Bajamick - 5-21-2010 at 06:03 PM
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 a second opinion, and then shouted, "Whale shark!! 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/IE and afterwards in their diving careers!!
shari - 5-21-2010 at 06:22 PM
I guess you dont have that "thank god it's friday" feeling...sounds like a pretty great job you have. Juan is gonna want to dive that wreck too.
Excellent news about the whale shark in your barrio...must have been such a thrill and honour to swim with this majestic creature....felicidades amigo
capt. mike - 5-22-2010 at 06:30 AM
great to hear Mick - close to your base, right?
how long the boat ride to the site from the launch?
needs to be my next dive there.
vandenberg - 5-22-2010 at 07:48 AM
Sounds like the minesweeper they sank between Rattlesnake beach and Danzante island.
That island has indeed some beautiful scenic beaches.
That wreck is visible from the surface during one of those very clear water days.
Pacifico - 5-22-2010 at 08:11 AM
Is this site closer to Mulege or Loreto? Thanks....
noproblemo2 - 5-22-2010 at 08:15 AM
Would love to see some pics if you can post them, can just imagine the beauty of it....
Mulegena - 5-22-2010 at 09:54 AM
It was A Killer Day...
I was there, too, but didn't explore the wreck as much as Mick-- a bit low on air. Gosh, I've never seen black coral before; it was all over the
place.
On yer next dive, Cap'n. Mike, I'm on!
Nobody had their underwater cameras (boohoo) but Mick got a pic of the whaleshark as she made her first pass by the boat. I'll see if we can get it
posted.
[Edited on 5-22-2010 by Mulegena]
toneart - 5-22-2010 at 10:00 AM
Sounds great! Glad you got to experience that. 
Bajamick - 5-22-2010 at 12:29 PM
Good afternoon one and all!!
Thanks for the interest shown. I'll try to answer your questions, and then I have some news for you.
Shari, Juan and yourself are welcome anytime.
Capt. Mike and Pacifico; the site is actually a little south of Loreto, out from Puerto Escondido. A ride probably of about ten minutes or less from
the beach. And of course Mike, you are welcome anytime, as are any other interested divers of course.
Noproblemo2; I'll try to get the pic's of the whale shark and the beach up as soon as possible. I just need to be shown how to do it first!! Trust me,
I am far better at diving than being a computer geek!!
Vandenberg; unless there are two warships in the area you mentioned, this wreck is no minesweeper. She is far and away too big, too tall and too
heavy. I would be interested though in when the ship you mention was sunk. If you have knowledge of such, I would truly appreciate the info.
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 Card##as, 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...
vandenberg - 5-22-2010 at 01:17 PM
I do recall an old warship being docked for quite some time at the old pier at Escondido, while the government made up their minds where to scuttle
it. I thought it was a sweeper, but it easily could have been a WW2 destroyer, although it seemed rather small from what my poor memory can recall.
Was indeed scuttled in the area you're mentioning.
Been here for more then 20 years and never had the pleasure encountering a whale shark. Lucky you !!
Skeet/Loreto - 5-22-2010 at 03:58 PM
Bajamick! Thanks for a good report. Most people, even around loreto are not aware of that wreak.
You did a good Job!
Mick have you dove at the ,What I call the "Bottomless Hole"?
It is located on the South West side of Carmen just across from Escon,
I never was much of a Diver of Scuba but went there several times and never saw the Bottom, but lots of Fishlife.
Thanks again
skeet
Bajamick - 5-22-2010 at 09:27 PM
Hi Skeet and good evening!! In many ways I am happy that not too many people know of this ship, whatever her name might be. That way she is denuded of
fish life, or kicked by the fins of careless divers. I shall certainly be back down on her soon, but first I have an IDC starting this Wednesday.
However, my ten year old daughter will be coming over from Europe next month, and I can finally certify her, even with her five yrars of diving
experience!! So I shall take her and her sister down on the wreck for sure. Both girls have wrecks named after them in Burro actually, but that's
another story.
But to your question. To be very honest, I have not even heard of the name of this dive site. I'll do a little research and see if I can figure
something out. Do you have another name for this place?? I have local Mexican friends down in Loreto, and will ask them.
Thanks for the "thanks" as we Brits say...Mick
How to post photos on Nomad (3 methods)
David K - 5-23-2010 at 07:47 AM
1) PHOTOBUCKET.COM
Photos can be copied onto photobucket.com from your PC files... just pre select the size as 15" screen or smaller... not 17" and not 1 mg. so the
Nomad board doesn't get streched wide requiring awkward right scrolling to read messages.
To show any photos on Nomad, put your mouse on your photobucket photo, and a drop down menu will appear with these four choices and a url or 'code'
next to each... for that photo:
Email & IM
Direct Link
HTML Code
IMG Code
Copy the last one (IMG Code), and paste that right on the Nomad page where you type a message... where ever you want the photo to appear in your
thread.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) If the photo you want to show on Nomad is already on another web site, and it is your photo or you have permission to use it, then get the url of
the photo... and click on
which is right above where you type a message. A pop up will give you a place to paste the url of the photo.
To get the url (begins with http:// ), move your mouse over that photo and right click on it, then left click 'properties' in the new pop up. Copy the
address/ url with your mouse to paste on Nomad in
Here is a hot link from my web site:
If you have your photos on a photo album web site, there may be a direct link option that will have the html tags ([img]) already included... see
Photobucket.com instructions...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3) A photo that is in your computer file can be displayed on Nomad pages in certain forums where it is allowed...
The photo's file size must be BELOW 50 kbs to post here. Open your photo file ('My Pictures' or ?) find the photo you want to share and move your
mouse arrow onto the photo thumbnail... a pop up will tell you how big it is in kbs or mbs (1000 kb=1 mb).
TO POST A PHOTO:
Simply click the button labled 'Browse' just below where you type a message, and your pc will pop up a window of your photo files... simply click on
the photo you wish to post (if it is under 50 kbs). The post must have a subject or some text with the photo to post.
IF your photo is over 50 kbs, then here is one method to reduce the size, and make it a duplicate (so the original full size photo is preserved). I
thank Neal Johns for showing me.
(If the photo you want to post is already on another web site, then you may 'hot link' it to Nomad, and the size doesn't matter... unless it isn't too
big and distorts the screen. Hot linking will be described below.)
PHOTOS IN YOUR PC OVER 50 KB, click on each step:
If 'paint' isn't on your deck top, do this (click on):
a) Start
b) All Programs
c) Accesories
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
1) Paint (start here if 'paint' is on your desk top)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) File
3) Open...
3a) then click on the photo to get reduced (double click).
4) Image
5) Stretch/Skew... then change the % down from 100 in both boxes in sketch to a lesser number.... (if over 700 kb try 25%, if 400 kb try 35%, if 120
kb try 70%, if 60 kb try 90%)
Continue to Click on:
6) OK
7) File
8) Save As
8a) now type in a new name for the reduced photo or add -r to it to indicate it is the 'reduced' one... this is a copy so you don't mess with the
original.
9) Save
THAT'S IT!
Now, click on file and open again, move your mouse arrow over the reduced photo and see if it is between 25 and 50 kb.
When you move the mouse over the reduced photo in the files, the kb size will show and let you know if you didn't get it low enough, or too low! In
either case, repeat the steps above... working with the original, large photo.
After you do a couple it gets pretty easy.
Here is a photo from my pc's files:
[Edited on 5-23-2010 by David K]
Mulegena - 5-23-2010 at 09:10 AM
Thanks, David K
Mick has some great pix of the waters around here.
I'll make sure he begins posting them-- starting with that whaleshark!
However, he's begun teaching the Instructor Development Course to his three candidates
Danya, Sara and Juve. They're going to be totally focused for a couple weeks.
I'm leaving out this morning to visit with Shari, Juan and Serenita in Bahia Asuncion!
Hope to pick up a kilo of ostiones in La Bocana. Shari has the wasabi waiting!
I'm driving the southern coastal route from Abreojos and visiting the little fishing villages along the way-- can anybody spell Adventure?
I'll be back in Mulege in a few days. We'll get those pictures up soon, guys!