Recife Wrecks · Brazil · Wreck
Vapor Bahia
Steamer still in navigational position at 18-25 m, parts identifiable
Area photo: Elvis Boaventura · CC BY 3.0
The other half of the collision that sank the Pirapama, the steamer Bahia lies between 18 and 25 m and still sits in navigational position on the bottom. Many parts of the ship can be identified, and the dive is rated locally as one of the most beautiful in Recife: a straightforward hull to follow from end to end.
Where it is and how deep
7.6634° S, 34.6077° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The descent is down a line into open water, with the wreck appearing below rather than any reef or slope leading you in. Sources give a minimum depth of 18 m and a maximum of 25 m, so the profile is decided by how much time you spend low against the hull. Because she is in navigational position, the layout reads the way a ship should, which makes it easy to keep your orientation without a reference outside the wreck.
Swim her along one side, follow the shape of the hull and come back over the top rather than crossing back and forth. Many parts of the ship can still be identified individually, so the dive rewards working slowly and close with a light rather than covering distance. The wreck is the only hard structure on this stretch of flat sand, and fish concentrate on it accordingly, sitting over the highest sections and back in the plating.
Return to the line to ascend. Bottom time here is short enough that a plan made on the boat is worth sticking to, and the deep end of the wreck is best taken first, leaving the shallower upper structure for the last part of the dive. How much of the ship you see at once depends entirely on the water, which is clearest through the dry season and murkiest after rain.
The wreck
- Vessel
- Bahia
- Type
- Steamer
- Sunk
- 1889
- Cause
- Collision with the steamer Pirapama; the cause of the crash remains unexplained
- Lies
- In navigational position between 18 and 25 m, many parts still identifiable
The Bahia sank in a collision with the steamer Pirapama, and why the two ships hit each other has never been established. The Pirapama's loss is dated to an estimated 1889, which is the date attached to the Bahia as well, since both went down in the same collision. Wikipedia's list of wreck diving sites names Vapor Bahia among the wrecks that define diving at Recife, and the site is described locally as one of the most beautiful dives in the city.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Recife Wrecks: Sep–Mar is the dry season with the calmest seas and best visibility; Apr–Jul rain and runoff can drop it below 8 m.
Know before you go
- At 25 m on the sand the no-stop time is short; agree a turn pressure and a maximum bottom time on the boat and take the deepest part of the hull first.
- Runoff can cut the visibility to a fraction of the ship's length, so treat the shotline as your only reliable reference and carry a light on every dive here.
Dive videos
Mergulho no Naufrágio Vapor Bahia- Ponta de Pedras - Pernambuco - Brazil · Fabio Bombeiro on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Vapor Bahia?+
The wreck runs from a minimum of 18 m over the upper structure to a maximum of 25 m at the sand alongside the hull.
Is the Vapor Bahia wreck intact?+
She sits in navigational position on the bottom and many parts of the ship can still be identified, so the hull reads as a ship rather than as scattered wreckage.
Sources
- Vapor Bahia dive site — Scubago / SSI MyDiveGuide
- List of wreck diving sites — Wikipedia
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