C-58 Wreck - Cozumel

The C-58 Wreck, just off Cozumel, is a fantastic dive if you’re into proper exploration. We love how the currents, often a signature here, have kept her clean, revealing the true scale of this former minesweeper. Drop down and you’re immediately enveloped by schools of horse-eye jacks, often swirling so thick around the mast you lose sight of the surface for a moment. Entry is usually a negative descent right onto the deck, which sits split in two, inviting you into the cargo holds. We’d suggest exploring the bow first, where the bridge structure still offers some swim-throughs, before drifting back to the stern. Keep an eye out for green morays tucked into crevices and the occasional eagle ray gliding over the sand nearby. This site suits divers comfortable with a bit of current and keen to really poke around a substantial wreck.

Location
Cozumel, Mexico, North America
Coordinates
21.118408, -86.725260
Type
wreck

Wreck History - C-58 Wreck

Year Sunk
1980
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
scuttled
Tonnage
650 tons

Like its nearby sister ship, the C-58 began its life in the US Navy as the USS Harlequin (AM-365), an Admirable-class minesweeper launched in 1944. It served in the final year of World War II, conducting patrol and minesweeping operations. In 1962, the vessel was sold to Mexico and recommissioned into the Mexican Navy as the ARM General Anaya (C-58), where it patrolled the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean for nearly two decades.

In 1980, the General Anaya was decommissioned and scuttled to create an artificial reef, becoming one of Cozumel's first major wreck diving attractions. For 25 years, it sat perfectly upright and intact. However, in 2005, the immense power of Hurricane Wilma ripped through the area, breaking the ship into three large sections. This dramatic transformation has created an even more exciting dive site. Divers can now explore the separated bow, midsection, and stern, peering into the vessel's exposed interior and swimming through the debris field, which has become a thriving habitat for eagle rays, large groupers, and countless reef fish.

Marine Protected Area: Costa Occ. de I. Mujeres, Pta. Cancún y Pta. Nizuc

Best Time to Dive in Cozumel

The warmest water temperatures in Cozumel occur in September, averaging 29.8°C (up to 32.1°C). The coolest conditions are in February at 26.9°C.

The calmest sea conditions are typically in September with average wave heights of 0.70m. Average current speed: 95.0 cm/s.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 27.2°C (air: 26.2°C)
  • February: 26.9°C (air: 26.4°C)
  • March: 27.0°C (air: 26.5°C)
  • April: 27.5°C (air: 27.4°C)
  • May: 28.4°C (air: 28.2°C)
  • June: 29.0°C (air: 28.8°C)
  • July: 29.4°C (air: 29.4°C)
  • August: 29.6°C (air: 29.5°C)
  • September: 29.8°C (air: 29.5°C)
  • October: 29.6°C (air: 29.0°C)
  • November: 28.8°C (air: 27.9°C)
  • December: 27.9°C (air: 26.8°C)

Nearby Dive Sites in Cozumel

Nearest Dive Centres to C-58 Wreck

Marine Life in Cozumel

Home to 181 recorded species including 140 reef fish, 15 hard corals, 9 other, 7 sharks & rays, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 whales & dolphins.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for C-58 Wreck

Based on average water temperature of 28.4°C, visibility 23 nmi, currents 87 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 28°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins (stiff blade recommended for strong currents)
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories