Diving in Fernando de Noronha: the complete guide to the best of the island's sea

Fernando de Noronha is recognized worldwide as one of the best diving destinations on the planet. The combination is rare: crystal-clear water with visibility over 30 meters most of the year, a stable temperature around 26–28°C, abundant marine life and volcanic formations that create walls, caves and unique dive sites. It's the kind of place where you enter the water for the first time and never forget what you saw.

At Noronha's dive sites it's common to cross paths with green turtles, nurse sharks sleeping on the bottom, rays, giant schools of jacks and sardines, moray eels, octopus and — with a bit of luck — spinner dolphins and even lemon sharks. There are also wrecks such as the Corveta V17 Ipiranga, at around 60 meters — for many, the best dive in Brazil, but a technical dive that requires advanced certification and Nitrox: not for every certified diver.

No. This is the most common question from people arriving on the island, and the good news is: you can dive in Noronha even without ever having put a tank on your back. What changes is the format of the dive.

Within discover and certified dives, there's a second important split: whether the dive is done from the beach or from a boat. Each format has different advantages.

Noronha has more than 20 certified dive sites — from shallow, calm reefs starting around 8 meters, to technical walls over 40 meters and the legendary Corveta wreck, at 60 meters. Below, the main ones, from shallowest to deepest:

• Ressurreta (8–12 m) — Between Ilha Rata and Ilha do Meio, it's one of the calmest sites on the island: used for both discover dives and night dives. Groupers, barracudas and passing fish circulate here.

• Ilha do Meio (up to 15 m) — Sheltered between the Mar de Dentro and the Mar de Fora, it's calm and extremely rich in marine life. Its small caves almost always hold a surprise.

• Buraco do Inferno (up to 15 m) — The name is scary, but the underwater grotto is pure beauty: striking rock formations and frequent encounters with turtles, lobsters and octopus.

• Buraco das Cabras (~15 m) — Volcanic rocks that shelter turtles, rays, surgeonfish, creole wrasses, corals, sponges and many schools of fish. A drift dive that starts in the Mar de Fora and ends in the Mar de Dentro.

• Pedras Secas (~15 m) — One of the most famous sites in Brazil. The topography alone justifies the visit: corridors, canyons, arches, grottoes and caves where barracudas, rays, turtles and lobsters pass through.

• Caverna da Sapata (~15 m) — A stunning cave, about 15 m high and 30 m long, where spotted eagle rays, groupers and other large fish live. Even with current, it welcomes both basic and advanced divers.

• Morro de Fora (up to 16 m) — Close to Praia da Conceição, known for its concentration of fire corals. Moray eels, blennies, trumpetfish and pufferfish hide among the rocks.

• Caieiras (~17 m) — Between three rock formations and full of algae, it's a resting and feeding area for turtles. Every so often sharpnose sharks, schools of fish and barracudas show up.

• Cabeço das Cordas (17–33 m) — Currents bring in schools of jacks, creole wrasses and snappers. The shallow part, up to 17 m, is great for basic certified divers; advanced divers go down to 33 m.

• Ilha do Frade (8–22 m) — In the Mar de Fora, in front of Praia do Atalaia, it charms with a great variety of fish, plus rays, turtles, lobsters and moray eels.

• Laje Dois Irmãos (up to 22 m) — Off the morro of the same name, it's a certified-dive classic: turtles, spotted eagle rays and sharks show up easily.

• Trinta Réis (22 m) — A small island in the Mar de Fora, in front of Enseada dos Abreus. The highlight is the passage through a canyon between two rock walls, with sharks, rays, turtles and large schools of surgeonfish and creole wrasses.

• Cabeço Submarino (up to 23 m) — In front of Baía do Sueste, it's one of the most interesting formations in the Mar de Fora. The spiral ascent reveals lobsters, barracudas, turtles, many schools of fish and, sometimes, sharks.

• Iuias (12–25 m) — Canyon and cave topography similar to Pedras Secas. Because it's deep, distant and with current, it's reserved for the more experienced — and rewards with plenty of fish and frequent shark sightings.

• Cordilheiras (30 m) — Near Ilha da Rata, a breathtaking rock wall for both its formation and its marine diversity.

• Cagarras (up to 34 m) — Very versatile: starts in sheltered water (even receives discover dives) and drops down walls that reach 34 m. Lobsters, octopus and rays are among the residents.

• Macaxeira (40 m) — At the far north, in the Mar de Fora, with constant current leading to a wall of collapsed rocks. Then comes an algae plateau with jacks, horse mackerel, xiras, anchovies and spotted eagle rays, plus the famous Garden Eels — and, every now and then, nurse and lemon sharks.

• Cabeço da Sapata (42 m) — A multilevel site recommended for advanced and technical divers. Deep down you find dusky groupers, black groupers, rays and, occasionally, sharks.

• Corveta V17 Ipiranga (~60 m) — One of the country's most famous wrecks and, for many, the best dive in Brazil. The Navy corvette keeps its structure preserved, with items left by the crew inside. It's a technical dive: requires advanced certification, Nitrox and specific prerequisites — not every certified diver is qualified, so talk to us first.

The choice of site depends on your certification level, sea conditions and the tide of the day — we'll help you build the ideal dive for your profile.

Taking your dive course in Noronha is one of the most transformative experiences the island offers. You leave internationally certified, with a card valid for life, and use the most beautiful dive sites in Brazil as your classroom. We work with the SSI and PADI certifications, the two most recognized in the world.

See all options at /en/courses.

Noronha has diving year-round, but the window from March to November usually delivers the best conditions: calmer sea, visibility around 30 to 40 meters and less swell impact. Between December and February there's a higher chance of rougher seas and slightly reduced visibility on some days — even so, many outings remain excellent.

A practical rule: dives are generally done at high tide, when conditions are more favorable. That's why the departure time changes every day — we organize this for you at the time of booking. See more in the guide to the best time to visit Fernando de Noronha.