Ilha do Arvoredo offers reef, wall, pinnacle, cave and wreck diving across a range of skill levels, all reached by boat. The topography shifts from boulder-strewn shallows at sites like Orquídea and Baia Das Tartarugas through to deep walls at Toca do Frade and Calhau de São Pedro. Dusky Grouper, French Angelfish, Snake Eel and Atlantic Spadefish are observed across nearly every site, while Green Sea Turtle and Seahorse appear more selectively. Water is warmest from December through March and coolest in July and August.
Monthly water temperature across Ilha do Arvoredo's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures peak through the southern-hemisphere summer from December to March, making those months comfortable in lighter exposure suits. From July through August temperatures drop to their lowest, which tends to suit divers who prefer cooler, denser water and who are willing to layer up. December and the early months draw the strongest recommendation from logged dives, though May also scores well in the best-months data.
13 operators
4 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Ilha do Arvoredo ranges from about 18°C in July to 26°C in January, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 26°C) a 3mm full suit is comfortable in Ilha do Arvoredo; in the coldest months (about 18°C) step up to a 5mm suit.
Fin maps 16 sites in Ilha do Arvoredo (16 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Ilha do Arvoredo's dive sites, May and December are most often reported as the best months to visit.
Dusky Grouper, French Angelfish, Snake Eel and Atlantic Spadefish are observed across virtually all sites. Goatfish, Bigeyes, Grunt, Porkfish, Cornetfish and Zoanthid are also very commonly logged. Green Sea Turtle and Seahorse appear at a smaller number of sites, so treat those as a welcome bonus rather than a certainty.
Not at all. Several sites including Parcel do Engenho, Orquídea, Vidal, Naufrágio Granada and Baia Das Tartarugas are rated for beginners and offer relatively shallow, sheltered conditions. Intermediate divers are well served by sites like Cordilheira do Sul, Arvoredo and Toca do Frade, while Pedras Pretas is pitched at advanced level with stronger currents expected.
Almost all sites are reached by boat, and two operators serve the area: Água Viva Mergulho and Adrenailha Aventuras. Calhau de São Pedro is the one exception, accessible from shore. Because the island itself is some distance offshore, planning your dive day around a boat departure is essential.
The site mix covers natural reef, walls, pinnacles, caves and one wreck, the Naufrágio Granada. That variety means a single trip can include a shallow boulder site, a dramatic wall dive and a wreck exploration without repeating the same experience. Cave sections appear at Toca do Frade, Vidal, Engenho and Baia Das Tartarugas for divers who enjoy confined-space topography.
