Praia Vermelha - Costão do Morro da Babilônia - Arraial do Cabo

Sinbad Gully, tucked deep in Fiordland, feels less like a dive site and more like stepping into a cold-water cathedral. That thick freshwater layer up top, sometimes a couple of metres deep, makes for some truly bizarre light effects as you drop through it. It’s a bit eerie, a bit mystical, and absolutely our favourite part of a Fiordland dive. Below that, the salt water hits, and the walls are just covered. We're talking serious black coral real estate here, some trees that have been growing for centuries, mixed in with big, colourful tube anemones. Look closely, and you’ll spot those brilliant red rock lobsters tucked into every crevice, plus little schools of spotty and kelpie darting about. We’ve seen New Zealand sentinel crabs scuttling over sponges, and if you’re lucky, a seven-gill shark might cruise by, though we find the dogsharks are a more common sight. Visibility can be epic, sometimes pushing 18 metres, but it can also drop off if there’s been a lot of rain. The maximum depth is 16 metres, which makes it perfect for longer bottom times. It’s a dive for those who appreciate the quiet drama of a unique ecosystem, rather than chasing pelagics.

Location
Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
Coordinates
-22.956300, -43.164100
Type
reef

Marine Protected Area: Parque Natural Municipal Paisagem Carioca

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 Praia Vermelha - Costão do Morro da Babilônia

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 Praia Vermelha - Costão do Morro da Babilônia

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