South America · Brazil
Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier
Rocky islands 10 to 18 minutes from the Barra da Lagoa channel
Most of Florianópolis lies on Santa Catarina Island, which has many smaller islands around it, and the rocky ones off its east coast are dived by boat from the Barra da Lagoa channel. Ilha do Xavier, ten minutes out, runs from 5 to 18 m with turtles at its southern point; Ilha das Aranhas has seven crevices and steep walls to 30 m. Two wrecks, the tuna boat Alalunga VII beside Xavier and a fishing boat off Praia dos Ingleses, round out the list.
About diving in Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier
Diving here starts with a short boat ride. The centres sit around the Barra da Lagoa channel, which joins Lagoa da Conceição, lined with marinas, to the open sea; FloripaDive works from Fortaleza da Barra all year. From the channel the run is about 10 minutes to Ilha do Xavier and 18 minutes to Ilha das Aranhas on a light-wind day. The islands are uninhabited rock and boats rarely land. Which island gets dived depends on the sea and the wind on the day.
The terrain is rocky shoreline around small islands. Ilha do Xavier sits off Praia Mole and runs from 5 to 18 m, with the most varied fish life and turtles at its southern point; two rocky islets beside it fall to 30 m and hold the Alalunga VII, a tuna boat that sank in January 2008. Aranhas is two islands in an L, with seven crevices and steep walls. Octopus, rays, guitarfish, groupers, moray eels and starfish turn up across the sites, and visibility reaches 20 m on good days.
Ilha do Xavier suits every level of diver, and snorkellers too, while at small Mata Fome off Praia dos Ingleses current can run hard off its ends. Aranhas asks for more: swell direction and the moon phase can bring strong current. Divers staying in the north of the island are better placed for the Arvoredo Marine Reserve, reached from Canasvieiras, while Ilha do Campeche is open to snorkellers only, with no scuba.
Best time to dive Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime |
November to April is the best season; diving carries on all year, but a colder, nutrient-rich current can darken the water in the other months.
Best months: January, February, March, April, November, December
Dive types & marine life
Turtles and the widest variety of fish gather at the southern point of Ilha do Xavier. Octopus, rays, guitarfish, groupers, moray eels and starfish can all be seen across the sites, and numerous orange sponges grow on Ilha Mata Fome.
- Reef
- Wall
- Wreck
- Sea turtles
- Groupers
- Octopus & cuttlefish
Best dive sites in Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier
- 1
Ilha do Xavier
Island off Praia Mole, 5 to 18 m, with turtles and the most varied fish at its southern point.
- 2
Ilha das Aranhas
Two islands in an L between Santinho and Moçambique, with seven crevices and walls to 30 m.
- 3
Alalunga VII
Tuna boat that sank in January 2008 beside two rocky islets next to Ilha do Xavier.
- 4
Ilha Mata Fome
Small island off Praia dos Ingleses with numerous orange sponges; current can be strong at its ends.
- 5
Naufrágio dos Ingleses
Fishing-boat wreck under 100 m off Praia dos Ingleses, full of urchins; iron spikes need clear water.
Site guides
Artificial reef
A tuna boat lost in January 2008 beside Ilha do Xavier
Seven crevices cut into steep rock walls
A large chamber full of fish at the island's southern point
How to get to Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier
Hercílio Luz International Airport (FLN) is 12 km from the city centre. The dive centres are on the east coast at Barra da Lagoa, and boats leave through the channel that links Lagoa da Conceição with the sea.
Photos from Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier
Vanderlei Bissiato · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dive videos
Mergulho na ilha do Xavier em Florianópolis Santa Catarina Floripadive · Jehssy on YouTube
Mergulho na ilha do Xavier, Florianópolis -SC · Enoch Oehninger on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Ilha das Aranhas suitable for beginners in Florianópolis?+
Ilha do Xavier suits every level, but Aranhas, with its currents and walls to 30 m, is not recommended for beginners. Mata Fome can also run strong at its ends.
When is the best season to dive Florianópolis?+
November to April is the best season. Diving carries on all year, but in the other months a colder, nutrient-rich current can darken the water, which runs 19 to 26 °C.
How far are the Florianópolis dive islands by boat?+
Boats leave through the channel that links Lagoa da Conceição with the sea at Barra da Lagoa. Ilha do Xavier is about 10 minutes out and Ilha das Aranhas 18 minutes, in light wind.
Where are turtles seen at Florianópolis?+
Turtles and the widest variety of fish gather at the southern point of Ilha do Xavier, a 5 to 18 m island that suits every level of diver.
Sources
- Mergulho em Florianópolis - 9 lugares para praticar — Água Viva Mergulho
- Conhecendo os pontos de mergulho de Santa Catarina — Brasil Mergulho
- FloripaDive — FloripaDive
- Mergulho credenciado – FloripaDive — FloripaDive
- Os melhores pontos de mergulho de Florianópolis — Cultura Subaquática
- MR Mergulho e Passeios — MR Mergulho e Passeios
- Florianópolis – Wikivoyage — Wikivoyage
- Florianópolis Water Temperature — Sea Temperatures
Photo credits
- Wooden fishing boats moored in green water below forested hills and houses at Barra da Lagoa by Andreia Reis from São Paulo, Brasil, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Small green and white light tower on granite boulders, with open sea and an island on the horizon by Vanderlei Bissiato, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Embed
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