Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world by land mass. With 7400 km/4600 miles of coastline, an article listing all of the best dive sites in Brazil would be massive. To keep things concise, we’ll focus on the best places to dive in Brazil — by destination rather than specific dive sites.
There are many reasons to book a dive trip to Brazil. It’s one of the best places in the world to see dolphins, whales and billfish (marlins, swordfish). Many of the best dive sites in Brazil are accessible to divers of all levels and nearly all are dive-able year-round. It has beautiful reefs, historic shipwrecks and a well-developed infrastructure for tourists.
Brazil also has unique experiences you won’t find anywhere else, including:
- The seasonal lagoons of Lençóis Maranhenses in the north
- Pink river dolphins in the Amazon basin to the west
- Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park off the east coast
- Laje de Santos Marine Park in the south
The Best Places To Scuba Dive in Brazil
Fernando de Noronha National Marine Park
Recommended for: Divers of All Levels
Fernando de Noronha is Brazil’s most well-known diving destination and arguably its best. With stunning underwater landscapes and a resident population of spinner dolphins, diving in Fernando de Noronha is an experience you won’t soon forget.
The marine park is located 340 km/215 miles off the Brazilian coast and includes 21 islands and Rocas Atoll. Turtles, reef sharks and tropical fish also call Fernando de Noronha Marine Park home. Manta rays, tuna and billfish can be seen seasonally.
UNESCO declared Fernando de Noronha a World Heritage site in 2001. In addition to abundant marine life, the park has interesting underwater topography, including caves, swim-throughs and rock formations.
The diving is great year-round. Visibility ranges from 30 to 50 m/100 to 164 ft. but tends to be best in September and October. Popular dive sites include:
- Cabeça das Cordas
- Ilha do Meio
- Corveta Ipiranga (Technical Diving)
- Laje Dois Irmãos
- Pedra da Sapata
- Pedras Secas
- Ressureta
- And the shipwreck Naufragio do Porto
Most dive sites in this renowned marine park can be explored via a day trip from the mainland. Book well in advance. The park allows fewer than 500 people to visit per day, and that includes beachgoers and birders in addition to divers.
Abrolhos Marine Park, Bahia
Recommended for: Beginner Divers With Good Buoyancy and Above
Parque Nacional Marinho Dos Abrolhos is another esteemed marine sanctuary that includes some of the best dive sites in Brazil. Abrolhos Marine Park is home to:
- A variety of dolphins
- Three of the seven species of sea turtles
- The largest breeding population of humpback whales in the South Atlantic
Diving with whales is not permitted. But if you book a liveaboard in Abrolhos Marine Park between July and November, you’ll have a very good chance of seeing them topside.
Abrolhos Marine Park is also one of the best places to see Brazil’s chapeirão reef formations — mushroom-shaped pinnacles 5 to 25 m/15 to 82 ft. tall and up to 300 m/984 ft. across. Living in and among the reefs are nudibranchs, octopuses and more than 270 species of fish.
The park is an excellent destination for experienced divers and beginner divers with good buoyancy control. The water is generally calm, and there’s plenty to see at shallower depths. Visibility is about 10m/32 ft. from April through November, improving to about 20 m/65 ft. from December through March. Water temps hover around 26oC/79oF year round. A liveaboard is the ideal way to explore this destination.
Scuba Diving Near Rio de Janeiro
Arraial do Cabo is a coastal town about 170 km/106 miles east of Rio de Janeiro. It’s an ideal destination for both beginning and advanced divers. The water is calm and there is abundant marine life including dolphins, turtles, sea horses, and a variety of fish. Experienced divers can explore caves and wrecks.
Ilha Grande is a little further away, but it has excellent diving for divers of all levels, including the Navio Pingüino shipwreck. Other sites offer interesting rock formations and many colorful fish. To get to Ilha Grande, take a ferry from Angra dos Reis or arrange transport with a tour company.
Whichever destination you choose, bring a wetsuit. Water temps range from 15oC/59oF to 22oC/72oF depending on the season.
Scuba Diving Near São Paulo
The city of São Paulo is about 90 km/55 miles from the Atlantic coast. Once there, you can take a boat to the Laje de Santos Marine Sanctuary. Another popular diving destination is Ilhabela, roughly a four-hour drive to the east. Both areas have dive sites suitable for beginner and advanced divers.
The nutrient-rich environment attracts turtles, large pelagic fish, whales and manta rays. Visibility ranges from 5 m./15 ft. up to 25 m/82 ft. and is best from December to February. For the best chance of seeing manta rays, however, visit between March and September.
Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul
Recommended for: Beginner Divers and Above
Bonito has some of the best dive sites in Brazil for beginners. It’s a great place to try river diving or cave diving for the first time. Recanto Ecologico Rio da Prata (Rio da Prata Ecological Reserve) has calm, exceptionally clear water and is a great spot for snorkelers and families.
At Anhumas Abyss, divers and snorkelers can rappel down into an underground lake. The water is crystal clear — up to 60 m/195 ft — and filled with schools of fish.
In addition to scuba diving and snorkeling, Bonito has numerous opportunities for outdoor adventure. You can easily spend a week in this region hiking and visiting natural pools and waterfalls.
Recife, Pernambuco
Recommended for: Experienced Divers
Recife is known as the “shipwreck capital,” of Brazil with dozens of wrecks from a variety of eras. Visibility is good and the water is warm (80ºF/27ºC) year-round, but rough ocean conditions can make Recife a challenging dive destination for inexperienced divers.
Other reasons to visit Recife include:
- Beautiful beaches
- Surfing in Serrambi (about 90 minutes south)
- It’s a more accessible, affordable alternative to Fernando de Noronha
Book a Scuba Diving Adventure in Brazil
Ready to go diving? Check out our travel tips for scuba diving in Brazil then contact a PADI Dive Shop in Brazil that can help make your diving dreams come true.
