Activities · Destination Guide
Rainforest islands, reef dives, and beach-hike days on Brazil's Costa Verde
Updated Jan 23, 2026 • 21 sources
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Scuba here is about flexibility. The Ilha Grande bay gives you sheltered reefs and training-friendly shore entries, while Angra's outer islands add pinnacles, passages, and wrecks when the sea is calm. Expect variable visibility, lots of rock structure, and a mix of macro life (octopus, morays, seahorses) with bigger moments (rays and big schools). Most divers base in Vila do Abraao and go out with local operators for morning boats, then return for hikes or beach time. For classic Costa Verde variety, pair a shallow reef like Parcel da Laje Branca with a deeper site like Parcel do Coronel, then finish with a history dive on a steamboat wreck.
Rock formations and crevices in a shallow band (about {{ 8 | distance:m }} to {{ 15 | distance:m }}) make this a great warmup dive and an easy place to hunt for turtles, morays, seahorses, and octopus.
A longer reef structure that reaches down to about {{ 26 | distance:m }} and stretches roughly {{ 200 | distance:m }}.
A classic Ilha Grande reefandrock shoreline dive with easy navigation and photofriendly light.
Historic steamboat wreck remains with visible machinery components.
A popular local wreck target when sea state allows.
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