Fernando de Noronha is a fantastic destination for all divers, with its twenty-one islands and many sheltered bays. A UNESCO world heritage site and home to marine life in abundance, this area is washed by light currents that provide some incredible drift diving opportunities. Here are just three of the many dive sites the archipelago has to offer.
Buraco Das Cabras
A magnificent drift dive past not only one, but two of Fernando de Noronha’s many islands, Buraco Das Cabras is also one of the most colorful dive sites the area has to offer. The dive begins in the sea just offshore from the islands, with the current carrying you into the inner reaches where more protected waters await. Joined by fleets of sleek blue barracudas and huge black jacks, you’ll find yourself passing through a submerged cluster of rock formations that looks like the ruins of an ancient castle. The corals and sponges here create a vivid tapestry that provides a backdrop for a rainbow of tropical fish, as well as a number of larger creatures; hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and turtles have been spotted at this site, and huge lobsters, octopus, and queen angelfish are seen on just about every dive. Incredibly, maximum depth is just 16 meters.
Resurreta
Probably the most requested of all the area’s dive sites, Resurreta takes place between Meio and Rata Islands, where the current from the outer ocean carries divers past underwater canyons and rock formations covered in brilliant swathes of coral and sponge. An outstanding site for all divers, and even suitable for novices, Resurreta features maximum depth at just 13 meters. The area is home to an endless array of colorful reef fish and crustaceans, plus there are plenty of larger visitors to be seen, including turtles, reef sharks, and the occasional manta ray. The site is even more amazing at night, when soft corals and nudibranchs, octopus, and night time predators put on an unforgettable show.
Cabeco da Sapata
Suitable only for experienced divers, Cabeco da Sapata is a small sea mount that rises from the ocean floor at a depth of 43 meters, to nearly brush the surface. Washed by steady currents that can be extremely intense, it is a site that features big fish activity, predators like hammerhead sharks and large reef sharks, and lots of sea turtles. Huge schools of pompano, triggerfish, grunts, and chromis are often encountered here, and there are plenty of lobsters and other crustaceans in attendance. It is possible to explore the entire seamount from bottom to top, and if you’ve got the energy, this is a site you’ll want to visit again and again.
During the summer months, visibility at dive sites around Fernando de Noronha is often as much as fifty meters, and in addition to these drift dives, the area features a number of wrecks and some splendid caves to explore. Topside, hiking and bird watching are favorite activities. As you might imagine, this area is very popular, particularly during the dry season, from October until about February. Plan your trip well in advance, and prepare to be amazed.