Parcel do Bandolim

Parcel do Bandolim is part of the Laje de Santos Marine State Park, created by Decree 37,537 of 27 September 1993 as the first marine park in the state of São Paulo. The site is a submerged scattering of rocks. Because there are no other islands or rock formations nearby, the park's rocks concentrate many marine species, which find shelter, breeding grounds and food there.

Large passing fish can be seen at the site. The park's rocky shores and reefs are covered by macroalgae, zoanthids, hydrozoans, ascidians, octocorals and colonies of the corals Madracis decactis and Mussismilia hispida. In the park you can also see resident and passing schools of fish, crustaceans, sponges, molluscs, corals and turtles, and large schools of pelagic fish, such as bonito, sardinha and olhete, use the area for feeding and breeding.

The manta ray is the park's symbol animal. With a wingspan of up to 5 m, manta rays tend to gather in the park during winter, probably to breed, and are most common between May and August. The park's water averages around 22 °C and can reach 27 °C from mid-January until the arrival of autumn.