diving · Bombinhas, SC
Reserva Biológica Marinha do Arvoredo
A protected marine area with clear water, considered one of the best dive spots in southern Brazil. Trips leave from Bombinhas and reveal schools of fish, sea turtles and rays.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Reserva Biológica Marinha do Arvoredo
Reserva Biológica Marinha do Arvoredo is a protected marine area on the coast of Santa Catarina, between Bombinhas and Florianópolis. It includes the islands of Arvoredo, Galé and Deserta, the Calhau de São Pedro rock and the surrounding sea. It is considered one of the best places to dive in southern Brazil, for its marine life and for water that, on good days, is very clear.
The reserve was created in 1990 and falls under the country's strictest category of protection. For that reason, most of it is closed to tourism: you cannot land on the islands, and diving is not allowed around Galé and Deserta islands or on the north side of Arvoredo.
Recreational diving takes place at the southern tip of Ilha do Arvoredo (island), around the lighthouse, in a stretch that lies outside the reserve's boundaries. Boats leave from Bombinhas and other ports in the region, with authorized dive operators. There are shallow spots, good for discovery dives and beginners, and deeper ones for certified divers, with rocky walls, sea turtles, groupers and schools of fish.
The trip is for those who want to dive or snorkel and don't mind a few hours on a boat in the open sea. If you get seasick easily, come prepared, because the sea can be choppy on the crossing.
Before you go
Practical information
How much time to set aside
Set aside a full day: with the crossing, the dives and the return, the boat trip usually takes up the morning and part of the afternoon.
Best time
From late spring to late summer the water is warmer and there are more trips; visibility varies with the wind and the sea, so it is worth confirming conditions with the operator the day before.
How to get there
The islands lie in the open sea, east of Bombinhas. You can only get there by boat, with an authorized dive operator; most trips leave from Bombinhas, and the crossing takes from under an hour to about an hour and a half, depending on the port.
Tip
If you have never dived, you can do a discovery dive with an instructor at the shallow spots; bring seasickness medicine if you tend to get sick on boats, and choose days with a calm sea.
A look at the place
Reserva Biológica Marinha do Arvoredo in pictures
These pictures are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs. They may differ from the place.
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Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Reserva Biológica Marinha do Arvoredo
Can you dive in the Reserva do Arvoredo?
Not inside the reserve: it is closed to tourism. Recreational diving takes place at the southern tip of Ilha do Arvoredo (island), around the lighthouse, in a stretch outside the reserve's boundaries, always with an authorized operator.
Can you go ashore on Ilha do Arvoredo?
No. The trip is done by boat, with stops for diving and snorkeling; tourists are not allowed to land on the islands.
Do I need to know how to dive to take the trip?
No. Operators offer discovery dives with an instructor at the shallower spots if you have never dived. The deeper spots are for certified divers.
Where do boats to Arvoredo leave from?
Most trips leave from Bombinhas, with the town's dive operators. The crossing can take from under an hour to about an hour and a half, depending on the departure port.
When is the best time to dive at Arvoredo?
From late spring to late summer, when the water is warmer and there are more trips. Visibility changes with the wind and the sea, so it is worth confirming conditions with the operator.