Diving Brazil Overview
Fernando de Noronha, four degrees south of the equator, is the only inhabited island in an archipelago off the Atlantic coast of Brazil. You can fly there from Recife, which has an international airport.As if its remoteness weren't' protection enough, its waters and wildlife are well-guarded by the Brazilian government. Development is severely limited. It's a refreshing change from the Caribbean. Jagged, dramatic boulders, thoroughly encrusted in colorful sponges, algae, and hard coral, dominate the underwater landscape. Expect to see nurse sharks, reef sharks, rays, turtles, barracudas, green and spotted morays, schools of large fish, as well as plentiful tropicals such as black margates, Bermuda chub, small mouth grunts, conies, Spanish hogfish, brown chromis, sergeant majors, parrotfish, spotted goatfish, scrawled filefish, French and queen angelfish, black bar soldierfish, cocoa damselfish, and long-spined squirrelfish.
Topside scenery is spectacular, with rugged volcanic rock formations, tropical forests, gorgeous beaches and scenic mountains. Shopping is limited and the nightlife is nonexistent, so restaurant hopping is the entertainment.
On the southern coast, 2 hours by car from Rio de Janeiro, Arraial do Cabo Marine Reserve is considered the best scuba diving. The turquoise water teems with turtles, sea horses, moray eels, colorful coral and some exotic tropicals like queen angelfish.
Brazil Seasonal Dive Planner
Year-round daytime air temperatures on the equator are in the mid to upper 80's, 70's at night. March and July are quite windy, and April, May and June are the wettest months. Water temps run 78 to 79 F. Best time of the year is from July to November for beginners, all year round for advanced divers. December to February is the top of the high season with lots of people and high prices. Some years, December and January can be too rough to dive.
