At Parcel das 5 milhas, in Alcatrazes, passing marine life dominates: large schools and bigger fish move among valleys of granite boulders covered in algae and bryozoans. The site is only operated in good sea conditions, with swell below 1 metre.
Among the shark species most often recorded in the archipelago are the hammerhead shark, the silky shark, the sand tiger shark (tubarão-mangona) and the sharpnose shark (cação-frango), which do not show aggressive behaviour. In June 2024, divers and researchers found a school of more than 100 sharks at Alcatrazes, made up of hammerhead sharks and possibly another species. The increase in fish biomass after the reduction of illegal fishing allowed larger schools of sharks to appear in the archipelago.
In the region, weather and sea conditions for boating and scuba diving tend to be better from November to May. Dolphins often accompany boats on the way to the archipelago, and whales are seen more frequently from June to September.
Information on this page, including technical data such as depth, current, visibility, access, and recommended level, is informational and may vary. Confirm actual conditions with a local operator before the dive.
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Reviews are from other divers — personal experiences, not guarantees.
