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Grassy rocky islet in clear blue water, seen over dark layered shore rocks at the mouth of the Canal do Itajuru — Cabo Frio

Cabo Frio · Brazil · Reef

Ilha do Breu

The outermost island, where big encounters are not rare

Area photo: Halley Pacheco de Oliveira · CC BY-SA 3.0

Ilha do Breu is the outermost of Cabo Frio's islands. It usually takes heavier swell and currents, so dives here need more care, but a varied and plentiful fauna makes up for the longer boat ride and big encounters are not rare. Depths run from 13 to 25 m.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Ilha do Breu: typical dive 13–25 m (43–82 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit13 m25 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

22.8448° S, 41.8917° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.

The dive

Breu is the farthest of the islands from Cabo Frio, so the boat ride out takes longer than the run to the inner sites. Being the outermost island, it usually takes heavier swell and currents, and the dive is planned with more care than at the inner islands.

Depths around the island run from 13 m to 25 m. The reward for the longer ride and the rougher water is the fauna: it is varied and plentiful, and big encounters are not rare around Breu.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Ilha do Breu
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairPrimeFairFairFairFairFairFairFairFair

Season follows Cabo Frio: April is the best time of year for diving off Cabo Frio and neighbouring Arraial do Cabo.

Know before you go

  • Breu usually takes heavier swell and currents than the inner islands, so the dive needs more care.
  • It is the farthest island from the canal, so the boat ride out and back is longer than to the other sites.

Questions divers ask

How deep is Ilha do Breu?+

Depths at Ilha do Breu run from 13 to 25 m, and the local operator recommends Advanced certification for the site.

Sources

  1. Breu - Barracuda Cabo Frio — Barracuda Cabo Frio
  2. Pontos de mergulho em Cabo Frio — Barracuda Cabo Frio
  3. Ilha do Breu, Cabo Frio (OpenStreetMap Nominatim) — OpenStreetMap

More dive sites in Cabo Frio

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Dois Irmãos

A wind-exposed west face at 12 to 24 m and a fissure at 16 m

12–24 madvanced

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Ilha dos Capões

Current-swept island with reliable encounters at 13 to 25 m

13–25 mintermediate

Reef

Ilha dos Papagaios

Sheltered coves on the closest island, 30 minutes from the canal

6–27 mintermediate

Channel & pass

Ilha Redonda

The channel between Redonda and Comprida, down to 18 m

to 18 mbeginner

Similar dives elsewhere

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Badejo Quadrado – Poita 9

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Farol – Poita 16

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