Pernambuco is, above all, a wreck-diving region. Deliberately sunk vessels and decommissioned ships line the seabed off both Recife and Porto de Galinhas, having matured into thriving artificial reefs. Recife holds the larger concentration of sites, while Porto de Galinhas offers its own cluster of notable wrecks for a broader range of skill levels. Across both sub-areas, divers reliably encounter the Green Sea Turtle and Atlantic Goliath Grouper, alongside the Nurse Shark, Spotted Eagle Ray, and Great Barracuda. Most sites are boat-accessed, and the majority lean toward intermediate to advanced divers.
2 areas
27A wreck-dominated dive destination where sunken vessels serve as artificial reefs, regularly visited by Atlantic Goliath Grouper and Green Sea Turtle.
10Shallow reef pools for beginners alongside a fleet of offshore wrecks, with Green Sea Turtle reliably observed across sites.
Monthly water temperature across Pernambuco's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature stays warm throughout the year, dipping slightly in the cooler mid-year months before climbing again toward the end of the year. The best-months data points clearly to the warmest, calmest conditions falling between late in the year and through the early months, making the period from November to February the most popular. Visibility can vary considerably between sites, so conditions reward some flexibility in planning.
37 operators
Water temperature around Pernambuco ranges from about 26°C in August to 29°C in February, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 29°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Pernambuco; in the coldest months (about 26°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 37 sites in Pernambuco (36 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both), organised into 2 areas.
Across Pernambuco's dive sites, January and February are most often reported as the best months to visit.
The Green Sea Turtle and Atlantic Goliath Grouper are observed at nearly every dive site in the region. Nurse Shark and Spotted Eagle Ray are common across the wreck sites, and Great Barracuda and Grey Reef Shark appear with reasonable regularity. Smaller creatures such as Garden Eel, Snake Eel, Cleaner Shrimp, and Cardinalfish populate the wreck structures throughout.
The majority of sites in Pernambuco are rated for intermediate or advanced divers, reflecting the depth range of most wrecks. That said, a handful of sites, including Veleiro Yemanja and Vapor de Baixo, are classed as beginner-friendly, offering shallower entry points into wreck diving. Beginners should discuss site selection with one of the local operators before heading out.
Recife accounts for the larger share of dive sites in Pernambuco, with a wide variety of wrecks spread across the area. Porto de Galinhas offers a smaller, more focused cluster of sites, including some of the most notable wrecks such as Rebocador Marte and the technically demanding Corveta Camaquã. Both sub-areas require boat access, and operators are available across both.
All dive sites listed across Pernambuco are accessed by boat. There are no shore-entry dive sites in the region. A good number of dive operators are active in both Recife and Porto de Galinhas, including Aicá Diving, Recife Dive, Porto Adventure, and Abissal Mergulho, making it straightforward to arrange guided boat trips.
