Ilha dos Meros - Paraty - Arraial do Cabo

Mamona Bay, sitting pretty in the Goat Island marine reserve, is one of those spots we love for a relaxed afternoon. It’s never going to blow your mind with dramatic drops, but for easy diving, especially if you're new to the game or just fancy a chilled out bimble, it's perfect. The maximum depth hovers around 12 metres, keeping things nice and shallow, so your bottom time stretches out. We often kick off our dives here near the reef's edge, letting the gentle current (if there is one) nudge us along a broken reef line, then out over the sand. This is where the magic happens, or at least, the genuine charm of Mamona Bay reveals itself. We’ve seen more eagle rays cruising over this sandy bottom than almost anywhere else in the Gulf. They just glide, ghost-like, often barely ten metres from shore. Keep your eyes peeled for southern reef squid too, sometimes hanging motionless in the water column, watching you back. Sure, it's a breeding ground for smaller stuff – we've spotted clown nudibranchs, little post horn squid, and countless triplefins darting between the kelp fronds. It's a great spot to practice buoyancy, to just hang and observe the smaller intricacies of the ecosystem. It's our pick for a post-lunch dip when you’re not chasing big pelagics but want to feel the cool water and see some good old New Zealand marine life.

Location: Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
Coordinates: -23.188200, -44.576800
Type: reef

Marine Protected Area: Área De Proteção Ambiental Da Baía De Paraty

Best Time to Dive in Arraial do Cabo

The warmest water temperatures in Arraial do Cabo occur in January, averaging 26.6°C. The coolest conditions are in August at 21.6°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 26.6°C
February: 26.4°C
March: 26.5°C
April: 25.0°C
May: 24.0°C
June: 22.9°C
July: 21.9°C
August: 21.6°C
September: 22.2°C
October: 23.0°C
November: 23.4°C
December: 24.8°C

Nearest Dive Centres to Ilha dos Meros - Paraty

Marine Life in Arraial do Cabo

Home to 62 recorded species including 44 reef fish, 3 other, 3 crabs & lobsters, 3 sea urchins, 2 whales & dolphins, 2 seagrass & algae.

Notable Species

Estuarine Dolphin (Sotalia guianensis) - Whales & Dolphins
Sergeant-major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - Reef Fish
Demoiselle (Stegastes fuscus) - Reef Fish
Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) - Reef Fish
Caesar (Haemulon aurolineatum) - Reef Fish
South-American Silver Porgy (Diplodus argenteus) - Reef Fish
Ringneck Blenny (Parablennius pilicornis) - Reef Fish
Black-ear wrasse (Halichoeres poeyi) - Reef Fish
Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) - Reef Fish
Savigny's Brittle Star (Ophiactis savignyi)
Butterbun (Chaetodon striatus) - Reef Fish
Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
Seaweed Blenny (Parablennius marmoreus) - Reef Fish
Grunt (Haemulon steindachneri) - Reef Fish
Mangrove Tree Crab (Aratus pisonii) - Crabs & Lobsters
Comb Grouper (Mycteroperca acutirostris) - Reef Fish
Cook (Holocentrus adscensionis) - Reef Fish
Cluck (Pareques acuminatus) - Reef Fish
Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) - Reef Fish
thorny worm (Glycera americana) - Worms

Recommended Packing List for Ilha dos Meros - Paraty

Based on average water temperature of 24.0°C, currents 7 cm/s.

Shorty or Rashguard - warm 24°C water needs minimal exposure protection
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories