Praia Azeda - Arraial do Cabo
Praia Azeda offers a welcome change of pace from some of Arraial do Cabo's more exposed sites. It’s a shallow, relaxed shore dive, ideal for those days when you just want to potter about without fighting a current. We love dropping in here, finning along the rock wall that stretches out from the beach. Keep your eyes peeled for the smaller stuff – we’ve had some fantastic encounters with lined seahorses tucked into the seagrass, and the blennies here are particularly bold. The visibility can be really striking on a good day, especially in the mornings before the boat traffic picks up. We’ve found the best time to dive is early, catching the light filtering through the water onto the sand patches. That's when you'll spot the Caribbean corbula and the red cushion sea stars stand out against the white. It's not about big pelagics here; it’s about the subtle beauty – the delicate movement of a glassy sweeper school, or finding a tiny goldspot goby peeking out from its burrow. For divers who appreciate macro life and a calm, unhurried exploration, Praia Azeda is our pick for a chill afternoon underwater.
- Location
- Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
- Coordinates
- -22.742153, -41.881820
Marine Protected Area: Parque Natural Municipal Dos Corais De Armação Dos Búzios
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
- ALINA P - 19m (wreck)
- AQUIDABAN - 16m (wreck)
- Baixo do Carapebus (reef)
- Baixo do Carapebus (reef)
- Baixo do Marobá (reef)
- Baixo do Marobá (reef)
- Baixo do Una (reef)
- Baixo do Una - 10-20m (reef)
- BATEAU MOUCHE IV - 17m (wreck)
- Bunda do Elefante - 10-25m (reef)
- Buraco do Mero - 15-30m (cave)
- California
- Canal da Ilha Menina (wall)
- CORI BROTHERS - 7m (wreck)
- Coroa Grande
Nearest Dive Centres to Praia Azeda
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 Praia Azeda
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