Morro de São Paulo · Brazil · Reef · Cave & cavern
Ilha do Caitá
Caverns, chapeirões and boulders around a rocky island
Area photo: Elvis Boaventura · CC BY 3.0
Ilha do Caitá is a rocky island 10 minutes by boat from Morro de São Paulo, dived between 1 and 15 m. The rock is ringed with brain coral, fire coral and gorgonians, and cut by extensive caverns, chapeirões and large boulders that turn the dive into a route around obstacles.
Also known as Caitá.
Where it is and how deep
13.3806° S, 38.9043° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Caitá is the short boat dive from Morro de São Paulo: the ride from the school takes 10 minutes. The island is a rocky formation, and the dive follows its edge, where the rock is ringed with brain coral, fire coral and gorgonians. The school that runs the trip counts more than 50 species of fish here, along with octopus, lobsters and starfish.
Around the island the rock breaks up into extensive caverns, chapeirões (coral heads) and large boulders, which make the dive a route of obstacles and challenges rather than an open reef. The whole profile stays between 1 and 15 m, and the school describes the setting as controlled and suited to beginners as well as more experienced divers.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Morro de São Paulo: November to March is the best season for diving here.
Know before you go
- Fire coral rings the island; keep hands and fins off the rock and coral to avoid stings.
Dive videos
Mergulho em Morro de Sao PAulo - Bluesdivers · BluesDivers Scuba School Morro de São Paulo on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is the dive at Ilha do Caitá?+
The dive at Ilha do Caitá runs between 1 and 15 m around the rocky island.
How long is the boat ride to Caitá?+
Caitá is 10 minutes by boat from the dive school in Morro de São Paulo.
Sources
- Locais de mergulho — BluesDivers
- Mapa do Mergulho — Cia do Mergulho Morro de São Paulo (Wayback Machine)
- Caitá (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
More dive sites in Morro de São Paulo
Reef
Open-sea coral reef from 9 m down to 22 m
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