Alvarenga
Protected Area
Área De Relevante Interesse Ecológico Orla Marítima
Why dive here
With 44+ marine species recorded in the area - including sea turtles - Alvarenga offers some of Fernando de Noronha's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 27-29°C, warmest March, April, May.
Alvarenga is a fascinating wreck, and for us, it's a solid choice if you're looking for something a bit different in Noronha. This isn't some perfectly preserved ghost ship; it's the remains of an old iron frigate that went down over a century ago. You drop onto a seabed at around 19 meters, and there it is – the scattered, but still substantial, hull of the Alvarenga. We love finning slowly around the twisted metal, imagining the rigging and sails that once propelled it. It feels genuinely historical. Visibility here averages about 12 meters, sometimes a touch more, which gives the whole scene a wonderfully atmospheric, slightly moody feel. Inside the larger sections, you’ll find schools of Atlantic thread herring swirling, a silver curtain against the dark iron. Keep an eye out for green turtles, they often glide past the wreck, using it as a landmark. It's a relaxed dive, suitable for most divers looking for a glimpse into the past, and a chance to see how nature reclaims man-made structures.
Typical Alvarenga Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
Alvarenga Wreck History
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
unknown
The Alvarenga is a wreck steeped in the mystery of a bygone era. Described as an old iron-hulled frigate powered entirely by sail, she hails from a time of transition, when navies were moving from wood to metal but had not yet abandoned the majesty of sail. Her history and the cause of her sinking are lost to time, adding a layer of intrigue to any dive. The vessel now lies on a sandy bottom at 24 meters, with the highest parts of the wreck rising to about 19 meters, making it an ideal multi-level dive.
For divers in the waters of Brazil, the Alvarenga offers a journey back to the 19th century. The hull is reported to be remarkably well-preserved, allowing divers to trace the elegant lines of a sailing warship. Exploring the deck, one can almost imagine the towering masts and complex rigging that once propelled her across the Atlantic. Without a known history, the wreck itself tells the story, inviting divers to speculate on its final voyage and the storm or misfortune that brought it to its final resting place.
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Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for Alvarenga
Alvarenga Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for Alvarenga, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU) - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (-3.84, -32.38) (0km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
27°C
81°F · Range: 26.5–27.9°C
Current Speed
29.15 cm/s
Direction: NW (329°)
Chlorophyll-a
0.035 mg/m³
Very clear (oligotrophic)
Salinity
36.39 PSU
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data + Copernicus Marine (EU)
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