Ilhabela · Brazil · Reef
Portinho
The turtle route, entered straight off the beach
Area photo: João D'Andretta · CC BY-SA 4.0
Portinho is a shore dive on Ilhabela, entered straight from the beach and used for introductory dives. Known as the turtle route, it lies inside the same municipal no-fishing zone as Ilha das Cabras. Turtles are very common at Praia do Portinho, rays are also reported, and introductory dives reach about 5 to 7 m in water sheltered from current.
Also known as Praia do Portinho.
Where it is and how deep
23.8437° S, 45.4044° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive starts on the beach at Portinho: divers walk in from the sand and begin the dive from the shore, with no boat ride. The route is known as the turtle route, and introductory dives here reach a maximum depth of about 5 to 7 m, so the whole dive stays in shallow water close to the beach.
Turtles are the sighting behind the site's other name: a local centre calls them very common at Praia do Portinho, and visiting divers also report rays. Portinho sits inside the same protected area as Ilha das Cabras, where a municipal decree bans hunting and fishing, and like Saco do Urubu it is sheltered from current. The shallow profile and the beach entry are why the site is used for introductory dives, led by a certified professional who stays beside each first-timer.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Ilhabela: Diving runs all year. The water is warmest, up to 27 °C, from mid-January until autumn, and early summer can bring cold thermoclines.
Questions divers ask
How deep is the Portinho dive on Ilhabela?+
Introductory dives at Portinho reach a maximum of about 5 to 7 m, and the entry is straight from the beach.
Sources
- Portinho Divers Ilhabela — Portinho Divers
- Escola de Mergulho em Ilhabela - OceanoSub — OceanoSub
- Praia do Portinho (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
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Offshore island day trip with visibility up to 20 m
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Boulder shore riddled with holes, to 25 m
Wreck
A 1920 cargo steamer in sheltered water 50 m from shore
Boilers, engines and the whole stern of a 1908 liner, 70 m off the beach
Similar dives elsewhere
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A cave and octopus in Paraty's clearest water
A statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, covered in algae
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Green and hawksbill turtles over a coral garden five minutes from the pier