Búzios · Brazil · Wall · Reef
Ilha de Âncora
Rock walls and many turtles, 11 km off the coast
Area photo: Alberto1939 · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ilha de Âncora is an island 11 km off the Búzios coast and one of the main dive destinations for divers from Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frio and Búzios. Its dive points run from 8 to 30 m, welcoming both beginners and advanced divers, and turtles, rays, morays and passing shoals are the draw.
Also known as Ilha de Ancora, Ilha da Âncora.
Where it is and how deep
22.7696° S, 41.7887° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat runs 11 km out from the Búzios coast to the island, passing Ilha de Gravatás on the way, and goes whenever sea conditions allow. Around Âncora there are several dive points with rock walls, and their depths range from 8 m in the shallows to 30 m at the deepest, so the island takes both beginners and advanced divers.
Ocean currents reach the island, and visibility averages above 15 m, with some days above 20 m. It is treated as a sanctuary for marine animals: many shoals pass through, and large reef fish, turtles, rays and moray eels are seen around the points. Upwelling brings an abundance of marine life, and the closeness to the mainland and the good diving conditions draw divers from Arraial do Cabo, Cabo Frio and Búzios.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Búzios: Breezes blow harder in winter and most rain falls Nov–Mar; each day's dive route is set by the sea conditions.
Know before you go
- Ocean currents reach the island, 11 km offshore, and trips run only when sea conditions allow.
Dive videos
Ilha de Âncora MAIO 2015 · Búzios Divers on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the diving at Ilha de Âncora?+
The dive points around Ilha de Âncora range from 8 to 30 m, which suits both beginners and advanced divers.
How far offshore is Ilha de Âncora?+
Ilha de Âncora lies 11 km off the Búzios coast and is reached by day boat.
Sources
- Ilha de Ancora dive site — Scubago
- Ilha de Âncora — Scuba Búzios
- Búzios Divers — Búzios Divers
- Ilha da Âncora, Búzios (OpenStreetMap Nominatim) — OpenStreetMap
More dive sites in Búzios
Wall
A boulder wall to 30 m on the way to Ilha de Âncora
Reef
Try-dive site with corals and fish, never deeper than 12 m
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