PRINCIPE DE LAS ASTURIAS - Arraial do Cabo
The Principe, as everyone calls her, isn’t just a wreck dive. It’s an immersion into history, a genuinely tragic story playing out 35 metres down off Arraial do Cabo. We love how her sheer size still impresses, even after 100 years underwater. Sunk in 1916 after striking rocks in a thick fog, her boilers famously exploded, splitting her hull in two. You can still see that violent separation. Dropping down, the visibility here can vary, but when it’s good, the scale of her remains is incredible. Her stern section is the most intact part, offering fascinating penetration opportunities into cargo holds now colonised by schools of grunts and snappers. Look out for the resident moray eels peeking from crevices. We’d suggest focusing on the engine room area; the machinery is slowly being overtaken by colourful sponges, a testament to the ocean's reclaiming power. Currents can be noticeable, so this isn't a beginner’s spot, but for experienced divers keen on a substantial, historical wreck, the Principe is our top pick in the region.
- Location
- Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
- Coordinates
- -23.941668, -45.216667
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 35m
Marine Protected Area: Estação Ecológica Tupinambás
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 PRINCIPE DE LAS ASTURIAS
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 PRINCIPE DE LAS ASTURIAS
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