Regiao dos naufragios - Arraial do Cabo
Arraial do Cabo's "Wreck Region" is exactly what it sounds like – a collection of submerged history, and our pick for divers who get a kick out of exploring something with a story. You'll find a few older fishing boats here, nothing grand and pristine like a purpose-sunk destroyer, but that's precisely what we love about it. These are working vessels that simply didn't make it back to port, now sitting on the sandy bottom, slowly taken over by the sea. As you descend, the visibility can sometimes be a bit moody, Arraial has its days, but when it’s good, the wrecks materialise from the blue, shadowy forms that invite a closer look. We've spent dives just poking around the collapsed wheelhouses and open holds, imagining the last moments. Look for the schools of silversides that flicker like liquid mercury around the rusted frames, and the occasional octopus tucked into a crevice, their eyes following you. It’s not a deep dive, making it accessible for most, but the real reward is the sense of discovery and the quiet contemplation of these forgotten ships. Best to hit it on a calmer day, when the surge isn't pushing you around too much.
- Location
- Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
- Coordinates
- -23.923267, -45.459797
- Type
- wreck
- Maximum Depth
- 15-30m
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 Regiao dos naufragios
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 Regiao dos naufragios
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