Rio de Janeiro Maru - Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon

40m Max

15-35m Vis

boat

Site Overview

Rio de Janeiro Maru is one of the most celebrated dive sites in Chuuk (Truk) Lagoon, a 130 m passenger-cargo ship in 25 to 40 m of water with a stern gun, coral gardens and schools of barracuda. The site is defined by a 130 m passenger-cargo ship resting in 25 to 40 m with a stern gun, beautiful coral gardens across the hull and open decks now home to schooling barracuda, creating an underwater landscape that rewards divers with every visit. Schools of barracuda and jacks wheel off the wreck, with soft-coral gardens, groupers and lionfish adding colour and moray eels tucked into the structure. Water clarity in this part of the Federated States of Micronesia is frequently excellent, with visibility often extending well beyond 15 metres and a comfortably warm tropical temperature year-round. The combination of healthy hard and soft corals, nutrient-rich currents and sheltered reef systems makes Rio de Janeiro Maru a reliable location for both macro photography and wide-angle encounters. Local dive operators run regular trips to the site from nearby bases, and the geography means conditions are suitable across a range of experience levels with appropriate guidance. Conservation is taken seriously throughout Micronesia, and Rio de Janeiro Maru benefits from marine protection that keeps fish stocks high and coral coverage dense. Divers who plan their visit around the calm season will find the most predictable conditions, though the site can be enjoyed throughout the year. Rio de Janeiro Maru deserves a place on any serious Pacific diving itinerary, offering a genuine taste of the untouched beauty that makes Micronesia diving so highly regarded internationally. Regular visitors note that the marine life here, including barracuda, schooling jacks, soft coral, groupers, lionfish, moray eel, makes every descent memorable.

Dive Briefing

"The dive at Rio de Janeiro Maru begins with a controlled entry and a short transfer from the nearest base, with the guide giving a full briefing on the site layout, expected marine life and emergency procedures. Descending toward a 130 m passenger-cargo ship resting in 25 to 40 m with a stern gun, beautiful coral gardens across the hull and open decks now home to schooling barracuda, divers are immediately surrounded by barracuda, schooling jacks, soft coral, groupers, with the reef revealing more detail the closer you look. The maximum depth reaches about 40 metres, while the average depth sits near 32 metres, so gas planning and a dive computer keep the profile safe and comfortable. Currents are described as mild, and the guide chooses the entry time to make the most of slack or mild flow, using a reef hook or DSMB when needed. The topography offers natural swim-throughs and ledges that shelter larger animals, and the open water above the reef often holds cruising pelagics. Throughout the dive, neutral buoyancy protects the fragile coral, and the group stays close to the guide to manage depth and any surge. The safety stop is completed in open water on a DSMB, and the boat follows the bubbles to collect divers at the exit point for a relaxed return to base. The coral gardens are best lit in the morning, with the deeper stern explored on a second dive."