Dive· Cancún· Mexico
C-58 General Anaya Wreck (Cancún)
21° 7.8′ N · 86° 44.1′ W · approximate
A WWII US Navy minesweeper (USS Harlequin, AM-365) that served the Mexican Navy for decades before being scuttled off Cancún in May 2000 as an artificial reef. Hurricanes Ivan (2004) and Wilma (2005) broke her in two, opening the boilers and interior; in winter, schools of spotted eagle rays pass through.
Practical
Coordinate is approximate and is NOT the wreck position: no published coordinate was found. It is a representative offshore point east of the Cancún hotel zone. Operators describe the wreck as about 40 minutes by boat from Isla Mujeres or Cancún. Depth 26 m (85 ft) on the sand; usually done as a drift dive, often with no descent line, so the group descends together in current. Advanced Open Water (and wreck training for penetration) recommended; minimum age 15 with Scuba Total and Taste of Isla. Visibility about 20 m (65 ft); water 26-28°C. Eagle-ray season late November to February/March. Taste of Isla listed a two-tank deep wreck drift at US$129 (listing - verify). One source dates the sinking to the 1980s; most say May 2000.
Best for
Wreck drift dive with eagle rays in winter
Season
Eagle rays late Nov–Feb
Nearby
- C-55 Juan de la Barrera Wreck (Cancún)0.6 NM away
- Costa Occidental de Isla Mujeres, Punta Cancún y Punta Nizuc National Park3.3 NM away
- Cancún Hotel Zone Lagoon (Nichupté)3.8 NM away
- Manchones Reef4.3 NM away
- Punta Sur Turtle Drift Dive (Isla Mujeres)4.3 NM away
- MUSA Underwater Museum4.4 NM away
- Punta Sur and Ixchel Temple (Isla Mujeres)4.5 NM away
- Garrafón Reef4.6 NM away