Upper Decks

This image shows what is left of the upper decks of the Rhein. The bridge is completely missing and we suspect is somewhere off in the sand although we have been unable to find it as of yet.

Railings

These railings go around what is left of the upper superstructure.

Engine Room

These cylinders line the wall of the bulkhead at the front end of the engine room.

Valve

This image is of a valve in the front end of the engine compartment.

Valve Train

This is the top end of one of the engines used to power one of several generators on the Rhein.

Push Rods

The push rods extend from the valve train to the cylinder head of the engine.

Generator

Here is one of the generators used to generate power. Except for the thick layer of silt, it looks like you could fire it up and run it.

Blower

These shrouds cover the blowers used to supply cooling air to the generators while they are running.

Second Generator

This is the top end of the second generator I came across in the engine room as I proceeded aft.

Valves

A cluster of valves in the engine room.

Ladder

This ladder leads down into the rear cargo hold.

Green House

This is the area of the Rhein that I nicknamed the Greenhouse. This is in the first of the forward cargo holds. The sheet metal that covered the cargo hold has long since rusted away. The supporting I-beams remain and sunlight streams in. Coral and sea fans grow down from the ceiling making one feel as if he were walking through a greenhouse.

Green House 2

Here is a close-up of one of the coral formations growing down from the ceiling.

Green House 3

Another grouping of coral grows from the ceiling.

Green House 4

The cargo holds are very large and seem to go on forever.

Stingray

As I came out of the cargo holds I noticed this stingray cruising along the deck.

Bow

This is a shot taken from the starboard side of the bow looking back along the side of the hull.

Jew Fish

This small Jew Fish swims along the main deck.

Jew Fish 2

He came over to check things out as I shot video. His upper lip has been damaged and I suspect that he had been hooked by a fisherman.

King Posts

This is the second set of King Posts on the Rhein. The first set up towards the bow has collapsed onto the hull. The top of the king posts reaches up to a depth of 130 feet. I had to do a short deco stop to visit the top.

King Post 2

The Jew Fish from the image above swims around the king posts surveying the wreck that he probably claims as his territory.

School

These bright blue fish school around the base of the king posts. They darted in close to the camera. It was pretty obvious that they were not used to divers.

Super Structure

This is what remains of the upper levels of the superstructure on the Rhein. It looks like Godzilla stepped on this section of the wreck, flattening everything. Portholes lie loose on the deck.

Lifeboat Davits

These lifeboat davits are still in their deployed position and were probably used by the crew as they escaped the sinking ship.

Porthole

This is a porthole recovered from the Rhein. Part of the hull is still attached to the backing plate.

Heat

From this image of the porthole you can see evidence of the intense heat of the fire set aboard the Rhein in the crew's attempt to scuttle the ship. The glass is completely melted and oozes out of the frame.

Sunset

The sun sets as we complete our first day of diving on the Rhein.

Shaft Alley

This image was taken in the aft cargo hold. Shaft alley runs down the center of this hold. This ladder leads down to an access door. The bottom of the hold has filled in with a thick layer of silt. The door is probably 5 or 6 feet tall, but only a small portion of it is visible above the silt.

Fish

A school of tiny damselfish darts among the many steel plates of the wreck.

Queen Angle

A small juvenile Queen Angle fish swims along the wreck.

Stern Mast

The entire stern of the wreck ripped off the Rhein when she struck the bottom. This stern section has about a 45-degree list to port.

Diver

A diver explores the stern section of the wreck.

Skylight

A skylight sits in the center of the roof of the stern-most compartment on the wreck.

Skylight 2

Here is a close-up of the skylight. The glass is missing, but it is otherwise nicely intact.

Stern Deck

This is an image of the deck that runs around the stern of the ship. One of the bollards is visible in the right of this image.

Angle Fish

Another Angle Fish swims around the stern superstructure.

Parting Shot

Unfortunately this dive had to come to an end. I take one last look down at the wreck as I head up the line and begin decompression.