February 3, 2024
Dive Shop: Scuba Mau
Dive Master: Jesus
Instructor and Organizer: Cindy Sieman
C56 Shipwreck
Dive Time: 36
Water Temp: 80°
Max Depth: 72′
Air: EANx 32%
This was my second wreck dive, but the first time penetrating it. This was a WWII era US Navy gun ship, which Mexico purchased from the states and their navy used it for 20 years before it was scuttled in October of 2000. When I found myself inside the ship I was overcome by an odd feeling I don’t know how to describe. This isn’t something that was on my bucket list, or even in my wildest dreams did I imagine doing. As we were descending a submarine went by us with a bunch or cruise folks on their excursion.
In our briefing we were told about a small hatch on the aft deck that we would be given the choice as to whether we felt comfortable with it. I did not, but Tim did. When I tried to meet back up with them, I lost them and found myself on the bow of the ship alone. I stayed calm, checked my air, then my watch to allow myself 1 minute to find them before surfacing. Thankfully I found them quickly and didn’t have to deploy my DSMB and surface. The current was “rippin’ balls” as Cindy described it and I worried they’d have to come find me in Cuba if I ascended without the mooring line.
