Brazil
The São José is a Brazilian steel-hulled tugboat, 24.35 m long with a displacement of 147 tonnes, which went down empty, with no cargo. The date recorded for its sinking is 8 February 2017, the same as the Bellatrix. The operation was carried out by AEMPE with Wilson, Sons and the universities UFPE and UFRPE, with authorisation from the Navy, CPRH and IBAMA. The tugboat was sunk by opening its sea valves, descended gently and settled in sailing position, and cameras filmed the sinking.
With the three tugboats sunk on the same day, Pernambuco's artificial wreck park grew to 11 vessels off the port of Recife. The wrecks off Recife are covered in colorful corals and are home to grunts, squirrelfish, cobia, French and gray angelfish, and goliath grouper. In the region, the best season usually runs from September to May; in June, July and August the rains usually leave the sea rough.
Information on this page, including technical data such as depth, current, visibility, access, and recommended level, is informational and may vary. Confirm actual conditions with a local operator before the dive.
Tap to see what might appear on this dive
Reviews are from other divers — personal experiences, not guarantees.
