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A 35-metre-long ferry sunk as an artificial reef

Last weekend, the hull of a 35-metre-long ferry was sunk in Brazil, turning it into an artificial reef. The new wreck is expected to become a sanctuary of marine life in the near future and another attraction for diving tourists in the Bahia region. The ferry Agenor Gordilho was escorted by a tugboat on its

ByMarcin Pawełczyk

Published: November 26, 2020 - 09:00

Updated: July 22, 2023 - 21:37

A 35-metre-long ferry sunk as an artificial reef

Last weekend, the hull of a 35-metre-long ferry was sunk in Brazil, turning it into an artificial reef. The new wreck is expected to become a sanctuary of marine life in the near future and another attraction for diving tourists in the Bahia region.

The ferry Agenor Gordilho was escorted by a tugboat on its final journey through the waters of the Bay of All Saints, watched by a large crowd of yachts and motorboats. The controlled sinking went according to plan and without any problems.

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Salvador ferry sinking — The sinking of the ferry was a major event for local divers photo brasilnasalturas

Thus, in the waters of the bay near the city of Salvador, divers already have 20 wrecks at their disposal, which puts the area alongside locations such as Abrolhos, Fernando de Noronha and Recife and makes it one of the most attractive diving tourism destinations in the Latin American region.

Shortly after the sinking, the wreck was inspected and it was ascertained that the site was fully safe and could be opened to divers. As no problems were found, nothing now stood in the way of deep-sea enthusiasts visiting the ferry wreck, and the first dives were carried out on Wednesday 25 November.

Ferry escorted by tugboat — The vessel was towed to the site and safely sunk fot brasilnasalturas

Although times are tough for dive tourism, sooner or later the situation will have to return to normal. As you can see, some have decided to use this time to be fully prepared and have something to surprise visitors from all over the world with.

Photo: @brasilnasalturas

About author

Marcin Pawełczyk

Marcin’s journey with diving has been an adventure. Starting as a recreational diver, he soon found himself drawn to the fascinating stories and mysteries of Baltic wrecks. After gaining experience, Marcin decided to go beyond just leisurely exploration and took his training up a notch by completing the TMX course, allowing him to explore even deeper and uncover the secrets of inaccessible places. His next challenge has been cave diving, where he is honing his skills to become a certified diver. Not content to simply take in the breathtaking beauty of underwater life, Marcin has also embraced underwater photography since 2018, capturing stunning shots that bring these worlds alive for those who are unable to experience them first-hand. Marcin’s passion for the underwater has taken him far and is sure to continue doing so as he dives into new depths and captures breathtaking images.