Key safety realities for Abrolhos diving:

Offshore boat operations: plan for longer transits, ladder entries, and surface current.
Carry an SMB on every dive and practice controlled ascents and safety stops.
Dive conservatively. Remote logistics make emergency response slower than in urban dive hubs.
Conditions can change quickly with wind. If crossings are rough, do not push for extra sites.
Wildlife: whales are observation-only. Do not attempt in-water interactions.

Medical support is limited offshore.

Before travel, confirm your operator has emergency oxygen, first aid, and a clear evacuation plan to the mainland.
Consider dive accident insurance (for example, DAN) that covers evacuation and hyperbaric treatment.
In a suspected decompression illness event, treat it as an emergency: administer oxygen, stop diving, hydrate if conscious, and coordinate evacuation through the operator and emergency services.
Save the Brazilian maritime emergency number (185) and standard emergency numbers (192, 193, 190) offline before departure.

Key safety realities for Abrolhos diving:

Offshore boat operations: plan for longer transits, ladder entries, and surface current.
Carry an SMB on every dive and practice controlled ascents and safety stops.
Dive conservatively. Remote logistics make emergency response slower than in urban dive hubs.
Conditions can change quickly with wind. If crossings are rough, do not push for extra sites.
Wildlife: whales are observation-only. Do not attempt in-water interactions.

Medical support is limited offshore.

Before travel, confirm your operator has emergency oxygen, first aid, and a clear evacuation plan to the mainland.
Consider dive accident insurance (for example, DAN) that covers evacuation and hyperbaric treatment.
In a suspected decompression illness event, treat it as an emergency: administer oxygen, stop diving, hydrate if conscious, and coordinate evacuation through the operator and emergency services.
Save the Brazilian maritime emergency number (185) and standard emergency numbers (192, 193, 190) offline before departure.

Abrolhos trips are weather-dependent. Strong winds can make crossings unsafe or uncomfortable, so keep a buffer day.

Treat this like an expedition boat trip. Start meds early, hydrate, and keep dry gear accessible in a sealed bag.

Once you leave Caravelas, help is farther away. Dive conservatively, use a computer, and carry insurance that covers evacuation.

Expect enforcement around no-touch diving, wildlife distances, and prohibited equipment like gloves and knives for recreational dives.

Abrolhos reefs are fragile and globally important.

Follow ICMBio rules: diving only with authorized operators and guides, no gloves or knives for recreational divers, and no touching or collecting.
Keep buoyancy tight over shallow coral and avoid fin kicks that stir sand onto reefs.
Use reef-safe sunscreen and reduce plastics on boats (bring a refillable bottle).
Whale watching must follow minimum approach distances, and you should not enter the water with whales.
Support local conservation groups such as Projeto Baleia Jubarte and sea turtle protection initiatives.

Contact	Role	Phone	Availability
Marinha do Brasil - Emergencias Maritimas e Fluviais (SALVAMAR)	Maritime search and rescue	185	24/7
MRCC Salvador (SALVAMAR Leste)	Regional maritime rescue coordination (Bahia)	+55 (71) 3507-3730 / 3507-3733	24/7
SAMU	Ambulance / medical emergency	192	24/7
Corpo de Bombeiros	Fire and rescue	193	24/7
Policia Militar	Police emergency	190	24/7

Abrolhos Marine National Park

Safety And Conservation