Danger in Brazil and Diving...

[Bayba24]

Hello everyone,

Hope u divers are having an awesome holiday, just wondering if you have any information about traveling alone to Rio de Janerio and trying to find people to dive with.. I'm going to be there Jan 5-8 by myself before my friends meet me.

I heard that there has been kidnappings in Rio and lots of pickpocketers... I've never travelled alone before and now I don't feel so safe =:::

I'm really excited about diving.. and I guess if anyone tries to kidnap me I'll just have to use my martial arts skillz on them... oh well.

Thanks for listening =) Have a great New Years everyone! Please comment!

 

[Filippo]

Hi
Don't worry so much about that, the reality here isn't half as bad as you see in the media. Just make you stay in the good areas and you should be perfectly safe (in Rio, stay in the south zone and away from the slums - favelas)

Have fun in Brazil! Wish I could you meet you, but I'll be out of town in Sao Paulo in those dates

 

[stu_in_fl]

simple big city precautions should suffice (and as a Fillipo states - stay in the more touristy parts) - don't carry/flash huge piles of $$$ while wandering around (use the safe in you room to keep passport, credit cards and excess cash when you don't need them), don't take exepnsive watches / jewellry / expensive cameras. Leave your ipod in our safe and just use it on the plane for you journey.

Ipenema & Leblon are nice - Copacabana is a little sleezy when you're a street or so back from the beach (so probably best to avoid at night).

it's been a few years since i was there - but is a fun place.