Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56
Protected Area
Arrecife de Puerto Morelos
Why dive here
With 177+ marine species recorded in the area - including barracuda, bull sharks, dolphins, eagle rays and nurse sharks - Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 offers some of Cozumel's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-30°C, warmest August, September, October.
The Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 wreck, or Barco Hundido as it's often called, is our favourite wreck in Cozumel. We love how the story of this ship, a former US Navy vessel from WWII, gives it a real sense of history before you even hit the water. Dropping down, you'll feel the cool thermocline at about 15 metres, often meaning great visibility below. The wreck itself sits upright at a maximum depth of 26 metres, meaning a decent bottom time for exploring the superstructure. We always head for the wheelhouse first; it's practically begging for a swim-through, and you'll often find schools of French grunts milling about inside, their silver scales catching the shafts of light. Look out for the resident green razorfish burying themselves in the sand nearby if you get too close. This site is brilliant for divers who appreciate a wreck with character, offering plenty of nooks to poke your head into without being overly challenging. The sheer volume of fish here – from the schooling blue runners to the solitary yellow stingrays on the sand – makes it a captivating dive. It’s also a good spot for spotting eagle rays in season, gliding past in the blue.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Strong currents typical this month (avg 79 cm/s). Good buoyancy control essential.
Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 Wreck History
Year Sunk
2000
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Before settling on the seabed off Puerto Morelos, the C-56 Cadete Juan Escutia had a long and storied career. It was originally commissioned into the US Navy in 1944 as the USS Knave (AM-256), an Admirable-class minesweeper. During World War II, it served diligently on patrol and escort duty in the Atlantic, protecting convoys from the threat of German U-boats. After the war, the vessel was decommissioned and, in 1962, transferred to the Mexican Navy, where it was renamed and served for decades as a patrol boat.
By the late 1990s, the aging ship was retired from service. In a final act of duty, on October 28, 2000, the C-56 was intentionally scuttled in the Puerto Morelos Reef National Park to create a new artificial reef. For five years, it sat perfectly upright until 2005, when Hurricane Wilma's powerful surge broke the ship in two, scattering its pieces across the sand. Today, divers can explore both the bow and stern sections, penetrating the cargo holds and swimming through the wheelhouse while surrounded by schools of fish, barracuda, and the occasional eagle ray.
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Tolok Divers Mexico
Dive with Ruben
Dorado Buceo
Aquanauts
Deportes Acuáticos/Aquatic Sports
Scuba Total
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56
Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56 Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Barco Hundido - Wreck Cadete Juan Escutia C-56, sourced from NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Yucatan Basin - 120 NM ESE of Cozumel, MX (227km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
30°C
85°F · Range: 28.7–32.3°C
Air Temperature
29°C
84°F
Current Speed
78.6 cm/s
Direction: NE (36.7°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.046 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
35.99 PSU
Wave Height
1.1m
6.7s period
Wind Speed
5.5 m/s
10.7 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1010.7 hPa
Visibility
24.1 nmi
Based on 5 years of monitoring data · Data sources: NOAA NDBC + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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