Mergulho Scuba: tudo sobre mergulhar e mergulho no Brasil

Diving sites in Ilhabela - Brazil

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Altera o tamanho da letra

Ilhabela is strategically located between the two largest cities in Brazil (250 km from São Paulo and 350 km from Rio de Janeiro). It is the right destination for divers on the São Paulo coast. If you like to party with beatiful people, plan your visit in July when the town hosts the International Sailing Week.

The island is covered with Atlantic Rainforest and has more than thirty waterfalls. There are dives for all tastes, from snorkeling to technical, including famous shipwrecks such as the Aymoré and the Velásquez.

One of the largest, if not the largest, concentration of shipwrecks in Brazil is located to the south and east of the island. Ironically, the sea in Ilhabela is calm most of the time. More than one hundred ships are believed to lie at the bottom of the blue Atlantic. Ships from centuries past, sailboats, fishing boats, all types of vessels have transformed Ilhabela into the largest naval graveyard in Brazil.

The island is also shrouded in legend. During the sisteenth century, english pirates used to sail around Ilhabela where they are said to have hid treasures pillaged from Spanish galleons loaded with gold.

The mos famous lost treasure stor in Ilhabela involves the pirate Cavendish, who supposedly buried a large amount of gold in Saco do Sombrio. If this is true, hurry up! The treasure is still there. Welcome to the Shipwreck Heaven! The diving island!

Ilha das Cabras
This the most famous dive in Ilhabela. It is located 100 meters off the beach and is rich in sea life. Rock faces give way to a sandy seabed. It`s is the island`s only ecological reserve.
Level: Basic
Maximum depth: 8 meters.

Aymoré
A scaterred shipwreck, sixty meters in length. You can park your car twenty meters from the water`s edge, and when the sea is calm you can easily enter the water from the rocks. Rifle cartridges, part of the cargo, can still easily be found.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 12 meters.

Parcel da Ponta da Sela
Access is easy by land, but restricted to the occupants ofa  condominium. At the deepest point of the dive you will always find larger fish.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 16 meters

Velasquez
This Spanish vessel that sank in 1906 is one of the island`s largest shipwrecks. One of the boilers can be entered, and at the stern there are entry points in the hull. One of the propeller blades is still attached to the shaft.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 19 meters

Teresina
This wreck les only a few meters away from the Velasquez. It has broken up, but is still very interesting owing to the amount of sea life. It is also a good choice for when the sea is rough.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 18 meters.

San Janeco
A sailing vessel lyning over six meters deep on the seabed. A large propeller can be found buried in the sand. This is one of the least frequently visited of the shipwrecks on the south side of the island.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 16 meters

Dart
This shipwreck is famous for the number of broken bottles - mainly beer bottles - lying on the seabed. It is very close to the Velasquez and Teresina, and is one of the most frequently visited wrecks.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 15 meters

Crest
An English vessel, lying parallel to the shoreline. It is notable for its large boilers. A large anchor lies to the shore side and is the wreck`s trademark.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 18 meters

Hathor
This shipwreck is an easy dive, lying between the rocks of the Cachoeira da Laje. It is rarely visited despitelying in waters teeming with sea life.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 16 meters

Príncipe das Astúrias
This is Brazil`s largest shipwreck. It is only occasionally visited by divers willing to face the rough seas and adverse visibility conditions of the Ponta da Pirabuna.
Level: Advanced
Maximum: 46 meters

Concar
This is a relatively recent wreck, and is not often visited by divers.
Level: Advanced
Maximum: 24 meters

Saco do Sombrio
This is where Paul Thierry looked for Cavendish`s treasure. Ever since the days of pirates, the place has been rated an excellent shelter in bad weather. An enjoyable dive along the shoreline.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 15 meters

Ilha Galetas
The highlights here are the vast numbers of moray eels and the constant presence of turtles.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 15 meters

Castelhanos
Good Diving and snorkeling when the sea is calm. The islet off the south end of the beach allows diving down to 15 meters on waveless days. Large snook are found because of the fresh water flowing from a nearby river.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 15 meters

Saco do Eustáquio
Although conditions in the middle of the beach leave something to be desired, there is sheltered diving 400 meters from the sand. Groupers and Sea Bass can always be found. It is a great choice for night diving, since the waters are sheltered and there are no currents even when there is a large swell.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 15 meters

Ilha da Serraria
The beach itself and the island lying offshore provide good snorkeling and diving. There is a very interesting reef on the western side.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 15 meters

Ilha de Búzios
The rock seabed form beautiful caverns. Rich sea life with rays and turtles.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 20 meters

Ilha Sumítica
A cliff face descending to 27 meters. Marvelous flora, and a wealth of lobster, turtles and large fish.
Level: Basic / Advanced
Maximum: 27 meters

Poço and Fome Beaches
These beaches, once landing-points for the slave traders, can only be reached from the sea, with rich sea life offshore. Good conditions for diving.
Level: Basic
Maximum: 12 meters

Jabaquara and Pacuíba Beaches
Good conditions for diving, easily reached by land. At the southern end of Pacuíba Beach, the reef stretches for over 100 meters. Both beaches have good night diving, especially for photographers. although the qaulity of the water depend on the currents in the channel.


Source: Brazil Diving Guide