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Rio de Janeiro (Wreck)

The Rio de Janeiro wreck, just off Arraial do Cabo, is one of our favourites for a relaxed afternoon dive. It’s not deep, topping out at 13 metres, which means plenty of bottom time to really poke around. We love tracing the outline of the old steamboat, imagining the charcoal fire that brought it down in 1853. You can still make out the cylinders and pistons of the engine, a real marvel of engineering for its time, along with the wheel axle support and the condenser. Visibility here averages around 8 metres, which is often enough to take in the key features, but we always suggest aiming for a morning dive before any boat traffic stirs things up. What makes this wreck special, beyond the history, is how the local marine life has truly made it their own. Snapper and fat snook shelter in the nooks, and we’ve spotted angelfish flitting between the rusted metal. Look closely and you’ll find bearded gobies tucked into crevices and the occasional honeycomb cowfish drifting past. This site is perfect for newer wreck divers or photographers wanting to capture a piece of history teeming with life.