Diving the Rio de Janeiro Maru


The Rio de Janeiro Maru was a sub tender, carrying munitions, relief crews and spare parts to support the 6th submarine fleet at Truk.

She went down on the windward side of Uman, and her exposed location makes entering and exiting the water quite a challenge. When the trade winds blow, waves can be 1m/3ft and the ladder on the dive boat jumps up and down with each and every wave. When the conditions are calm the Rio is an easy dive.

The wreck lies on her starboard beam and the port side of the hull is about 15m/50ft down. She's a big ship with impressive damage to the engine room from a torpedo dropped by an "Avenger" torpedo bomber.

 


 

The author, exiting one of the holds on the Rio.

 

 


The Rio went down carrying many artifacts, such as this signal lantern.

 

 


 

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