roundish fin. I did a double take, got …
We all scrambled back into the boat, mask, snorkel and fins in hand and were snorkeling with a 4m/13ft baby whale shark some minutes later. No one, including myself had a underwater camera with them, and so I managed only to get one shot off of this spotted youngster before gently sliding into the water with her.
We had I suppose some 35 to 40 minutes, but it was worth it and the workout that went with it for sure. She represents the first whale shark of the season here, but she is about the 15th or 16th that I have had the sheer utter pleasure of being in the water with over the last six months. Just another day in my office!!
I think that will be the last good dive for myself for about two weeks as I am starting an Instructor Development Course starting this coming Wednesday, May 26th. Then it is out and out teaching for eight days, plus then two days of exams for my Candidates. I wish them all well for their IDC and afterwards in their diving careers!!
 Mapache
About two months ago I was at the vets in Santa Rosalia, and there was this poor bloody raccoon, torn up from what I presume was a dog fight/attack.
It had been brought in by some rancheros who had found it. There was a sign hanging on his very small cage saying that it might bite, and therefore not to touch. Me of course could not resist looking closely, (plus my spanish is not good enough to understand “morder”) – the poor thing was just dazed and confused. He was living, torn up and bottled in a cage, albeit about 3′x2′x2′.
He was still there last month when I was there with a puppy dog who had its leg amputated (after being in a accident). So yesterday, Maria took our ginger female cat to Santa Rosalia to get it spayed, and a few hours later returned with him. Raccoon in Spanish is Mapache – and so that is what we have named him.
The vet has gave him to us as he knows us well and knows that we have a love for all animals. As Mapache can no longer be returned to the wild, he asked us to take him.. The vet has given him a clean bill of health, and will be getting us a permit to keep him legally.
Mapache on the move.
So yesterday I had to redo the mango aviary as it had been damaged in the last flood and Mapache now resides in there. I have still to make him a hide type box to live in, so at this moment he is living in the fork of the tree. I hope to tame him enough to be able to pick him up, but that will take time.
The pictures you see, I took of him while he was still in his cage and I did not know if he was wild or not. Don’t you love his mask?
All in all, an unusual pet. Just the way I like things, and I feel I am doing him some good. At least hopefully!
This is a great story of activism and forward thinking on the part of people representing 35 ton mammals! These whales are just 3 hours from Cortez Explorers and we can organize the trips for you. The best viewing time is between January and March each year. A short LAX to Loreto flight will get you into Mulegé by the early afternoon, and you can be inches from these beautiful leviathans.
The full story story can be found on the Oakland Tribune’s web site (http://www.insidebayarea.com/)
 BajaNomad Forums Whenever I am about to head South to Mulegé, I always take time to check Baja Nomad forums (http://forums.bajanomad.com/). The information on road conditions, accommodations and weather can be invaluable. You do not need to subscribe to view the posts and they have nicely segregated the groups into clear sections. The following are ones that I use regularly:
They have other groups as well: Baja Photo Gallery, Baja Travel Companions or Convoys, Baja Political Forum, Baja Restaurant Reviews, Baja Accommodation Reviews and others…
Now, as with all forums, there are a wide spectrum of people sporting their own opinions and agendas. So as usual, you may need to take what you read (especially in the political and review forums) with a pinch of salt. However their factual groups (which I use) – such as road conditions, by people who have just traveled south, are invaluable!
Now, if you are interested in knowing what the fishing is like in any given area, Baja nomads are sometimes helpful, but the definitive site is mexfish – so point your browsers over to http://www.mexfish.com/ -
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