MINERAL STAR - Arraial do Cabo

Look, the Mineral Star isn’t for everyone. It’s barely a dive, more of a snorkel or a free-dive, but for history buffs and those who love a good story, it's pretty special. We’re talking about a massive bulk carrier, over 200 metres long, that just… didn’t make it. She sank in 1990, a leak in the engine room, and now sits in a mere four metres of water, her huge hull broken into several pieces. Swimming over it, you feel the sheer scale of the ship. Sunlight penetrates everywhere, illuminating the colossal metal plates and twisted girders. You can see the dark shadows of the internal structures, now home to clouds of juvenile grunts and angelfish darting in and out. There's an eery silence down there, broken only by the gentle creak of the hull in the surge. We love exploring the shallower sections, finding old portholes and the occasional anchor chain draped in soft corals. It's a poignant reminder of human ambition meeting the ocean's power. Our tip? Go at high tide when the visibility is usually best, and keep an eye out for the resident moray eels peeking from crevices. It's a unique experience, feeling like you’re flying over a submerged city, with the ghost of a giant ship beneath you.

Location
Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
Coordinates
-22.933332, -43.816666
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
4m

Marine Protected Area: Área De Proteção Ambiental Do Saco De Coroa Grande

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

Nearby Dive Sites in Arraial do Cabo

Nearest Dive Centres to MINERAL STAR

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

Recommended Packing List for MINERAL STAR

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