Divers swim among and inside chapeirões, Brazil's mushroom-shaped coral towers.
24–28°C · 75–82°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediate
Region
Diving in South America
28 curated dive destinations across 4 countries including Argentina and Brazil in South America. Conditions peak around Jan, Feb, Mar and Dec.
Abrolhos Archipelago · photo Mia Morete
- Destinations
- 28
- Countries
- 4
- Peak season
- Jan–Dec
Common encountersSea turtlesGroupersOctopus & cuttlefishReef fish swarmsNudibranchs
Diving by country
- Brazil21
- Argentina3
- Peru3
- Chile1
What is diving in South America like?
Most South American diving is on Brazil's long Atlantic coast, which runs from tropical islands in the north-east to cooler granite reefs in the south. Fernando de Noronha is the warm-water flagship, an offshore island where hundreds of spinner dolphins gather daily. The Abrolhos Archipelago has giant mushroom-shaped coral pinnacles found nowhere else, and Recife has dozens of wrecks lying on flat sand.
Further south, cold upwelling packs the granite walls of Arraial do Cabo with fish, and giant manta rays pass over Laje de Santos from March to September. The far south and the Pacific coast are colder still: young sea lions spiral around divers at Punta Loma near Puerto Madryn, and thousands of sea lions crowd the Palomino Islands an hour from Lima. Inland, Bonito has freshwater diving that includes a cave lake reached by a 72 m abseil.
Best diving in South America for wrecks, big animals, beginners, macro and liveaboards
One destination per theme, picked from the species, dive types, access and site records on each destination page.
Wrecks
Las Grutas
Argentina
Its dive sites take in 5 wrecks, including Chiarpesca 59 and Don Félix.
Big animals
Mar del Plata
Argentina
Whales, seals & sea lions and dolphins are all on its species list, the most of any destination here.
Beginners
Ilha Grande & Angra dos Reis
Brazil
Rated for beginners. Best Oct–Apr.
Macro
Puerto Madryn & Península Valdés
Argentina
Muck and macro diving is one of its main dive types, with octopus & cuttlefish, nudibranchs and macro critters on the species list.
Liveaboards
Abrolhos Archipelago
Brazil
Dived only from liveaboards, best Aug–Oct; whales are on its species list.
When is the best time to dive South America?
The busiest stretch is December–March: in February, 15 of the 28 destinations here are in peak season.
The leanest stretch is June–July, when Arraial do Cabo, Bonito and Laje de Santos are still at their best.
Ilha Grande & Angra dos Reis, Las Grutas, Mar del Plata and 2 more rate good or better in every month.
| Month | Prime | Good |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | 7 |
| Feb | 15 | 7 |
| Mar | 14 | 10 |
| Apr | 11 | 7 |
| May | 4 | 7 |
| Jun | 3 | 6 |
| Jul | 3 | 9 |
| Aug | 4 | 10 |
| Sep | 5 | 12 |
| Oct | 8 | 11 |
| Nov | 9 | 10 |
| Dec | 12 | 7 |
Compare every destination in South America
Tap a column heading to sort.
| Abrolhos Archipelago Brazil | Aug–Oct | 24–28°C | Intermediate | Whales | Liveaboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alcatrazes Archipelago Brazil | Feb–Apr | 18–24°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Arraial do Cabo Brazil | Apr–Aug | 14–26°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Shore, Day boat |
| Arvoredo Marine Reserve Brazil | Dec–Mar | 16–26°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Bonito Brazil | Apr–Aug | 21–24°C | Intermediate | Freshwater fish | Shore |
| Búzios Brazil | Apr–May | 22–26°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Cabo Frio Brazil | Apr | 22–26°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Fernando de Noronha Brazil | Aug–Oct | 26–29°C | Intermediate | Dolphins | Day boat |
| Florianópolis & Ilha do Xavier Brazil | Nov–Apr | 19–26°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Guarapari Brazil | Dec–Apr | 23–26°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Ilha Grande & Angra dos Reis Brazil | Oct–Apr | 18–28°C | Beginner | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Ilhabela Brazil | Jan–Mar | 20–27°C | Beginner | Groupers | Day boat |
| Laje de Santos Brazil | Apr–Jul | 18–27°C | Intermediate | Manta rays | Day boat |
| Las Grutas Argentina | Dec–Mar | 10–19°C | Intermediate | — | Shore, Day boat |
| Maceió & Praia do Francês Brazil | Oct–Apr | 26–29°C | Intermediate | Octopus & cuttlefish | Shore, Day boat |
| Máncora & Los Órganos Peru | Jul–Oct | 18–23°C | Beginner | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Mar del Plata Argentina | Mar–May | 8–23°C | Intermediate | Trevally & jacks | Shore, Day boat |
| Morro de São Paulo Brazil | Nov–Mar | 25–29°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Shore, Day boat |
| Palomino Islands Peru | Dec–Mar | 14–19°C | Advanced | Seals & sea lions | Day boat |
| Paraty Brazil | Year-round | 22–26°C | Beginner | Stingrays | Day boat |
| Porto de Galinhas Brazil | Oct–Mar | 26–29°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Porto Seguro & Santa Cruz Cabrália Brazil | Nov–Apr | 24–28°C | Beginner | Groupers | Day boat |
| Pucusana Peru | Jan–Mar | 15–20°C | Intermediate | Seals & sea lions | Day boat |
| Puerto Madryn & Península Valdés Argentina | Sep–Nov | 9–18°C | Intermediate | Seals & sea lions | Shore, Day boat |
| Recife Wrecks Brazil | Sep–Feb | 25–28°C | Intermediate | Sea turtles | Day boat |
| Robinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernández) Chile | Jan–Mar | 14–20°C | Intermediate | Seals & sea lions | Day boat |
| Salvador & Baía de Todos os Santos Brazil | Jul–Mar | 26–29°C | Intermediate | Barracuda | Day boat |
| Ubatuba Brazil | Feb–Mar | 21–27°C | Beginner | Sea turtles | Day boat |
Destination guides
28 guides
A refuge closed to divers for three decades, reopened in December 2018
18–24°C · 64–75°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediateCold upwelling packs granite walls with fish an hour from Rio
14–26°C · 57–79°Fvis 30 m · 100 ftintermediateGranite reefs where tropical and temperate species overlap
16–26°C · 61–79°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediateAbseil 72 m into a cave lake to dive among submerged cones at Abismo Anhumas
21–24°C · 70–75°Fvis 50 m · 164 ftintermediateIlha de Âncora, a turtle sanctuary 11 km off the peninsula
22–26°C · 72–79°FintermediateRocky islands where cold and warm currents meet, a short boat run from town
22–26°C · 72–79°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftintermediateHundreds of spinner dolphins gather daily in Baía dos Golfinhos.
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 45 m · 148 ftintermediateRocky islands 10 to 18 minutes from the Barra da Lagoa channel
19–26°C · 66–79°FintermediateBest Dec–Apr
Guarapari
Brazil
Rocky island reefs and deep wrecks a short boat ride off Guarapari
23–26°C · 73–79°FintermediatePinguino wreck, Jorge Grego crevice and rocky islands
18–28°C · 64–82°FbeginnerHistoric steamer wrecks and a no-fishing islet worked by six island dive centres
20–27°C · 68–81°Fvis 20 m · 66 ftbeginnerGiant manta rays glide over an offshore granite reef from March through September.
18–27°C · 64–81°Fvis 35 m · 115 ftintermediateFive scuttled fishing boats at 18 to 28 m in the Golfo San Matías
10–19°C · 50–66°FintermediateBest Oct–Apr
Three wrecks at around 30 m, about an hour by boat from Maceió
26–29°C · 79–84°FintermediateGreen turtles and an offshore oil-platform reef off Peru's north coast
18–23°C · 64–73°Fvis 7 m · 23 ftbeginnerA growing park of scuttled wrecks off Argentina's Atlantic coast
8–23°C · 46–73°Fvis 10 m · 33 ftintermediateA coral reef reached from the beach, by day or by night
25–29°C · 77–84°FintermediateThousands of sea lions crowd bare granite an hour from Lima
14–19°C · 57–66°Fvis 12 m · 40 ftadvancedSubmerged statues of Christ and Neptune among calm bay islands
22–26°C · 72–79°FbeginnerTwo artificial-reef wrecks at 32 to 35 m: the Gonçalo Coelho and the Marte tug
26–29°C · 79–84°FintermediateBest Nov–Apr
Shallow coral banks of the Recife de Fora marine park, an hour out by boat
24–28°C · 75–82°Fvis 10 m · 33 ftbeginnerBest Jan–Mar
Pucusana
Peru
Kelp forest and sea lions an hour's drive south of Lima
15–20°C · 59–68°FintermediateYoung sea lions spiral around divers at the Punta Loma colony
9–18°C · 48–64°Fvis 15 m · 50 ftintermediateDozens of wrecks on flat sand, including the 1887 steamer Pirapama
25–28°C · 77–82°Fvis 25 m · 82 ftintermediateThe endemic Juan Fernández fur seal colony at Tres Puntas
14–20°C · 57–68°FintermediateBest Jul–Mar
The 180-metre freighter Cavo Artemidi, a boat ride from the city
26–29°C · 79–84°Fvis 40 m · 130 ftintermediateBest Feb–Mar
Ubatuba
Brazil
Island bays for every level, a Cousteau statue and mating stingrays
21–27°C · 70–81°Fbeginner
Dive sites in South America
119 named sites · 28 destinations
Abrolhos ArchipelagoBrazil
2 sites
- Chapeirão Faca CegaPinnacle · to 25 m
- Chapeirões AtlântidaPinnacle · 8–32 m
Alcatrazes ArchipelagoBrazil
6 sites
- Baba de Boi – Poita 4Reef · 4–15 m
- Badejo Quadrado – Poita 9Reef · 4–25 m
- Farol – Poita 16Reef · 10–25 m
- Jardim de Corais – Poita 10Reef · 4–20 m
- Parcel das 5 milhasWall · 8–60 m
- Raia – Poita 8Reef · 4–30 m
Arraial do CaboBrazil
5 sites
- Ilha do FarolReef · to 18 m
- Pedra VermelhaReef · 5–18 m
- Ponta LesteReef · 15–35 m
- Saco do CherneReef · to 16 m
- Saco dos InglesesReef · to 40 m
Arvoredo Marine ReserveBrazil
3 sites
- Recanto do CapimReef · 5–12 m
- Saco do CapimReef · 5–12 m
- Saco do EngenhoReef · 6–15 m
BonitoBrazil
3 sites
- Abismo AnhumasCave & cavern · to 18 m
- Lagoa MisteriosaCave & cavern · to 40 m
- Nascente AzulFreshwater · to 7 m
BúziosBrazil
3 sites
- Ilha de ÂncoraWall · 8–30 m
- Ilha de GravatásWall · to 30 m
- Ilha FeiaReef · to 12 m
Cabo FrioBrazil
5 sites
- Dois IrmãosReef · 12–24 m
- Ilha do BreuReef · 13–25 m
- Ilha dos CapõesReef · 13–25 m
- Ilha dos PapagaiosReef · 6–27 m
- Ilha RedondaChannel & pass · to 18 m
Florianópolis & Ilha do XavierBrazil
3 sites
- Alalunga VIIArtificial reef · to 23 m
- Ilha das AranhasWall · to 30 m
- Ilha do XavierReef · 5–18 m
GuarapariBrazil
5 sites
- BelluciaWreck · 15–27 m
- Ilha EscalvadaReef · 3–22 m
- Ilhas RasasReef · 3–22 m
- Três IlhasReef · 3–12 m
- Victory 8BWreck · 18–36 m
Ilha Grande & Angra dos ReisBrazil
5 sites
- Costão da JaconemaReef · 4–15 m
- Ilha dos MerosReef · to 13 m
- Jorge GregoCave & cavern · to 15 m
- Naufrágio PinguinoArtificial reef · to 18 m
- Parcel do CoronelReef · to 26 m
IlhabelaBrazil
7 sites
- Costão dos AquáriosReef · to 20 m
- Ilha das CabrasReef · 8–35 m
- Ilha dos BúziosReef · to 30 m
- Ilha SumíticaReef · 7–25 m
- Naufrágio AymoréWreck · 6–12 m
- Naufrágio VelásquezWreck · 7–25 m
- PortinhoReef · to 7 m
Laje de SantosBrazil
4 sites
- Boca da BaleiaReef · to 18 m
- CalhausReef · to 30 m
- Moreia WreckWreck · to 22 m
- Parcel das ÂncorasReef · to 40 m
Las GrutasArgentina
6 sites
- Chiarpesca 59Wreck · to 22 m
- Don FélixWreck · to 18 m
- Magdalena María IIWreck · to 28 m
- Mariana RojamarWreck · to 24 m
- Polar Borg IWreck · to 28 m
- Tercera Bajada platformReef · 3–6 m
Maceió & Praia do FrancêsBrazil
5 sites
- DragãoWreck · 30–32 m
- DraguinhaWreck · 27–30 m
- Praia do FrancêsReef · to 10 m
- Recife EufrásioReef · to 18 m
- SequipeWreck · 30–32 m
Máncora & Los ÓrganosPeru
3 sites
- Muelle de Los ÓrganosSand slope · to 10 m
- Plataforma MX-1Artificial reef · to 60 m
- Punta VelerosReef · to 14 m
Mar del PlataArgentina
8 sites
- Banco de AfueraSand slope · 17–20 m
- Banco del MedioSand slope · 20–28 m
- Banco PatriaSand slope · 24–42 m
- Banco Pozo del TíoSand slope · 24–36 m
- Cristo ReyWreck · to 22 m
- KhronometerWreck · to 25 m
- KyokkoArtificial reef · to 28 m
- SimbadWreck · to 25 m
Morro de São PauloBrazil
2 sites
- Ilha do CaitáReef · 1–15 m
- ItatimirimReef · 9–22 m
ParatyBrazil
6 sites
- Ilha CompridaReef · to 12 m
- Ilha dos CocosReef · to 8 m
- Ilha dos MerosReef · to 21 m
- Ilha dos RatosReef · to 12 m
- Laje dos MerosPinnacle · to 22 m
- Naufrágio PaulistaWreck · to 28 m
Porto de GalinhasBrazil
4 sites
- Gonçalo CoelhoWreck · 16–34 m
- Laje dos TrintaReef · to 30 m
- Piscinas NaturaisReef · 1–5 m
- Rebocador MarteWreck · 16–33 m
Porto Seguro & Santa Cruz CabráliaBrazil
6 sites
- Bate EstacaArtificial reef · to 22 m
- CastorWreck · to 15 m
- Coroa AltaReef · to 18 m
- Recife AlagadosReef · to 10 m
- Recife de ForaReef · 6–9 m
- Recife de ItacepanemaReef · to 18 m
Puerto Madryn & Península ValdésArgentina
5 sites
- Naufragio AlbatrosWreck · 15–23 m
- Naufragio FoliasWreck · to 10 m
- Punta CuevasReef · 6–10 m
- Punta LomaReef · 6 m
- Punta PirámideReef · to 25 m
Recife WrecksBrazil
4 sites
- Corveta CamaquãWreck · to 60 m
- PirapamaWreck · 19–23 m
- Servemar XWreck · 20–25 m
- Vapor BahiaWreck · 18–25 m
Robinson Crusoe Island (Juan Fernández)Chile
2 sites
- Miraflores WreckWreck · to 36 m
- SMS Dresden WreckWreck · to 70 m
Salvador & Baía de Todos os SantosBrazil
6 sites
- BlackadderWreck · to 9 m
- Cavo ArtemidiWreck · to 30 m
- Galeão SacramentoWreck · to 32 m
- Homei IIIWreck · 33–36 m
- MaraldiArtificial reef · to 10 m
- Quebra-marReef · to 8 m
UbatubaBrazil
7 sites
- Estátua do CousteauArtificial reef · 3–12 m
- Ilhote das Couves Face OesteWall · 12–23 m
- Ilhote do SulReef · 6–18 m
- Pedra da CachorraReef · 3–18 m
- Pedra do NavioReef · 6–10 m
- Recreio dos BorboletasReef · 7–12 m
- Trilha do PigmeuReef · 12–25 m