Good to know
Good to Know
- São Paulo city itself is inland; all diving requires travel to coastal towns (1–2 hours by car to Santos, Ubatuba, or São Sebastião). Plan accordingly.
- Manta ray season (May–September) peaks in fall/winter but varies year to year. For guaranteed large pelagic sightings, target October–April when visibility is clearest.
- Summer (December–March) offers the warmest water (24–28°C) but also busier dive schedules. October, November, and April offer excellent conditions with fewer crowds.
- Laje de Santos Marine Park is a protected area. Mooring buoys are mandatory; anchoring is prohibited. Follow all conservation guidelines—no collection of organisms, and island/reef landings require authorization.
- Visibility is typically 5–20 meters but improves significantly in summer to 25 meters. Winter visibility can be variable.
- Strong currents at some sites enable drift diving; sheltered alternatives exist for newer divers.
- Cold currents from Antarctic waters support rich marine life, including whale sharks, manta rays, and 200+ reef fish species.
- Technical dives (e.g., Corveta wreck) require advanced certification and significant logged dives.
- São Paulo city is landlocked but serves as the primary hub for scuba diving in southeastern Brazil, with organized weekend packages from multiple operators that include transportation and gear rental to coastal dive sites.
- Popular dive destinations are 3–5 hours away by car or bus from the city (Ubatuba, Ilhabela, Santos, Laje de Santos, Paraty), reachable in a day trip.
- Peak diving season is October–April when Atlantic waters offer improved visibility and calmer conditions.
- Many operators offer both recreational PADI courses and technical/advanced certifications (TecRec, Freediving, Instructor Development) in-house, so progression to higher levels is feasible without leaving the city.
Dive Sites
Laje De Santos Marine Park
- Type
- Mixed reef, wreck, and rock formation site
- Depth Range
- 8–60 meters depending on specific dive within the park
- Marine Life
- Giant manta rays (May–September traditionally), whale sharks, sea turtles, grouper, moray eels, wrasse, parrotfish, grunts, sergeant majors, damselfish, porgies, blennies. Close to 200 species of reef fish total.
- Accessibility
- Boat-dependent. Located 25 nautical miles (42–50 km) offshore from Santos port, approximately 1.5 hours by boat from São Vicente
- Conservation Notes
- Marine Protected Area. Mooring buoys required; anchoring prohibited. Capture or collection of marine organisms prohibited. Island/reef landings require authorization.
Key Dives
Moreia (Moreja) Wreck
- Details
- Fishing boat deliberately sunk in 1995 to attract marine life. Located on the easterly end of Laje de Santos.
- Site Type
- wreck
Depth
- Feet
- 72
- Meters
- 22
Anchor Ledge
- Depth
- Deeper than Moreia, typically 25+ meters
- Details
- Located west end of Laje de Santos. Anchors from lost fishing boats sit among rocks. Frequented by large grouper and pelagic fish.
- Site Type
- reef/rock formation
Boca Da Baleia
- Details
- South side of Laje de Santos. Rock formation. Frequent sightings of sea turtles, large fish, and benthic species. Suitable only for experienced divers in calm conditions.
- Site Type
- rock formation
Depth
- Feet
- 59
- Meters
- 18
Portinho
- Details
- Sheltered northern side of Laje. Smooth rocky slope inhabited by benthic fish, invertebrates, and frequent sea turtles.
- Site Type
- reef/rocky slope
Depth
- Feet
- 66
- Meters
- 20
Piscinas
- Depth
- Shallow
- Details
- Shallow reef area ideal for photography. Calm conditions with abundant reef fish.
- Site Type
- reef
Corveta (Corvette Warship)
- Details
- Technical dive. Warship sunk in 1982 after hitting uncharted rock. Requires 50+ logged dives and Nitrox certification. In very good condition.
- Site Type
- wreck
Depth
- Feet
- 197
- Meters
- 60
Montão De Trigo (Ilha Monte De Trigo)
- Type
- Rock formation / Island
- Details
- Island with conical shape resembling a wheat pile. Submerged cables, truck chassis, anchor, and statue of Neptune at bottom. Abundant and diverse marine life.
- Depth Range
- Variable; typical recreational depth 8–25 meters
- Marine Life
- Fish, turtles, rays, diverse marine species
- Accessibility
- Boat-dependent. Located approximately 10 km from mainland, between Bertioga bay and São Sebastião channel. Access from São Sebastião or nearby coastal towns.
Archipelago with Multiple Reef and Beach Sites
- Name
- Alcatrazes Archipelago (Saco do Oratório, Saco do Eustáquio / Praia do Eustáquio)
- Details
- Relatively sheltered. Can have cold waters in winter and thermoclines common in summer. Abundant and diverse marine life due to protection status.
- Depth Range
- 10–23 meters
- Marine Life
- Turtles, marine snakes, diverse fish species
- Accessibility
- Boat-dependent. Most pristine marine area in state of São Paulo. Diving opened to public in December 2018 after 30+ years of prohibition by Brazilian Navy.
- Conditions Note
- Consult operator regarding current on site
Multiple Reef and Shore-accessible Sites
- Name
- Ubatuba area sites (including Ilha das Couves, Ilha das Cabras, Montão de Trigo area)
- Depth Range
- Varies; typical 8–20 meters
- Marine Life
- Grouper, various reef fish, turtles
- Accessibility
- Mix of shore-accessible and boat-accessible sites. Some accessed by boat from various piers in Ubatuba.
Key Locations
Ilha Das Couves
- Details
- Crystal-clear waters, Atlantic forest vegetation, seven-hour excursions available
- Site Type
- island
Ilha Das Cabras
- Details
- Usual site for Open Water Diver training
- Site Type
- reef/island
- Accessibility
- Close to Ilha das Couves, in front of Ubatumirim beach
Ilhabela Area Sites
- Type
- Rocky reef and cave diving
- Details
- Clear waters, rocky reefs, caves, and small wrecks in calm, protected bays
- Accessibility
- Boat-dependent from Ilhabela
São Sebastião Area Sites
- Type
- Rocky reefs, caves, wrecks
- Details
- Rocky reefs, caves, walls, and small wrecks in calm, protected bays. Diverse marine life including sea turtles, moray eels, tropical fish.
- Accessibility
- Boat-dependent from São Sebastião
Queimada Grande
- Type
- Rock formation
- Details
- Abundant underwater life, including grouper. Automatic navigation light on island makes it easy to find.
- Depth Range
- 200-meter high rock
- Accessibility
- Boat-dependent. Approximately 34 nautical miles from São Paulo
Water Conditions
- Currents
- Strong currents enable drift diving at some sites; mild to moderate at others; tidal changes can increase current strength
- Visibility
- 5–25 meters typical; improves in summer to 25 meters; visibility of 10–20 meters common
Temperature Range
Cool Season
- Celsius
- 20
- Fahrenheit
- 68
Warm Season
- Celsius
- 26
- Fahrenheit
- 79
Courses And Operators
- Operator Density
- Multiple named PADI dive centers in the city; Narwhal operates four units (three in São Paulo city, one in Ilhabela); other established operators include Diving College (since 1988, trained thousands), Espaço Mergulho, Koka-Sub (PADI 5 Star IDC, 34+ years operating, 20 instructors), Dive For Fun (SDI/TDI, since 2009, 5,000+ trained students), and additional shops such as BR Sub, Narwhal Perdizes, Choco Dive, and ScubaPoint. City is described as 'crowded with diving shops.'
- Freediving Details
- Freediver certification courses are offered at multiple centers including Espaço Mergulho, which explicitly lists PADI Freediving as one of its course offerings alongside recreational and technical scuba.
- Freediving Crossover
- Yes
- Pool Training Details
- Multiple operators have heated onsite pools and classroom facilities for confined-water training before open-water certification.
- Pool Training Available
- Yes
Certification Bodies And Levels
PADI
- Notes
- PADI is the primary certification body in São Paulo with multiple dive centers offering comprehensive recreational and professional training.
Levels Available
- Open Water
- Advanced Open Water
- Rescue
- Divemaster
- Instructor Development
- Freediver
- Technical (TecRec)
SDI/TDI
- Notes
- SDI and TDI courses are offered at select operators alongside PADI training.
Levels Available
- Beginner to Professional
- Technical
SSI
- Notes
- SSI Basic Diver certification available through some operators in the region.
Levels Available
- Basic Diver
- Scuba Diver
São Paulo city is not directly on the coast but serves as a major hub for scuba diving trips to nearby coastal destinations. All dive sites listed below are accessed via boat departures from coastal towns 1-3 hours from São Paulo city.
Best Season
- Details
- Weather conditions stable, water visibility improves. Summer months (December to March) offer warmest temperatures of 24–28°C. May to August brings cooler waters and less predictable visibility.
- Primary
- October to April
- Manta Ray Season
- Fall and winter (May to September traditionally, though in some recent years rays have arrived as early as March)
Diving Accessibility
Predominantly boat-dependent from coastal towns. Day boats available; most sites accessible within 0.5–3 hours boat travel from shore. No liveaboard requirement, though some remote sites (e.g., São Pedro & São Paulo archipelago, Queimada Grande) are further offshore. Beginner-friendly sites available; advanced/technical dives also present.
Dive Operators
Numerous PADI-certified dive centers in São Paulo city offer pool training, open water certification, and organized excursions to coastal sites. Equipment rental available.
Marine Life Highlights
Manta rays, whale sharks, mobula rays, pelagic fish, grouper, moray eels, sea turtles, wrasse, parrotfish, grunts, sergeant majors, damselfish, porgies, blennies, sharks
AI-generated estimateData refreshed September 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this scuba diving research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About São Paulo
Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.