Quebra-mar - Salvador & Bahia
Sponge Reef on Aruba’s leeward coast is one of those sites that just gets it right for an easy, colourful dive. We've seen it at its best on a calm morning, the sun filtering down to about 15 metres, which really makes the sponges pop. And they are everywhere – massive barrel sponges, bright yellow tube sponges, even some deep purple vase sponges. It’s a riot of colour. We usually drop in and drift along, letting the gentle current do the work. The maximum depth of 19 metres means you get plenty of bottom time, and the average 17-metre visibility is consistently good. Keep an eye out for hawksbill turtles munching away; they’re regular visitors here. We’ve also spotted the occasional eagle ray gliding past in the blue. For a relaxed, vibrant dive that showcases the best of Caribbean sponge life and a decent chance for turtles, Sponge Reef is our pick for a chill afternoon. It’s a great site for newer divers or anyone just wanting a visually rich, low-stress dive.
- Location
- Salvador & Bahia, Brazil, South America
- Coordinates
- -12.960300, -38.517000
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: Área De Proteção Ambiental Baía De Todos Os Santos
Nearby Dive Sites in Salvador & Bahia
- Atractores
- Bahia de Salvador
- BEARN - 3m (wreck)
- BRASILOIDE - 43m (wreck)
- Caita
- CAVO ARTEMIDI - 14m (wreck)
- Corais de Ondina (reef)
- Cordão da Barra de Serinhaém (reef)
- Coroa do Capão - 5-20m (reef)
- Coroa do Cavalo - 5-20m (reef)
- Galeão Sacramento - 10-30m (drift)
- GERMANIA - 6m (wreck)
- Ho Mei III - Salvador (wreck)
- JANGADEIRO - 3m (wreck)
- Jequirica - 10-25m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Quebra-mar
- BAHIA SCUBA
- Submerso
- UWBAHIA - ["PADI"]
- Zimbo Dive
Marine Life in Salvador & Bahia
Home to 295 recorded species including 262 reef fish, 10 other, 8 sharks & rays, 4 hard corals, 3 seagrass & algae, 2 whales & dolphins.
Notable Species
- Caesar (Haemulon aurolineatum) - Reef Fish
- Porkfish (Anisotremus virginicus) - Reef Fish
- Demoiselle (Stegastes fuscus) - Reef Fish
- Twinspot Bass (Serranus flaviventris) - Reef Fish
- Grunt (Haemulon steindachneri) - Reef Fish
- Catfish (Odontoscion dentex) - Reef Fish
- Sand goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum) - Reef Fish
- Barber (Acanthurus bahianus) - Reef Fish
- Doctorfish (Acanthurus chirurgus) - Reef Fish
- Angelfish (Pomacanthus arcuatus) - Reef Fish
- Butterbun (Chaetodon striatus) - Reef Fish
- Gray Parrotfish (Sparisoma axillare) - Reef Fish
- Sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) - Seagrass & Algae
- Spotted Goatfish (Pseudupeneus maculatus) - Reef Fish
- Sergeant-major (Abudefduf saxatilis) - Reef Fish
- Blue Doctor (Acanthurus coeruleus) - Reef Fish
- Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas)
- Cook (Holocentrus adscensionis) - Reef Fish
- Greenback Parrotfish (Scarus trispinosus) - Reef Fish
- Great star coral (Montastraea cavernosa) - Hard Corals