Alcatrazes Archipelago · Brazil · Reef
Baba de Boi – Poita 4
The refuge's low-difficulty mooring, shallow enough for try-dives
Area photo: Marcos Simanovic · CC BY-SA 3.0
Baba de Boi is mooring 4 in Saco do Funil, on the side of Alcatrazes sheltered from the southwest wind. Rocky shore covered in algae and coral runs from 4 to 15 m, with turtles, nudibranchs and colourful reef fish. It is the easiest scuba mooring in the refuge and the one used for try-dives.
Also known as Baba de Boi.
Where it is and how deep
24.0978° S, 45.6881° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat ties on to mooring 4 in Saco do Funil, a cove sheltered from southwest wind, and divers drop down the line onto rocky shore. The reef starts at about 4 m and slopes to around 15 m, so the whole dive stays within open-water limits and leaves plenty of time on the shallower rock at the end.
The rock is covered in algae and coral. Colourful reef fish and turtles live along the rocky shore, with invertebrates such as nudibranchs, anemones, crabs, shrimps and urchins. The same mooring is used for try-dives, freediving and snorkelling, and low-impact water sports such as kayaking and stand-up paddling are allowed there too.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Nudibranchs
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Alcatrazes Archipelago: October to April is the better half of the year; February to April brings calmer sea and weaker currents, and September the coldest water.
Know before you go
- Urchins live on the rocky shore; keep hands and knees off the rock when settling near the bottom.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Baba de Boi in Alcatrazes?+
Baba de Boi, mooring 4 in Saco do Funil, runs from 4 to 15 m and is rated low difficulty, including for try-dives.
Sources
- Alcatrazes – pontos de mergulho e visitação (Narwhal) — Narwhal
- Saco do Funil - Alcatrazes — ScubaGo
More dive sites in Alcatrazes Archipelago
Portinho mooring out of the east wind, reef and walls to 25 m
Reef
The exposed mooring, with walls and boulders from 10 to 25 m
The densest brain coral cover in the Alcatrazes archipelago
Open-sea granite walls to 60 m with big schools and strong current
Reef
Reef, walls and a cave on one mooring, from 4 to 30 m
Similar dives elsewhere
A shallow rock at the islet's edge where turtles gather
Fish-crowded boulder outcrop with rays on the sand
A large chamber full of fish at the island's southern point
A submerged Christ the Redeemer statue and an aeroplane wreck at the south end