Forgotten Naval Catastrophe: The Sinking of the Sánchez Barcáiztegui in Havana Bay

The depths of Havana Bay harbor silent remnants of its rich naval history. Among these relics is the wreck of the Spanish cruiser Sánchez Barcáiztegui, central to one of Cuba's most tragic maritime disasters.

Constructed in 1876 at the French shipyards of Toulon by the firm Chantiers Conrad, this Spanish Navy vessel weighed in at 935 tons, was heavily armed, and manned by 146 crew members, led by Commander Francisco Ibáñez Varela.

On September 18, 1895, as it departed the Havana port, the Sánchez Barcáiztegui was suddenly plunged into darkness due to an electrical failure. It began signaling the Spanish steam cruiser Conde de Mortera, which was entering the harbor at that moment.

For reasons still unclear, the crew of the merchant ship failed to understand the signals, leading to a collision with the Sánchez Barcáiztegui. The impact caused the cruiser to sink within minutes.

Thirty-one sailors lost their lives in the tragedy. It is reported that some drowned, while others fell victim to shark attacks, which were common in the area, although sightings are now rare.

The wreck rests 22 meters below the surface, right at the bay's entrance, and has been a focus of Cuban underwater archaeology since the 1950s.

A video by diver and content creator Ernesto Plasencia (@co_diver) captures haunting images of the coral-covered wreck, which remains a site of historical study and remembrance.

This is not the only shipwreck in the area. Another vessel lying at the bay's bottom is the Spanish corvette San Antonio.

The San Antonio ran aground on September 21, 1909, after a severe storm. Interestingly, some of the materials it carried were used a century later in the restoration of Havana’s historic buildings.

Beneath the waters of Havana Bay, amidst tales of tragedy, shark encounters, and rusting steel, lies a forgotten chapter of Cuba's past.