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Log This Dive

Canal da Ilha Menina

Canal da Ilha Menina is one of Arraial do Cabo's drift dives, and we think it's one of the best ways to explore the area when the conditions are right. You'll drop in and let the current carry you through a gap in the rocks, sometimes with a real push. It's a shallow dive, barely hitting 14 metres, so you get plenty of bottom time to take everything in. What we love most here is the sheer volume of schooling fish. Sometimes the herring and silverfish are so thick they form shimmering walls that part as you pass through. Keep an eye on the sandy patches at the base of the rocks; we've seen plenty of burrowing octopuses peeking out, and the occasional spotted whiff trying to blend in. It's an easy dive for anyone comfortable with a bit of current, making it a great option for knocking out a couple of relaxed dives in a day. Just remember to check the tide chart; a slack tide here is a missed opportunity for a proper drift.