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Diver's Guide to Brazil
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Spinner Dolphins, Fernando de Noronha (Atlantis Divers) |
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At a Glance
Distance from the Equator: Fernando de Noronha is 3o51' South
Diving Season: Year-round
Highlights: Fernando's Spinner Dolphins & Corveta V17 Warship, Wreck diving in Recife and Maceio, Cave diving in Bonito
Brazil Liveaboards >>>
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Brazil offers everything the adventurous divers could want - tropical paradise in Fernando de Noronha, 19th century wrecks in Recife and abseiling into caves in Bonito. Fernando de Noronha is an archipelago comprised of 21 islands and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located 360 km from Natal on the Brazilian Northeast coast and is accessed by a short flight from the mainland. There is one large island which is the only inhabited island, and 20 smaller islands. The islands are of volcanic origin and emerge from a depth of 4000 meters from the seabed. The discovery of the islands is attributed to Americo Vespucci in 1530. The expedition was commanded by Goncalo Coelho and financed by Fernao de Loronha (origin of the island´s name). Since then, it has been occupied by the French, the Dutch and the Portuguese and during World War II, Fernando de Noronha became an US Air Force Field. The total area of the archipelago is 26 km2, and 75% of this is designated as National Park.
Fernando de Noronha is one of the world’s best diving areas, with an amazing diversity of marine life (dolphins, turtles, marine birds), wrecks and caves. Average water visibility is 35 meters and water temperature is 27oC all year round. There are dive sites for all levels from beginners to Tec divers. There are stunning beaches to relax on and a wide range of trips to choose from: you can visit the first settlement on the island - Vila Dos Remedios, Leao Beach where the sea turtles lay their eggs, Sueste Bay which is a great place to snorkel with sea turtles, or Dolphin’s Bay which is home to hundreds of dolphins.
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Beach at Fernando de Noronha (Atlantis Divers) |
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Around Fernando de Noronha there is prolific marine life and large fish including sharks, tuna, jack, albacore, giant jewfish and snappers are found in abundance. The famous Spinner Dolphins of Fernando de Noronha frolic near the bow of the boats on the way to the dive sites. Hundreds of Spinner Dolphins gather year-round in Dolphin`s Bay which is protected by the Environmental Department. They belong to the largest residential school of dolphins on earth. It is forbidden to enter into Dolphin´s Bay or for the boats to pursue them outside their bay, but it is common to have them coming to play around you while you are diving or snorkelling.
One of the best dive sites at Fernando de Noronha is the Corveta V17 Warship. The ship sunk in 1983 after colliding with Sapata’s rock, and she now lies on the seabed in pristine condition at around 52 metres to the deck. On the deck you can find sponge covered canons and penetration into the ship reveals fascinating artefacts in every room - the wreck and her content have been exceptionally well preserved. Around the ship there is prolific fish life, with large schools of barracuda, jewfish and turtles.
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School of Trevally, Fernando do Noronha (Atlantis Divers) |
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The waters off Recife and Maceio are renowned for their world-class wreck diving. Recife is a big city with great beaches- the nearby beach of Porto de Galinhas has been voted best beach in Brazil. Just in front of Recife there are 18 diveable wrecks, some from WWII and others from as far back as the steamboat age. The wrecks are amazing dives and are rich in fish life. Wrecks include the Vapor Bahia Paddle Steamer, sunk in the late 19th Centuary by the Piripama, the Corveta Camaqua, a mine sweeper from Brazil’s Navy sunk during a storm in 1945, Reboque Florida, an English Steam Tug sunk in 1908 and the Piripama which is one of the most famous night dives in Brazil. The other wrecks dived around Recife are Mercurius, Sevemar I, Sevemar X, Saveiros, Taurus, Vapor de Baixo, Chata Noronha, Alvarenga, Galeao Serrambi, Goncalo Coelho, Marte, Lupus, Minuano and Vapor 48.
Maceio lies to the South of Recife and is another Brazilian city with great beaches and great wrecks. Wrecks at Maceio include the Draguinha which sank in bad weather in 1962, the Dragao which sank around 1918, and the Itapage which was sunk in 1943 by a torpedo fired from German U-boat U-161.
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Lagoa Mistoriosa cave, Bonito (Marcelo Krause) |
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Bonito possesses more than 500 caves and is situated on the border of Brazil's Pantanal, a vast tropical wetland. Two of Bonito's caves are open to divers, the Abismo Anhumas, and the Lagoa Mistoriosa.
The Abismo Anhumas is the most dramatic of the two caves, being accessed by a vertical 72 metre abseil down to a underground lake of crystal clear water. The scale, the clarity of the lake and the stalactites that surround you will leave you breathless as you explore the topside by dingy. This is followed by the dive, where the underwater scenery is equally as amazing, with stunning stalagmites making for great underwater images. Tec divers have been able to dive to a depth of 80 metres in the Abismo Anhumas.
Lagoa Mistoriosa is a hole in the earth (doline), surrounded by beautiful trees, that drops 75 metres deep into the earth. At the bottom of this drop is a mysterious lagoon. The lagoon is accessed by 179 steps and divers entering the lagoon are rewarded with truly unique underwater photographs.
Brazil Liveaboards >>> |
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To arrange your diving holiday to Brazil call us on 0161 442 7703 or email us at info@equatordiving.com
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Itapage wreck (Atlantis Divers)
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Diver with Jewfish, Fernando de Noronha (Atlantis Divers)
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Trevally, Fernando de Noronha
(Atlantis Divers)
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Nurse Shark, Fernando de Noronha (Atlantis Divers)
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Bow of the Corveta V17 Warship
(Atlantis Divers)
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Room interior in the Corveta V17 Warship
(Atlantis Divers)
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Canon on the Corveta V17 Warship
(Atlantis Divers)
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Penetrating the Corveta V17 Warship
(Atlantis Divers)
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Propeller of the Corveta V17 Warship
(Atlantis Divers)
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Reboque Florida wreck (Atlantis Divers)
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Paddle on the Vapor Bahia wreck
(Atlantis Divers)
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Nurse sharks in Sevemar I wreck
(Atlantis Divers)
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Jewfish in Dragao wreck (Atlantis Divers)
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Corveta Camaqua wreck (Atlantis Divers)
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Stingray next to Sevemar X wreck
(Atlantis Divers)
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School of Batfish off the Reboque Florida wreck (Atlantis Divers)
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