Scuba diving in Brazil is varied with excellent marine life and some really good wrecks. Good scuba diving can be found at Arraial do Cabo, The Abrolhos Archipelago, Boipeba, Porto Belo in Santa Cararina state, and Joao Pessoa in Paraiba.

Good diving areas are:

Arraial do Cabo - situated in the Região dos Lagos, this city is well known among Brazilian scuba divers and anybody who loves to be around the sea. White sand beaches and great visibility.  With 47 shipwrecks in the region to explore, there are plenty of options.  Wrecks nearest the shore are the Dona Paula, Harlingen, Herald, Imbetiba, Teixeirinha, Thetis, Tunamar and Wizard.

Fernando do Noronha - the most famous dive destination in this huge country, a fabulous archipelago in the Northeast and a protected marine park.  The best time of the year for diving is from July to December for beginners, all year round for advanced divers.  Be warned though, it's one of the most expensive dive sites to visit.  Average visibility is 30 meters. Prolific marine life is found - pelagics such as tuna, jack, albacore, barracuda and others. Gigantic jewfish, groupers and snappers can also be seen.

The Abrolhos Archipelago - this group of islands is a Marine National Park located 45 miles off the mid-eastern coast of Brazil consists of five volcanic islands and is home to the greatest chains of coral reefs in the South Atlantic.  The ocean around Abrolhos also covers one of the rarest and most exhuberant coral reef banks in the region. According to scientific knowledge, there is no other place on earth where you can see the type of coral reef pinnacle prevalent in Abrolhos waters.

• Arraial do Cabo - the Blue Grotto; dive to depths of 25 meters through the remains of ship wrecks, canyons and tunnels. Be prepared, the waters are typically cold so a minimum of 5mm suits are the order of the day.
• Fernando do Noronha - the wreck of the NAeL Ipiranga, a corvette which sank in 1987 and lying in pristine condition at around 190 feet.
• Abrolhos - whale watching in the mating season (July to November).  With average visibility of 10 the 20 meters and average temperature of the water around 26°C, the calmest period is from January till March. The temperature varies between 24°C and 27°C. 

• Diving in Brazil can be challenging; it's not easy to find operators who speak good English.
• There is a serious outbreak of Dengue Fever in Rio de Janeiro.  There is also an outbreak of Yellow Fever in Brazil. [Source: Foreign and Commonwealth Office].  Check for up-to-date advice before travelling.
• The south has large seasonal changes which can be unbearably sticky in summer (Dec-Feb) & non-stop rain in winter (June-Aug).