Cabo Frio · Brazil · Reef
Ilha dos Papagaios
Sheltered coves on the closest island, 30 minutes from the canal
Area photo: Halley Pacheco de Oliveira · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ilha dos Papagaios is the nearest of Cabo Frio's dive islands, about 30 minutes by boat from the canal, and holds the most sheltered and accessible sites in the area. Its coves suit new and experienced divers, depths run from 6 to 27 m, and turtles, groupers and moray eels are common sightings.
Where it is and how deep
22.8967° S, 41.9820° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The island lies almost crosswise to the prevailing winds, so one side or the other always offers a sheltered spot to dive. Which cove is dived depends on the day: the best conditions are usually in the three Enseadas Oeste (the west coves) and at Buraco de Mimi, and on some days the Enseadas Leste, Saco do Funil, Paredão Oeste and Ponta Sul are calm enough to dive as well.
Depths around the island run from 6 m in the shallows to 27 m at the deepest. Turtles, wrasses, trumpetfish, groupers and moray eels are common sightings, among other fish, and open-water fish pass through from time to time. The coves are sheltered from the prevailing winds, which makes them a place for new divers, while the deeper sections give experienced divers more to explore.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Groupers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Cabo Frio: April is the best time of year for diving off Cabo Frio and neighbouring Arraial do Cabo.
Dive videos
Cabo frio - ilha dos papagaios - julho 2016 · Tiburón Dive Shop on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the diving at Ilha dos Papagaios?+
Depths at Ilha dos Papagaios run from 6 m in the shallows to 27 m at the deepest point.
How far is Ilha dos Papagaios from Cabo Frio?+
It is the closest dive island to Cabo Frio, about 30 minutes by boat from the Canal Itajuru.
Sources
- Papagaios - Barracuda Cabo Frio — Barracuda Cabo Frio
- Pontos de mergulho em Cabo Frio — Barracuda Cabo Frio
- Mergulho em Cabo Frio | Pousada Porto Canal — Pousada Porto Canal / Litoral Sub
- Ilha dos Papagaios, Cabo Frio (OpenStreetMap Nominatim) — OpenStreetMap
More dive sites in Cabo Frio
Reef
A wind-exposed west face at 12 to 24 m and a fissure at 16 m
Reef
The outermost island, where big encounters are not rare
Reef
Current-swept island with reliable encounters at 13 to 25 m
Channel & pass
The channel between Redonda and Comprida, down to 18 m
Similar dives elsewhere
A U-shaped passage under an arch that stands above the water
Reef heads, corridors and tunnels at 30 m, with rays, morays and dog snapper
Portinho mooring out of the east wind, reef and walls to 25 m
The exposed mooring, with walls and boulders from 10 to 25 m