The Best Places To Scuba Dive in Brazil

Brazil’s incredibly diverse coastline caters to all types of water sports. The country is especially known for having ideal conditions for wind sports, beach sports and also scuba diving! Since the Brazilian coastline is so extensive, there are many diverse diving locations to choose from. Here I have summed up the best dive spots in the country…this list is not in any particular order, it is just meant to narrow down the many options for diving spots in Brazil that you will find online. These are the locations that I have heard are fabulous for scuba diving in Brazil.

1. Fernando de Noronha 

This archipelago of islands in the Brazilian state of Pernambuco is one of the best places to dive in the world. This national park allows for more than 50m of visibility and offers more than 20 dive spots for all types scuba divers. The beaches here are also incredible, it is often called the most beautiful place in Brazil (and that’s saying a lot.)

2. Arraial do Cabo

This is a peninsula, with white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and very diverse marine life. You will see turtles, octopuses, squid, lobsters and all types of fish. It is also a very simple and charming village, which is great if you’re on a budget. Hotel and restaurant prices are very affordable!

3. Ilha do Arvoredo

This nationally protected marine reserve created in 1990, makes for an amazing scuba diving experience. There are many rules and regulations to protect the area, so only 20 scuba divers are allowed per day to visit the region. Therefore, make sure to book your dive way in advance. There is visibility of more than 25 meters and various types of fish. There are other islands in the “Reserva Biológica Marina do Arvoredo”, however Ilha do Arvoredo is the favorite among all the islands.

4. Buzios

This island in the state of Rio de Janeiro offers perfect conditions for scuba divers of all levels. In the summer the visibility gets up to 25 meters. The best places to check out the beautiful marine life are Ilha da Ancora, Ilhas Gravatás, Filhote, and Ilha Feia. Buzios is home to great shipwrecks and diverse marine life, including turtles and barracudas.

 

5. Salvador

For centuries, Salvador was Brazil’s most important city. It was the capital of the nation until 1763. It features a large natural harbor, and was a major New World shipping center. Thousands of ships came and went … and some came and never left.

Salvador is a paradise for wreck scuba diving: you can go diving every day for two weeks and not have to see the same wreck twice. A number of decent scuba dive shops have spring up, and the city itself is friendly and inviting. The waters in the bay are normally quite warm, and divers most likely will not need a wetsuit.

I found a great link Here for those of you divers interested in seeing the shipwrecks of Salvador. This site gives the names of the shipwrecks and the information of the diving schools in the area. I am really interested in this, I think i’ll write a post on the subject some other time.

6. Parcel das Paredes

This dive spot is made up of a group of corals about 13km off the coast. There is a lot of lively marine life and colorful corals.

7. Rio de Janeiro

 Rio is a city of many interests, including scuba diving. Places like Praia do Recreio, Praia Vermelha and Praia de Ipanema have good scuba diving spots, so make sure to check them out while you’re in the city.

8. Bonito

The region of Bonito, in Matto Grosso do Sul, is one of the locations featured in “Sport Life”, the online page dedicated to sports and outdoor activities on the Terra website. Here you can dive up to 18 meters into caves. One such cave, called Mimoso, has a variety of formations on the ceiling and walls, as well as stalactites, and has the “Hall of Cones,” with limestone formations of about 8 meters high. Diving in Bonito will feel like you are in a giant aquarium, surrounded by dourado, pacu and other species of fish. Click Here to read the rest of the article on diving spots in Brazil from Terra (it’s in Portuguese).

Lastly, Here is a great reference site for those planning a diving trip to Brazil:

Brasil Mergulho