South America · Brazil
Paraty
Submerged statues of Christ and Neptune among calm bay islands
Photo: manoellemos · CC BY-SA 2.0
Paraty's dive boats work the islands of its bay, inside the sheltered Baía de Ilha Grande, where the water is calm and clear all year. Submerged statues of Christ the Redeemer at Ilha dos Meros and Neptune at Ilha dos Ratos are the signature dives, Ilha Comprida takes beginners, and the Paulista, a 60 m ship that sank in 1913, lies off Ponta da Cajaíba at up to 28 m. Parcel dos Meros, the farthest site, runs from 4 to 25 m.
About diving in Paraty
Diving in Paraty is done from boats that leave town for the islands of Paraty bay. From the Marinha do Engenho, the run to Ilha dos Ratos, one of the main sites, takes 20 to 30 minutes, while Parcel dos Meros, the site farthest from town, is 1 hour 40 minutes away. Dive Paraty is a PADI 5 Star centre, and Gil Divers, founded in 2014, runs private dives and boat trips; Adrenalina Mergulho is a third local centre.
The bay lies inside the Baía de Ilha Grande, so the water around Paraty's islands stays calm and clear through the year, at 22 to 26 °C. Parcel dos Meros is two groups of rocks 150 m apart, from 4 to 25 m, its rock formations covered with corals. Statues sit on the bottom at two islands, Christ the Redeemer at Ilha dos Meros and Neptune at Ilha dos Ratos. The Paulista, a 60 m ship that sank in 1913, lies off Ponta da Cajaíba at up to 28 m, where visibility can be poor. Small fish, rays and turtles make up most of the life, and octopus live at Ilha dos Cocos.
The calm water makes Paraty suit try-dives as well as experienced divers. Ilha Comprida is a beginner site, and Ilha dos Ratos is recommended for night dives. Experienced divers have Parcel dos Meros, which has currents and strong swell. Divers who want the clearest water should ask for Ilha dos Cocos. Ilha Grande & Angra dos Reis is the neighbouring area.
Best time to dive Paraty
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
No month is reported as best: the bay's islands have calm, clear water all year, and January is the wettest month with about 19 rain days.
Best months: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Dive types & marine life
Small fish, rays and turtles are the common sightings across the bay. Octopus live at Ilha dos Cocos, and Ilha Comprida is known as Paraty's natural aquarium. Laje dos Meros, beside Ilha dos Meros, is one of the easiest places to see the variety of life in the bay.
- Reef
- Wreck
- Night
- Stingrays
- Sea turtles
- Octopus & cuttlefish
Best dive sites in Paraty
- 1
Ilha dos Meros
Island with a submerged statue of Christ the Redeemer that makes for good photographs.
- 2
Ilha dos Ratos
A statue of Neptune on the bottom; one of the main sites and recommended for night dives.
- 3
Naufrágio Paulista
A 60 m ship sunk in 1913 off Ponta da Cajaíba, to 28 m; visibility can be poor.
- 4
Ilha dos Cocos
Many divers rate it the clearest water in Paraty; it has a cave and octopus.
- 5
Ilha Comprida
Paraty's natural aquarium, a good site for beginners.
- 6
Parcel dos Meros
Farthest site, 4 to 25 m over coral-covered rock; currents and swell, for experienced divers.
Site guides
Reef
Shoals of small fish close to the surface in calm water
A cave and octopus in Paraty's clearest water
Reef
A submerged Christ the Redeemer statue and an aeroplane wreck at the south end
Reef
A statue of Neptune, the Roman god of the sea, covered in algae
Pinnacle
One rock to follow from the surface down to 22 m
Wreck
Paraty's shipwreck dive, off the Cajaíba point
How to get to Paraty
The most convenient arrival by scheduled flight is Rio de Janeiro. Buses run between Rio and Paraty about nine times a day, and the trip takes about four hours. The dive centres are in Paraty.
Dive videos
Nuestra Experiencia de BUCEO en PARATY 🌊 BRASIL · Caminito Amor on YouTube
Mergulhando em Paraty-RJ / Ilha da Pescaria · Pesca, Aquarismo e Cultura on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Where are the submerged statues at Paraty?+
Christ the Redeemer sits on the bottom at Ilha dos Meros and Neptune at Ilha dos Ratos. Ilha dos Ratos is a 20 to 30 minute run from the Marinha do Engenho and is recommended for night dives.
Is Paraty good for beginners?+
The calm water suits try-dives, and Ilha Comprida is the beginner site. Parcel dos Meros, which has currents and strong swell, is for experienced divers.
When is the best month to dive Paraty?+
No month stands out: the bay's islands have calm, clear water all year at 22 to 26 °C. January is the wettest month, with about 19 rain days.
How far is Parcel dos Meros from Paraty?+
Parcel dos Meros is the site farthest from town, 1 hour 40 minutes by boat. It is two groups of rocks 150 m apart, from 4 to 25 m.
Sources
- Conheça os 7 principais pontos de mergulho em Paraty — Evidive
- Conheça os principais pontos para a prática de mergulho em Paraty — Pousada Porto Imperial
- Mergulho e ilhas de Paraty — iG Turismo
- Gil Divers Paraty RJ — Gil Divers
- Dive Paraty — Dive Paraty
- Paraty — Wikipedia
- Paraty — Wikivoyage
- Mergulho em Paraty — Brasil Mergulho
- Mergulho em Paraty - Adrenalina Mergulho — Adrenalina Mergulho
Photo credits
Embed
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