Rio de Janeiro (Wreck) - Arraial do Cabo
The Sunset Lava Tubes are a bit of a local secret, tucked away on Rarotonga's leeward side. It's not about big pelagics here; it’s about the light. We love slipping into the main cavern, which starts at about 18 meters, and watching the sunbeams pierce through the cracks in the overhead. They paint the walls in a shifting kaleidoscope of blue and gold – it’s genuinely beautiful. This isn't a deep dive, maxing out around 18m, but the exploration factor is high. There are several smaller tunnels branching off, each with its own exit point, so you can really noodle around. Keep an eye out for the little things on the walls: we’ve found cowries, nudibranchs, and even a few sleepy scorpionfish tucked into crevices. The staghorn coral patches inside the tubes are also surprisingly vibrant. Visibility can vary, often around 11 meters, so it’s not always gin-clear, but that just adds to the atmospheric feel of the caverns. It’s an easy overhead environment, perfect for divers comfortable in enclosed spaces but not looking for anything too challenging.
- Location
- Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, South America
- Coordinates
- -23.159800, -44.350200
- Type
- cave
Marine Protected Area: Reserva De Desenvolvimento Sustentável Do Aventureiro
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 Rio de Janeiro (Wreck)
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 Rio de Janeiro (Wreck)
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