Florianópolis sits in southern Brazil where the Atlantic presents noticeably different conditions from the tropical north. Water temperatures shift substantially across the year, reaching the mid-twenties in the austral summer and dropping to the high teens in winter, making a wetsuit essential for much of the year. Sites range from shallow rocky reefs and island dives accessible to beginners through to deeper pinnacles and walls such as Parcel de Torres, which suits advanced divers. The species list reflects the temperate influence, with hammerhead and mako sharks, eagle rays, torpedo rays, and lined seahorses recorded across the region. Best diving is during the warmer months from October through April, when visibility and conditions at most sites are more favourable.
Monthly water temperature across Florianópolis's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Temperatures drop to the high teens in winter, and cold fronts between June and August can reduce visibility significantly at most sites. The warmer summer period from October through April is the preferred window for diving, when water temperatures climb into the mid-twenties and conditions stabilise. Visibility across sites generally runs between five and twenty metres, with deeper offshore sites tending to be clearer.
2 operators
Water temperature around Florianópolis ranges from about 18°C in July to 24°C in January, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 24°C) a 3mm full suit is comfortable in Florianópolis; in the coldest months (about 18°C) step up to a 5mm suit.
Fin maps 6 sites in Florianópolis (5 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots).
Across Florianópolis's dive sites, January, February, March, November and December are most often reported as the best months to visit.
3 more sites to explore
