10 Things to KNOW Before Going Scuba Diving in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

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To be honest, most people don’t think of scuba diving when they think of Rio de Janeiro. But this South American city is actually an awesome place for an underwater adventure!

Yep, that’s right: there’s more to this coastal metropolis than the Carnival celebration and Christ the Redeemer (as great as both of those are). Its seaside location also means that there’s lots of natural beauty to explore, and it’s an awesome and affordable place to go scuba diving. 

In fact, as experienced divers ourselves, we think Rio de Janeiro is actually one of the best places in all of Brazil to dive. That’s really saying something, given what a huge country Brazil is! That’s why we’ve compiled this guide containing everything you need to know before going scuba diving in Rio de Janeiro. So let’s dive in (pun fully intended!).

1. About scuba diving in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro has a tropical climate, and its waters are calm and warm, with an average temperature of 21-26°C (70-79°F). Meanwhile, visibility ranges from 5-20 meters (16-65 feet). This isn’t quite as amazing as you might find scuba diving in Mexico, but it’s still pretty good overall. 

To be honest, a lot of the dive sites closest to Rio de Janeiro have been damaged by over-tourism. As such, the best thing to do is book a tour like this one that will take you out a little further. These more remote sites still retain their natural beauty and rich sea life. 

And speaking of sea life, you can see lots of wonderful creatures around Rio, including squid, turtles, seahorses, and dolphins! 

The Brazilian government is now also taking steps to protect marine life around its capital city. For example, the Cagarras Islands are now a protected marine area, and fishing, mining, and drilling have been banned here.

2. Why do I love scuba…