READ ABOUT THIS WRECK IN SHIPWRECKS OF THE SUNSHINE STATE!

The Rhein was a 453' long German freighter, built by the Hamburg American Lines in 1926. December 1940 found the German freighter in Mexico, separated from home by a large expanse of hostile territory. While making for home, the Rhein was caught by the Dutch warship Van Kinsbergen. With no escape possible, the crew of the Rhein attempted to scuttle their vessel and caught fire to the ship. Before she was able to sink, the British warship Caradoc approached and hurled several 6" shells into her hull from her deck guns.

The wreck was not visited by divers until 1991. The Rhein sits upright and mostly intact in 250' of water. Her forward kingposts still stand proudly, reaching within 140' of the surface. On the first few dives, Billy Deans and Frank Benoit located the ships bell still standing on the bow. Returning with a underwater cutting torch, they recovered the brass prize. The midship superstructure can be easily penetrated as the vertical bulkheads have collapsed on several decks. Artifacts such as portholes and other fixtures are loose amongst the wreckage.  This is truly a magnificent wreck!