ELIHU B WASHBURNE - Arraial do Cabo
The Elihu B Washburne holds a certain gravity, a real piece of history lying deep in Arraial do Cabo. This isn't just a sunken boat; it's a Liberty Ship, torpedoed by a German U-boat in 1943. We often feel a chill, thinking about its final moments as we descend. At 49 meters, it’s a serious dive, one we’d only recommend for experienced wreck divers comfortable with depth and dark interiors. The sheer scale of the Elihu B Washburne is what gets you. At over 134 meters long, you could spend multiple dives just exploring different sections. We love dropping down to the stern, finding the massive propeller still largely intact, and then slowly working our way along the deck. The bow section, where the torpedo hit, is particularly dramatic, twisted metal telling its violent story. Inside, schools of snappers often swarm the cargo holds, and we've spotted the occasional large grouper lurking in the darker corners. Visibility can be a bit variable, so pick your day, but when it's good, seeing that entire silhouette emerge from the blue is a powerful sight.
- Location
- Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
- Coordinates
- -24.083334, -45.416668
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 49m
Marine Protected Area: Estação Ecológica Tupinambás
Best Time to Dive in Arraial do Cabo
The warmest water temperatures in Arraial do Cabo occur in January, averaging 26.6°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 21.6°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 26.6°C
- February: 26.4°C
- March: 26.5°C
- April: 25.0°C
- May: 24.0°C
- June: 22.9°C
- July: 21.9°C
- August: 21.6°C
- September: 22.2°C
- October: 23.0°C
- November: 23.4°C
- December: 24.8°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Arraial do Cabo
- ALINA P - 19m (wreck)
- AQUIDABAN - 16m (wreck)
- Baixo do Carapebus (reef)
- Baixo do Carapebus (reef)
- Baixo do Marobá (reef)
- Baixo do Marobá (reef)
- Baixo do Una (reef)
- Baixo do Una - 10-20m (reef)
- BATEAU MOUCHE IV - 17m (wreck)
- Bunda do Elefante - 10-25m (reef)
- Buraco do Mero - 15-30m (cave)
- California
- Canal da Ilha Menina (wall)
- CORI BROTHERS - 7m (wreck)
- Coroa Grande
Nearest Dive Centres to ELIHU B WASHBURNE
Marine Life in Arraial do Cabo
Home to 62 recorded species including 44 reef fish, 3 other, 3 crabs & lobsters, 3 sea urchins, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Estuarine Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Sergeant-major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- Demoiselle (Stegastes fuscus) - Reef Fish
- Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) - Reef Fish
- Caesar (Haemulon aurolineatum) - Reef Fish
- South-American Silver Porgy (Diplodus argenteus) - Reef Fish
- Ringneck Blenny (Parablennius pilicornis) - Reef Fish
- Black-ear wrasse (Halichoeres poeyi) - Reef Fish
- Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
- Butterbun (Chaetodon striatus) - Reef Fish
- Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
- Seaweed Blenny (Parablennius marmoreus) - Reef Fish
- Grunt (Haemulon steindachneri) - Reef Fish
- Mangrove Tree Crab (Aratus pisonii) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Comb Grouper (Mycteroperca acutirostris) - Reef Fish
- Cook (Holocentrus adscensionis) - Reef Fish
- Cluck (Pareques acuminatus) - Reef Fish
- Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- thorny worm (Glycera americana) - Worms
Recommended Packing List for ELIHU B WASHBURNE
Based on average water temperature of 24.0°C, currents 7 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 24°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories