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One of Brazil’s most exciting offerings is under the water. Diving and snorkeling in Brazil is among the most treasured activities for Brazilians and visitors alike and you’ll find opportunities to visit Brazil’s underwater world all over the coastline. Brazil’s diving locations are many and quite varied, from offshore islands featuring sea turtles and dolphins to beach reefs with colorful tropical fish. You’ll find shipwrecks and even helicopter crashes under water. There’s something for beginners and advanced divers alike (advanced divers will find some of the fresh water diving in the Pantanal region unique and interesting).
I’ve added a complete guide to Brazil’s best diving locations in the post: Snorkeling & Scuba Diving in Brazil. this will help you choose your favorite diving locations. Don’t forget, if you’re not a diver, taking a diving course in Brazil is an excellent way to spend your vacation, get your diving certificate and save some money at the same time (diving courses in Brazil are generally cheaper than at home).
excursions, sports
Brazil’s official tourism advocacy group, EMBRATUR (EMPresa BRAsileira, de TURismo), has recently declared Scuba Diving as one of nine principal tourism categories in Brazil. If nothing else, that means they recognize the value and importance of diving as an attraction in Brazil. With over 7000 kilometers of coastline, numerous islands and an untold number of shipwrecks in local waters, Brazil is, indeed, one of the South America’s best diving destinations. More and more areas of the Brazilian coastline are being turned into sanctuaries or aquatic parks, particularly for diving activities and preservation of marine life. There are official groups to protect the proliferation and habitats of sea turtles (TAMAR) and the Peixe Boi, or Sea Cow, a salt-water cousin of the Manatee. Numerous locations off Brazilian shores are favored by dolphins, and whales come to give birth to new calves in the warm, Brazilian waters between June and October.
Just about every major diving spot in Brazil is home to a school with dive masters. It’s easy to find equipment rentals, classes, and guides to take you out from 4–70 meters down, day or night. A full scuba course with recognized certification takes 4–5 days and costs about R$600. This is a great way to spend a week on the coast of Brazil. A single baptism dive goes for about R$90 and many are performed in shallow ocean water.
The best months in which to visit Brazil for diving purposes are from December through March, when the waters are clearest. Following are the best locations:
The Northeast Coast
The most famous location for diving on the Northeast coast (and perhaps in all of Brazil) is around the island of Fernando de Noronha. Designated as a natural preserve, the island’s waters are crystal clear with visibility of up to 50 meters and maintain an average temperature of 27*C. Fish range in size from small tropical species to dolphins, sharks and even whales (diving is not permitted with whales and dolphins but they can be seen off the coast in great numbers). There are over 250 species of fish and five different types of sharks in the area. It’s also common to see huge sea turtles of up to 300 kilos. Favorite locations include the many natural underwater trails, or corridors, that are full of sponges, coral, lobster tropical fish and small sharks. There are dive schools on the island and back in the port of Natal.
On the coast around Natal is the largest area of underwater reefs in Brazil at the Parrachos of Maracajaú. There are also two accessible shipwrecks in the area. The water is super clear and the bottom is a bed of white sand. Dive masters can be found in the Ponta Negra neighborhood of Natal.
Along the northern coast of Recife are a number of shipwrecks that are easily reached at about 30–40 meters. In fact, the Recife area is considered a ship cemetery due to the number of wrecks in the local waters. The area around the Island of Itamaraca has clear water with decent visibility and variety of fish. In the south, there are the natural pools in the area of Porto de Galinhas, a haven for snorkeling, but also excellent for less advanced scuba dives.
The Coast of Bahia
In the south of Bahia, off the coast of Porto de Seguro is one of Brazil’s Marine Parks, the Recife de Fora Marine Preserve. There is a great variety of crustaceans and reef species there. To the south is the unparalleled Archipelago de Abrolhos and the Abrolhos National Marine Park, about 70 kilometers from shore. Formed by an ancient volcano, the archipelago has shallow turquoise waters from as little as two meters deep (excellent for snorkeling as well as scuba diving). The area is considered to have one of the highest concentrations of fish on the planet and it’s common to see Manna Rays and sea turtles. In the winter months, Whales are commonly spotted splashing in these waters. There is even a shipwreck here of a 1939 Italian ship. Visibility in the summer months is as high as 30 meters. Boats generally leave from the town of Caravelas. Overnight trips are available with sleeping and dining arrangements on board. Dive masters can also be found in Porto Seguro and Arraial d’Ajuda.
The area of Itacaré and Barra Grande is becoming known as a scuba diving haven. Dolphins are often spotted offshore, along with whales in the winter. There are underwater pools all along the peninsula of Barra Grande. Dive masters are based in Itacaré.
The Coast of Rio de Janeiro
The highlight in this area is the calm, clear waters of Ilha Grande and Angra dos Reis. On the island of Ilha Grande, you’ll find dive masters to take you all around the island, especially over to the far side, where there are a couple of shipwrecks. Around the islands in the Bay of Angra dos Reis there are locations for divers of all levels, including snorkeling in the shallow waters around the Ilha de Paquetá. There, you find a variety of sea life, including octopus and Manna Rays. For more advanced divers, there are a number of shipwrecks in these waters, and even an underwater cavern, some six meters below the surface. Other locations include the Ilha dos Meros and Laje Branca, both with clear water and depths of around 14–18 meters.
The bay of Paraty is equally calm and clear and there are some favorite diving spots among the local dive masters–including around Ilha Comprida, Ilha dos Cocos, and Ilha dos Ratos. There are 65 islands in the Bay of Paraty and many have excellent conditions for diving with depths of up to 15 meters and visibility of around 8 meters. The waters are replete with starfish, sponges, and coral, along with many tropical fish. Several dive schools are based in Paraty. Other locations off the coast of Rio include the plant-filled waters around Arraial do Cabo and Cabo Frio, where the visibility is around 20 meters and you can dive to over 80 different locations containing wreckage from ships. Seahorses, turtles, and colorful crustaceans are common here. Nearby are some interesting small islands around Buzios.
The São Paulo Coast
One of the best locations for diving off the coast of São Paulo is off the coast of Ubatuba. With various islands spotting the bay, the options for diving are numerous. Favored locations include Ilha Anchieta, Ilha Vitória, Ilha das Palmas and Ilha das Couves. Visibility in the area reaches 20 meters and the depths range from 5–25 meters.
Around the Island of Ilhabela is a marine sanctuary, where diving is actively encouraged. There is a great quantity of fish and lobster in this area and even a statue of Neptune six meters below the surface to honor the underwater world. There are several shipwrecks in these waters, including the Aymoré at a depth of only 12 meters. Others are resting peacefully in deeper waters.
The Santa Catarina Coast
The Arvoredo Marine Preserve is the largest of Brazil’s national marine parks and can be accessed from Bombinhas or Florianópolis. The visibility is the highlight here at around 30–40 meters. There are islands and rock formations to explore with depths from 4 to 50 meters. You can also dive near the island of Campeche off the coast of Florianópolis, where there are many sea turtles, sea lions, and even penguins in the winter months.
The Pantanal
Divers interested in fresh-water dives should not miss the incredible opportunities in the Pantanal. There, the water is said to be some of the clearest in the world. You can dive in Rio Formoso and Rio Prata with numerous species of fish and water plants and take a autonomous dive down into the Lagoa Misteriosa, where the water is transparent and the bottom of the lake has not yet been calculated (more than 220 meters deep). The highlights are the cave diving opportunities, including underwater caverns of 1800 meters in length and 50 meters in depth.
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Planning a trip for real? Heading to South America? You’ll need some luggage that is strong and flexible, able to take beating but not look like a strongbox. You don’t, after all, want to call attention to yourself. You could buy luggage in Brazil, but I gotta warn you…there’s a lot of really crappy stuff there.
Actually, you’re probably better off shopping online from home. I suggest taking a look at the luggage guide at ShopWiki.com for starters. You’ll get a good idea of what’s available at what price. If you’re traveling for awhile, I suggest taking a large “trunk-style” bag. My favorite is this one: Eagle Creek Trunk.
You should have a day pack also–for taking with you on those beach and jungle outings. ShopWiki has a good section on buying backpacks. You should get something very strong and easy to wear. Nothing too big unless you’re planning to backpack for your entire trip. A quality day pack is probably enough.
Finally, you might consider getting some Brazil flag stickers to adorn your luggage. It’s a great way to communicate your support for your host country. Check out Flag Sticker Shop for some options. Of course, you can always find these in Brazil, but it’s great to go prepared.
Rio, Rio-todo, blog
Many travelers come to Rio de Janeiro and never once set foot in the historical district. The beaches and attractions in the Zona Sul are so compelling that they overwhelm other agendas. That’s a shame, because the historical architecture, museums, churches, age-old bars, and coffee shops in the downtown area make up the city’s rich and fascinating history. Most of the main attractions are within a few city blocks of each other and you can easily create a nice walking tour of the area. I suggest starting at the pier with a trip out to the Palace on Fiscal Island. From there, you can make a J-shaped loop around the Centro Histórico. That puts you in a great area for sitting with a cup of coffee or cold drink at one of the city’s legendary coffee shops or bars at the end of your tour. The downtown area is safe during the day and full of historical architecture, colorful people, and interesting activities. That being said, a simple reminder can never hurt: don’t bring a lot of money, credit cards or valuables with you on your walking journey downtown (or anywhere in Rio for that matter)…just enough for the day’s activities.
Here are some of the sites in the downtown historical district. I’ll update this article with more sites, so come back to see the rest.
Historic Sites:
Sao Bento Monastery
Palace on Ilha Fiscal
Rio, Rio-todo
On Sunday at 10am you can hear the Gregorian Chants at the Monastery of São Bento, one of the most impressive Baroque churches in the country. Built in 1663, the monastery contains detailing and sculptures with a mixture of dark Jacarandá wood and gold leaf. Most impressive is the front altar and large paintings along the side altars. The pipe organ is a mixture the original from 1773 and a new organ from 1945. It’s located on Rua D. Gerardo 40 and is open from 7–11am and 2–6pm Monday–Saturday and from 8:15am on Sundays.
Rio, Rio-todo
The marina area in Rio de Janeiro is on the coast of the downtown area. It has a few different attractions to check out. First, inside the Espaço Cultural da Marinha (Av. Pres. Vargas, 9am–5pm daily) is a small Maritime Museum with a few artifacts showing the history of Brazilian sea navigation. Outside at the pier are two ships that are open for viewing: a battle ship and submarine. The main excursion here is the the boat across to the Fiscal Island, which you can take from the pier. On the island, you’ll see the Palácio da Ilha Fiscal, one of the highlights in historic Rio de Janeiro. The palace was built by Emperor Dom Pedro II in 1889 and was used for about a week bedore Brazil was proclaimed a Republic. After that, it was part of the marine base and later fell into disrepair. Restored in 200, the palace is a beautiful gothic structure with many interesting stained glass windows that show the life of Dom Pedro II and his family. Also restored were the ceiling panels, and paintings on the walls and floors. The outer on the outer walls sine with their original light green color. The architecture in general is fabulous. Inside the various rooms and hallways are permanent exhibitions related to the royal family, the palace itself, and the island. Visitation is guided and you should arrive early to ge a seat on the boat, as it can get crowded (Sundays are less crowded). Boats leave at 1pm Thursday and Friday, 1pm, 2:30pm, and 4pm on weekends. Cost is R$8 for adults.
Rio, Rio-todo, blog
Tirelessly watching over the craziness of Rio de Janeiro, the Cristo has stood since 1931 redeeming the city and its inhabitants from the top of Corcovado Mountain. The famous monument, called Cristo Redentor (Christ the Redeemer) was designed to celbrate the 100 years of Brazil’s independence from Portugal from 1822–1922. Better late than never; the 1145 ton monument was lifted into place nine years later and has since become the very symbol of city. Today the Cristo Redentor is one of the world’s most recognized monuments. It stand 38 meters tall on the top of the Morro de Corcovado, which is on the edge of the Tijuca National Park–the large mountainous area sitting right in the middle of the city. Many of the foothills of Tijuca are loaded with favelas, poor and lawless neighborhoods of Rio, practically at the very feet of the Cristo.
From the principal viewing deck at the feet of the Cristo, you get a magnificent view of the city, from the Zona Norte (at the left hand of Christ) to the Zona Sul (at the right hand of Christ). He stands, more or less, looking out in the direction of Copacabana (justifiably where most of his attention is required). The monument was given some new features in 2000, including new lighting and new means of access to the top. You can now take one of the panoramic elevators up from the lower station, or take the high-tech escalator. If you prefer the original method, you can still climb the 222 steps, passing numerous souvenir shops and snack stands along the way. But first, you have to get up Corcovado Mountain to the lower platform and reception area. Access to the top of Corcovado Mountain is from the Flamengo neighborhood, where the streets begin their windy way up the hill. Many visitors take taxis up to the top (they are waiting at the bottom of the hill) or take one of the many vans that haul passengers in groups. The best way, however, is via the train that chugs up the hill from Rua Cosme Velho. The station at the bottom was also recently revitalized and contains shops, relaxation areas, and a photographic exhibition of the history of the monument. It costs R$20 and operates from 9am–7pm daily, the same hours of operation as the monument itself.
The official address of the train up Corcovado is Rua Cosme Velho 513 (21/2558-1329, www.corcovado.com.br).
