Reliance

The Reliance was an iron steamer built in the Delaware River area, in the United States, and launched in April 1883 for the U.S. & Brazil Mail S.S. Co. It had combined sail and steam propulsion, a length of 89.9 m and room for 114 passengers in first and second class. On its fourth voyage to Brazil, it was sailing from Rio to New York with a stop in Salvador, carrying coffee, hides, sugar, mail and passengers. All passengers reached the beach in lifeboats that same night. The mailbags and luggage were saved, but only part of the cargo could be recovered.

The wreckage is exposed to the waves, and the sand covers and uncovers parts of it depending on the time of year. The double-expansion steam engines lie on their side, exposing gears, crankshafts, connecting rods and the shaft. Near the bow lie two large upside-down boilers, and a propeller blade sticks out of the sand. Many marine species shelter in the submerged structure, and the site is widely explored by divers.

In Salvador diving usually goes on throughout the year, and in winter the options tend to decrease because of bad weather.