Cortez Explorers - A PADI 5 Star IDC Center » wrecks

Unknown Ship Wreck Named… (We Think)

Mick Chapman — Sun, 30 May 2010 16:51:32 +0000

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…

WWII Wreck Dive with Whale Shark Sightings…

Mick Chapman — Thu, 27 May 2010 16:50:17 +0000

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!!

Where are the wrecks?

mick — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:32:40 +0000

Had a dive today. An Intro. The Three Sisters (which are the 3 wrecks we have off of Playa Burro). However, only one sisters still exists, and that is Hannah’s Wreck, the one I sank last year. Emma’s Wreck, which sank about 5 years ago, is flat and totally broken now, with Thea’s Wreck laying bow first UNDER the stern section of Emma’s Wreck.

Getting ready to Sink Thea's Wreck.

In other words, Thea’s Wreck, the one we sank in July, was uplifted and moved inshore some 25 to 30m by the hurricane. She has also disengaged the hull, (I have no idea where the hull lies) and poked her nose UNDER Emma’s stern section, what’s left of her. She turned 180 to do that. Amazing!!

The only wreck that seemed almost untouched was Hannah’s Wreck, but she has dug deeper into the sand, and the keel is splitting away from the hull. She lays now further over to her port side.

The bloody fishermen have been there also I reckon. There was a significant reduction in the number of fish over 12 inches long, and that included the Cortez Angelfish, of which there were quite a few.

This is Playa Burro, one of the many beautiful beaches along the shores ofBahia Concepcion.

It is still a perfect place to do intro dives – it has a gently sloping sandy bottom and the visibility is usually better than any swimming pool you will find.

We also use the wrecks for PADI Advanced dives as it is a great place to teach navigation and mapping. I will have to get these wrecks re-mapped by my new Divemaster candidate.

I’ll will also have to look around for another boat to sink for sure. Anyone have an old clunker they would like to donate?