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Praia João Fernandes

João Fernandes isn't about dramatic drop-offs or pelagic encounters, and we love it for being exactly that. This is Arraial do Cabo's gentle introduction, a calm beach dive perfect for getting back into the swing of things or introducing a friend to the underwater world. Descend into five to fifteen metres of surprisingly good visibility, often around ten to fifteen metres, where the sunlight plays on the sand and the scattered rocky outcrops. Our favourite thing here is the sheer density of macro life if you just slow down and look. We’ve spent entire dives in a ten-metre radius, pointing out Goldspot Gobies darting between rocks, the delicate dance of a Lined Seahorse clinging to seagrass, or the iridescent flash of Caribbean Reef Squid changing colour right before your eyes. Keep an eye out for the Doctorfish schooling lazily, and if you’re lucky, a curious Common Octopus peering from its den. It’s a site that rewards patience and a keen eye, far more than kicking hard. We'd suggest going early in the morning before the beach gets too busy, the water tends to be clearest then.