Five volcanic islands make up the archipelago of Abrolhos, which is located about seventy kilometers from the coast of mainland Brazil. Only visited by liveaboards, and completely unoccupied but for a few gamekeepers and the lighthouse crew, this park features desert-like conditions topside, but beneath the crystalline blue waters, wonders await. Put on your shorty – temperatures here are between 24 and 28 degrees Celsius – and enjoy a peek into this magical underwater world.
Marine Life
Famous due to the sheer and diverse concentration of life, which is thought to be the most abundant in the South Atlantic, Abrolhos Marine National Park features unique and complex ecosystems including mangrove forests and coral reefs. There are 270 catalogued species of reef and shore fish present here, along with green sea turtles, loggerhead sea turtles, and dolphins, as well as manta rays and a stunning array of invertebrates including nudibranchs, octopus, and many types of crustaceans.
Cetacean life is abundant in the park as well; in addition to the dolphins that stay here year-round, the area is a calving ground for Humpback whales, who spend the months between July and November here. Not only can you view them from the surface, you can snorkel and dive nearby for a look at the 40 ton mothers and their calves, which are born measuring about 3 meters long; with voracious appetites, these young whales consume an astonishing 200 liters of milk per day.
Diving Conditions
The average daily water temperature is close to 26 degrees Celsius, sometimes dropping to 24 degrees and sometimes heating up to 28 degrees; visibility during the rainy season is generally around 10 meters, but during the dry season, which is typically between December and April, visibility opens up to an average of about 20 meters. Depths vary, with plenty to see in very shallow water, and currents tend to be light.
Getting There
Only authorized vessels are allowed into the Abrolhos region, which is patrolled against the illegal fishing operations that often attempt to sneak into the park. There is no airport, so everyone arrives by boat; expect a six to seven hour journey on a sailboat, or if you come on a faster yacht, expect your journey to last two to three hours. It is possible to rent catamarans and sailboats in Caravelas as well.
Of the five islands, only Siriba is accessible to those who wish to visit on foot; and all foot traffic is carefully monitored by the Brazilian environmental agency, IBAMA. On the islands, birds and other animals can be seen; notably, the colonies of masked boobies and frigate birds that nest here.
Most organized tours to the Albrohos Islands take place over the course of two to three days, with both day and night dives, as well as plenty of opportunities to snorkel available. All certified divers are welcome; be sure to bring your camera and redundant equipment in case anything malfunctions, and remember your binoculars, too – you’ll need them to get a close up look at the seabirds and the whales.