Ubatuba, on the north coast of São Paulo state, dives its offshore islands by fast boat from the town's centres. Ilha Anchieta, a state park since 1977, has sheltered bays from 2 to 18 m and a life-size statue of Jacques Cousteau on the sand; the Couves and Rapada islands to the north run to 25 m, with a vertical wall on the outer face of Ilhote das Couves and pygmy angelfish at Trilha do Pigmeu. Visibility reaches 15 m on the best days.
About diving in Ubatuba
Diving here is done by boat. Fast launches leave Ubatuba for regular trips to the islands off the coast. Three centres work these waters: Omnimare, a PADI 5 Star operator and school; NDS Mergulho, an operator, shop and school with 40 years in the town; and Aqueous Sub, a NAUI centre on Praia da Enseada. The main sites lie in two groups: Ilha Anchieta, where depths run from 2 to 18 m, and the Comprida, Couves and Rapada islands to the north, from 3 to 25 m, where groups of dolphins are often seen on the run out.
The islands are fringed by rocky shore. At Toca da Tartaruga on Ilha Anchieta the rock holds several kinds of coral, morays and small fish, and a low patch reef on the sand draws a good mix of fish and turtles. Outside Ilhote das Couves the rock falls as a wall from the surface to the bottom, and on Ilha Rapada old mooring lines have become a home for seahorses. In a sheltered Anchieta bay the remains of a small schooner hold snook. Visibility shifts with currents and weather, reaching 15 m on the best days.
The sheltered sites are suited to every certification level, and Saco da Aroeira and Praia do Sul on Ilha Anchieta are used for basic-course checkout dives, which makes Ubatuba a sound place to learn. The island channels are another matter: east of Ilhote do Sul the tide can drive strong currents that call for experience, good skills and sharp underwater navigation, and the Couves channel runs hard at the turn of the tide. Ilha Anchieta and Ilhote do Sul are a state park, while Ilha das Palmas and Ilhote das Cabras are an ecological station where diving is not allowed.
Best time to dive Ubatuba
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Diving runs all year. The water is warmest, up to 27 °C, in February and March, and stingrays gather to mate at Pedra da Cachorra in September and October.
Dive types & marine life
Turtles visit the patch reef at Toca da Tartaruga, morays shelter in the rock and seahorses live on the old mooring lines at Ilha Rapada. In September and October large numbers of stingrays gather to mate at Pedra da Cachorra. Groups of dolphins are a common sighting from the boat on the way to the northern islands.
- Reef
- Wall
- Sea turtles
- Stingrays
- Dolphins
- Reef fish swarms
Best dive sites in Ubatuba
- 1
Estátua do Cousteau
Life-size statue of Jacques Cousteau off Ilha Anchieta, placed by Ubatuba's dive operators in 1997.
- 2
Pedra da Cachorra
Wide variety of fish, including frades, budiões, parrotfish and corcorocas.
- 3
Trilha do Pigmeu
One of the few sites in the area where pygmy angelfish can be seen.
- 4
Ilhote das Couves Face Oeste
Outside the islet the rock drops as a vertical wall from the surface to the bottom.
- 5
Recreio dos Borboletas
Varied fauna and abundant schools; strong currents run in the Couves channel at the turn of the tide.
- 6
Pedra do Navio
A huge rock juts from the Ilha Anchieta shore in the ship-like shape that names the site.
Site guides
Artificial reef
Life-size statue of Jacques Cousteau on the sand at 9 m
Vertical wall to 23 m with a boulder chamber at its foot
Reef
Jacks pass by and groupers herd sardines over the western reef
Stingrays mating in numbers in September and October
A ship-shaped rock and a patch reef full of fish schools
Butterflyfish, grunts and sergeant majors in abundant schools
Reef
One of the few Ubatuba sites with pygmy angelfish
How to get to Ubatuba
Ubatuba is about three hours by road from São Paulo in good traffic. A bus line runs from São Paulo's international airport (GRU) to neighbouring Caraguatatuba, about 43 km away. The town's small airport, Gastão Madeira, takes only light aircraft and helicopters. The dive centres are in Ubatuba itself, Aqueous Sub on Praia da Enseada.
Dive videos
O melhor mergulho da vida na Ilha das Couves em Ubatuba SP · Ubatuba e o mundo on YouTube
Que tal mergulhar em Ubatuba? Tipos e pontos de mergulho e imagens incríveis para aliviar a pandemia · Ubatuba Guide on YouTube
Questions divers ask
When do stingrays mate at Ubatuba?+
Large numbers of stingrays gather to mate at Pedra da Cachorra in September and October. The water is warmest, up to 27 °C, in February and March, and diving runs all year.
Is Ubatuba good for beginners?+
The sheltered sites suit every certification level, and Saco da Aroeira and Praia do Sul on Ilha Anchieta are used for basic-course checkout dives. Strong currents east of Ilhote do Sul and in the Couves channel call for experience.
Is diving allowed at Ilha das Palmas near Ubatuba?+
Ilha das Palmas and Ilhote das Cabras are an ecological station where diving is not allowed. Ilha Anchieta and Ilhote do Sul are a state park.
How do divers get to Ubatuba from São Paulo?+
Ubatuba is about three hours by road from São Paulo in good traffic. A bus line runs from São Paulo's international airport (GRU) to neighbouring Caraguatatuba, about 43 km away.
Sources
- Pontos de Mergulho - Omnimare — Omnimare
- Omnimare – Mergulho & Aventura em Ubatuba SP — Omnimare
- NDS Mergulho — NDS Mergulho
- Aqueous Sub — Aqueous Sub
- Ubatuba — Wikipedia
- Ubatuba — Wikivoyage
- Ubatuba sea temperature — seatemperature.org
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