About Agustín Melgar shipwreck
The Agustín Melgar shipwreck is an intriguing artificial reef located near Isla Danzante, offering a unique dive experience within Loreto's protected waters. This vessel, approximately 180 feet in length, rests beneath the surface and has become a vibrant habitat for a wide array of marine species. The wreck's structure provides shelter and sustenance, attracting numerous fish, invertebrates, and colorful corals that have colonized its surfaces. Divers can explore various parts of the ship, observing how nature reclaims man-made objects and transforms them into thriving ecosystems. The site is particularly rich in nudibranchs, with a significant population found in and around the wreck. The Agustín Melgar serves as an excellent site for underwater photography, capturing the interplay between the artificial structure and the burgeoning marine life. Its presence adds a historical and structural dimension to the natural reef sites, making it a compelling destination for wreck enthusiasts and those interested in marine ecology.
Highlights
180-foot long shipwreckVibrant artificial reefAbundant nudibranch populationHistorical and ecological interestDiverse marine life around the wreck
Dive site facts: Agustín Melgar shipwreck
- Current
- Mild
- Entry
- Liveaboard only
- Level
- Intermediate
- Dive type
- Wreck, Wreck
- Region / port
- Mexico
- Coordinates
- 25.8672° N, 111.3121° W
Conditions & Currents
Currents are usually mild, which makes this a relaxed dive suitable for most certified divers. It is usually briefed as a dive for intermediate divers. The site is reached by liveaboard, so entries are run from the tender or straight off the back deck. Tide, wind and season all shift the picture from day to day, so the crew's briefing on the boat always overrides any general description.
Why dive Agustín Melgar shipwreck from a liveaboard?
Agustín Melgar shipwreck is one of Mexico's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include Agustín Melgar shipwreck on their Mexico itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Agustín Melgar shipwreck
These liveaboards may visit Agustín Melgar shipwreck on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
Nautilus Explorer
Mexico
25 guests44.8 m
$230/day
Valentina
Mexico
20 guests38.1 m
$430/day
Rocio del Mar
Mexico
20 guests33.5 m
$392/day
Nautilus Under Sea
Mexico
19 guests32 m
$261/day
Nautilus Belle Amie
Mexico
32 guests44.8 m
$299/day
Quino del Mar
Mexico
20 guests36 m
$392/day
Nautilus Gallant Lady
Mexico
12 guests35.36 m
$332/day
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The C-58 Wreck, also known as the USS Harlequin or ARM DM-20, is a prominent artificial reef located off the coast of Cancún and Isla Mujeres.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Dayboat
- Depth
- 18–26 m
- Theme
- Wreck / Drift
C-58 Wreck
Mexico
The C-58 Wreck is a prominent artificial reef located in Bahía de Mujeres, the channel between Isla Mujeres and the Cancún coast.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Dayboat
- Depth
- 18–26 m
- Theme
- Wreck / Drift
Land's End
Mexico
Land's End marks the meeting point of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez, creating a dynamic dive environment.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 9–24 m
- Theme
- Wreck / Channel
The C-53 Felipe Xicoténcatl wreck, an artificial reef just off the coast of Cozumel, Mexico, offers a unique blend of history and marine habitat.
- Suitable for
- Intermediate
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 12–25 m
- Theme
- Wreck
Banco Chinchorro is a vast coral atoll rising from the Mexican Caribbean, a largely untouched marine reserve renowned for its pristine conditions.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 5–20 m
- Theme
- Wall / Wreck
Mama Viña Wreck
Mexico
Mama Viña is Playa del Carmen’s primary local wreck dive, a former shrimp boat intentionally sunk in 1995 to form an artificial reef.
- Suitable for
- Advanced
- Current
- Strong
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Depth
- 21–30 m
- Theme
- Drift / Wreck