Ilha Grande is a destination that is on the list of most people who have not yet visited the place because it is really incredibly beautiful and still offers several options for fun, whether on the beach or in bars and restaurants.
Those who still don't know Ilha Grande or those who have been on a trip can not even imagine that the island is also an important diving spot on the coast of Rio de Janeiro!
Check out the best places to dive on Ilha Grande and make your personalized itinerary with our separate tips especially for you!
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What makes Ilha Grande a great travel destination?
It seems hard to believe that there is a place where people do everything on foot or by boat, without the need to use a car or bus, but this is the reality of Ilha Grande and one of the main reasons that attract tourists to the place.
That's because those looking for tranquility are in the right place, away from the big centers and very sophisticated beaches.
Despite the intense contact with nature and the simpler life, Ilha Grande offers a true movie set. Many people who always visit the island report that they feel in another country such beauty and difference of the place in relation to other beaches.
Another factor that makes Ilha Grande seem like an isolated part of Brazil is the large number of foreign tourists, which promotes a true mixture of languages and cultures, making the place even more diverse and interesting.
One of the beaches that is always included among the best in Brazil in tourist guides is Ilha Grande. Lopes Mendes is really an impressive place that makes the trip to the island very worthwhile.
But with all this, it is still necessary to consider the most important: Ilha Grande is considered by many divers as one of the best places for diving in the entire state of Rio de Janeiro, especially for the excellent visibility that the crystal clear water offers.
Learn all about the Big Island tours.
Best places to dive in Ilha Grande
Those who want to go to Ilha Grande and make unforgettable dives can already know that the water temperature in the place is almost always very warm, unlike other places recommended for diving in the state of Rio de Janeiro, such as Cabo Frio and Arraial do Cabo, where the water is quite icy.
Ilha Grande has very clear waters, which makes the quality and visibility for diving exceptional, making the island one of the most sought after places for diving in the whole country.
The Island is part of Angra dos Reis, but it is a prominent destination when it comes to diving, so take note of the most frequented and recommended places for diving and make your itinerary!
Discover the full experience at Angra dos Reis Diving.
white slab
Laje Branca is, in fact, a gigantic stone that is right in the center of the bay that connects “Ilha Grande to Angra dos Reis” and that appears as a white slab in the middle of the crystalline sea of the region.
The observation of sea turtles is one of the main attractions for those who dive in Laje Branca, but it is far from the only one. In addition to them, it is possible to see lobsters and moray eels that are very present in the place.
When the sea currents are calm, divers can travel around Laje, which guarantees an unforgettable experience under the sea!
Acaia Cave
The Acaiá Cave offers one of the most beautiful views among those that can be found at diving points across the country and is formed by a rock crevice that is located more than six meters deep.
Whoever enters the cave immediately sees a large hall with a reflection of sunlight that makes the water inside the cave appear fluorescent. The view of the animals and vegetation of the place is impressive due to the mixture of light, rock and water.
The cave is quite extensive, about thirty meters wide, but it is relatively low, with a height of no more than one meter in most parts.
Sea water does not have access to the entrance to the cave, so it is possible to enter the cave by land, thanks to an easy-to-follow trail that leads to the splendid hall.
In addition to all this, there is an archaeological site resulting from the exploration that resulted in the finding of human bones over 3000 years old at the site.
Divers who frequent the site report that buoyancy control is the most important factor for those who want to access the cave via diving. This is because the cylinder can bump into the cave entrance if the diver does not control his movements in the water well.
It is only possible to enter the cave by two divers at a time and the sight of the colorful schools in the sunlight is indescribable.
The Pinguino Ship is one of the most visited and most interesting diving spots on Ilha Grande! The ship was a freighter from Panama, which sank in 1967 and became a shelter for large stingrays and many groupers and whiting that inhabit its interior.
Divers who are just starting out in the sport can view the ship from the outside, if they don't already have the necessary skills to explore the inside of the ship, but the view, in any case, is impressive and very beautiful.
The curiosity about this ship is that it sank due to a fire caused by a short in the ship's engine room.
the helicopter
The wrecked helicopter is also a well-known diving spot and explored by experienced divers or beginners in search of views of the seabed.
Interestingly, the helicopter wrecked in Ilha Grande is the only helicopter wreck that has become a tourist attraction and diving point along the entire Brazilian coast.
Thus, since 1998, Ilha Grande has received divers who want to know the wreckage that is between nine and twelve meters deep, scattered on the seabed.
As the place where the helicopter and the Pinguino Ship are facing the ocean, marine life is extremely abundant there, and it is possible to see plants and animals in intense quantities during the dives.
California shipwreck
The name of this ship, in fact, is the Vapor Rio de Janeiro, but it was mistakenly known as the California shipwreck due to a mistake made by historians who sought to identify the ship that sank there in 1866.
For a long time it was believed that the steamer had sunk due to an attack by pirates, a version that was discredited when it was identified that, in fact, what happened was a fire that caused the vessel to sink.
Although it is no longer in one place, as pieces of the vessel have been scattered across the sea floor, it is possible to see large parts of the ship, such as boilers and anchors.
Like all shipwrecks that are under the sea, California is home to intense marine life that can be observed by divers on site!
Wreck diving facts
In Brazil, dives that explore shipwrecks have become very famous, both for the curiosity that the stories that led to shipwrecks provoke, but also for the beauty formed by the debris of old ships and the marine life that is built from them.
However, although there are a good number of shipwrecks to visit on the coast of Brazil and some of the most beautiful and important are located on Ilha Grande, it is not so simple to get into shipwrecks while diving.
Here are some curiosities and tips for those who want to dive exploring old vessels under the sea of Ilha Grande!
- It is always possible to circle the shipwreck
The boat dodge is so called by divers because it is the act of diving around the sunken ship and exploring the surroundings. This can be done by divers who still do not have much experience and buoyancy control, which is not always possible when one intends to enter the vessel.
- The interior of the vessel can cause disorientation
It was in Pinguino itself that a famous accident took place that drew attention to the care that one must have when entering wrecked vessels for exploration.
Two divers who had no experience on boats boarded the ship and were unable to get out due to the disorientation that is common when entering such places on the seabed.
Some precautions that can prevent this from happening is to visit the place with an experienced monitor who knows the seabed and the wreck in question.
- The structure can change in a short time
Wrecked vessels corrode and can dismantle and even collapse from one moment to the next, so care and understanding is needed about the modification that is common in the structure of the vessel, sometimes in a short time.
Therefore, even those who know a certain vessel and are used to diving there need to check the conditions of the structure and orient themselves according to a fixed point so as not to encounter problems when starting the dive.
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