Shipwrecks in Alagoas Brazil

The capital of Alagoas (Maceió) is know for its beaches, nightlife, highly competitive prices and the traditional friendliness of its people. Its infrastructure has improved considerably during the past ten years.

Additionally, Maceió has the largest number of know sites in the state. Water visibility is good, varying from 6 to 30 meters depending on winds and currents, as well as the rain season that usually goes from May to July. On the other hand, special days with visibility of over 30 meters are possible from September to March.

Itapagé

This is one of the most attractive shipwrecks off the Brazilian coast. Torpedoed by a German U-boat in World War II, the Itapajé appears twisted and became a giant artificial reef, offering many penetration possibilities into its interior. A huge number of small fish is present.

Dragão

The ship sank circa 1918 and became also known as the “Frenchman’s shipwreck”. It is a small shipwreck, less than 50 meters in length, but some of its compartments can be penetread. The main attractons are its gears and the intense marine life on the site. Barracudas, cobias and rays are frequently seen. Schools of very red squirrelfish stand out against the intense blue of the ocean. Some of the coral that covers the wreckage may harbor batfish. Visibility is excellent.

Praia do Frânces

The barrier reef runs parallel to the beach for 2.5 kilometers, 100 meters away. During low tide, the site is excellent for discovery scuba and check-out dives. Various tropical fish species can be seen, such as butterfly rays and sergeant fish. There are also the remnants of two seventeenth-century ships that carried tiles and brazilwood.

Sequipe

A barge built to navigate on sheltered waters that sank in rough seas. The shipwreck is about 20 meters in lenght and does not have cabins or nay type of compartment that may be penetread. A winch motor stands out among the wreckage. The site’s main attraction is its marine life. The wreckage is home to many rays, cobias and large schools of yellom jacks. Visibility is excellent.

Draguinha

The dredger is completely overturned. Its bow is formed by two hulls, separated by a space of approximately 3 meters where the dredging structure was located. It is still possible to see the dredger’s boom resting on the hull, firmly supported on the ocean floor.

Cabeço de Guaxuma

A short reef with a maximum height of three meters. The rock is literally covered by red squirrelfish. Their concentration in a single location is impressive. The coral formation is poor, but there are many lobsters in their crevices and some “well-behaved” moray eels. Schools of white angelfish make the dive even more interesting.

Pedra Baia

The rock formation is similiar to that Cabeço de Guaxuma. There are many tropical fish, including rock hind, blue tang, porkfish and blowfish. It is a good site for macro photography. Lobsters can be easily found, as well as small moray eels and barbfish.

Source: Brazil Diving Guide

Bonito is one of the city members of the Experience Tour

Known for its natural beauty, the city of Bonito (MS) is among the destinations covered by the project Experience Economy Ministry of Tourism (Ministry of Tourism).

The goal is to train local entrepreneurs to add value to their businesses by offering different activities that arouse emotion, pleasure, inspiration and satisfaction of tourists in a real Tour Experience – the brand of the proposed project.

In Bonito (MS), the project developed two scripts in partnership with local entrepreneurs. The script Persons and Flavors of Nice offers a full encounter with nature and its magic through activities such as diving, floating, rappelling, cave, waterfalls and boat rides.

Furthermore, the Mimosa Resort Ecotourism, tourists will be welcomed in an atmosphere tempered by the taste of cookies and cakes made of typical wood stove. Visitors will also delight in the clear waters of the Rio Mimoso and waterfall Sinhozinho.

And, how about learning to embroider? This is one of the proposed activities. Here the tourist while learning to embroider, interacts with the girls group Crafts Beautiful Handmade and hear their stories of life.

In the Roadmap Inspiration and Expiration, also formatted by the project, tourists can relax in a theme suite and be lulled by the songs and charms of nature. Or, be based on local legends and the influence of Indian culture kadiwéu bonitense. The tour of the rum Taboa, local produce, and crafts made of recyclable products are also an attraction of the script.

The Experience Economy is developed by the Ministry of Tourism in partnership with the Sebrae and managed by the Institute Brand Brazil (IMB).

Photo: Andre Seale

Source: Mtur

Spinner Dolphin in Fernando de Noronha

The spinner dolphin is an animal that wins the sympathy of human beings because of their intelligence. Running out of water jumps and beautiful when they are present in flock her show to those lucky enough to catch sight of them.

The archipelago of Fernando de Noronha (PE-Brazil) is one of the main habitats of animals, so that the island is the Spinner Dolphin Project whose goals are: 

 -Educate the community Noronhense for environmental preservation, creating environmental multipliers among future tourism service providers; 
-Empower teens to work with ecotourism; 
-Provide subsidies for the development of a sustainable society in Fernando de Noronha; 
-Improve the quality of tourism services in the region; 
-To study the natural history of dolphins in Fernando de Noronha; 
-To study the interaction with dolphins nautical tourism; 
-Propose standards for the preservation of spinner dolphins to the competent authorities; 
-Propose and participate in actions aimed at conservation of Fernando de Noronha.

The Belvedere Dolphin is the perfect place to spot the animals. The route is a trail of 1 km from the parking lot of the Bay of Sancho. The continuation of the trail Dolphin Bay Sancho, allows the observation of nesting seabirds on the slopes of the bays.

If you are planning to go to Fernando de Noronha, make sure you know the project. For more information contact by e-mail: rotador@golfinhorotador.org.br 

Photo: Wikpedia

By Carla Layane

Dive sites in Brazil

The best dive site is the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. It’s the most untouched spot, and it’s simply gorgeous on the surface, appealing to everyone. The difficulty ranges from beginner to advance. Best time of the year is from July to December for beginners, all year round for advanced divers. It’s one of the most expensive dive sites to go.

The second best is Abrolhos. It’s an archipelago some four to six hours from land, where you can’t go on shore, so either you make one-day trips or take a live-aboard on one of several boats. The dives are very, very calm, shallow and relaxed, and though the visibility is not as good as Noronha, but the richness of the corals and marine life is incredible. It’s good for all levels of experience. Best time of the year is November to March, when it is also possible to watch whales.

The region between Recife/Olinda in the north and Maceio in the south is named the Golden Coast, and here are several excellent spots of scuba diving and the access is much easier than mentioned archipelagos. Around Recife & Olinda is considered excellent for advanced divers, rich of marine life like turtles and sharks, and many sunk ships, but the sea is usually very, very rough. To the south there are many dive friendly spots for snorkeling, scuba dive beginners and also advanced diving. In Porto de Galinhas for instance, is a very pleasant village with many nice sites for good diving and an excellent area for diving courses. In this region the diving is good during the whole year.

The best spots for scuba diving in the south of Brazil are between São Paulo & Rio de Janeiro. Of course they are not as good as mentioned sites in the northeast, but comparing world wide, this region is very good as well. To indicate some spots in the area should be Barra do Una, Ubatuba, Paraty, Ilha Grande and Arraial do Cabo.

Rio da Prata, in Bonito

The best dive site is the archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. It’s the most untouched spot, and it’s simply gorgeous on the surface, appealing to everyone. The difficulty ranges from beginner to advance. Best time of the year is from July to December for beginners, all year round for advanced divers. It’s one of the most expensive dive sites to go.

The second best is Abrolhos. It’s an archipelago some four to six hours from land, where you can’t go on shore, so either you make one-day trips or take a live-aboard on one of several boats.

The dives are very, very calm, shallow and relaxed, and though the visibility is not as good as Noronha, but the richness of the corals and marine life is incredible.

It’s good for all levels of experience. Best time of the year is November to March, when it is also possible to watch whales.

The region between Recife/Olinda in the north and Maceio in the south is named the Golden Coast, and here are several excellent spots of scuba diving and the access is much easier than mentioned archipelagos.

Around Recife & Olinda is considered excellent for advanced divers, rich of marine life like turtles and sharks, and many sunk ships, but the sea is usually very, very rough. To the south there are many dive friendly spots for snorkeling, scuba dive beginners and also advanced diving.

In Porto de Galinhas for instance, is a very pleasant village with many nice sites for good diving and an excellent area for diving courses. In this region the diving is good during the whole year.

The best spots for scuba diving in the south of Brazil are between São Paulo & Rio de Janeiro. Of course they are not as good as mentioned sites in the northeast, but comparing world wide, this region is very good as well.

To indicate some spots in the area should be Barra do Una, Ubatuba, Paraty, Ilha Grande and Arraial do Cabo.

Source: packtours

Picture: Andre Seale

Lagoon Misteriosa will be reopened

After three years if the appropriate governmental requirements, the Lagoon Misteriosa in Garden in the region of Bonito (MS) is to be reopened soon. In August, the owners come with application for environmental licensing to Imasul (Institute of Environment of Mato Grosso do Sul) and from there, expect the endorsement of the body.

Famous by the blue of its water and the visibility of 40 m, the lake will return to the area an open space for diving with cylinder. “Now, this method can be practiced in caves,” explains the director of tourism of Bonito, Clayton Gomes. On site, the limestone walls reflect the sunlight and water takes advantage on the rivers.

“It is very transparent. From the inside, you still can see the canopy of trees,” says Regina Bonomini, which 16 years working as tourist guide in the region and celebrates the reopening of the Lake, known also by the depth.

The name comes from there. Why not have the funds available, was named Misteriosa. “The person who fell to the bottom was the most diver Gilberto de Menezes in 1998,” says Luiza Coelho, director of sustainability of the company that manages the site. Until today, nobody knows what is behind the 220 m he reached.

For the public, the exploration of alternatives will start with the basics, the fluctuation. Snorkel and feet of ducks are the first choice for tourists know the place. The attraction is not the fish – there are only three species – but the aquatic plants, macrophytes and bryophytes, which seem to dance on the walls.

The diving sessions will be divided by levels of training of participants. From 21 m, for example, the instruction is required for diving in caves. The deepest will walk up to 60 m and professional mailings must be negotiated with the administration of the site, it says do not want to dive at high risk.

Photos: Marcelo Krauser

Source: Terra Turismo

Latin America Top 10

Brazil enters twice on examiner.com’s list of the top ten sights in Latin America, read about the winning spots below or read the full article here.

Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Brazil is one of South America’s most popular tourist destinations with Rio de Janeiro being the most visited city. Synonymous with Carnival, many guests don’t understand all this city has to offer. The city is packed with sites and activities for visitors to enjoy and one could easily spend an entire trip here. The obvious stops include Christ the Redeemer, Sugar Loaf, and the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Visitors can also enjoy historical neighborhoods, amazing cuisine, a strong dance and music culture, and much more hidden beneath the obvious.
 
Salvador da Bahia, Brazil
For those seeking a less crowded and more authentic trip, Salvador da Bahia is a popular city. Once the capital of Brazil the historical city on the northeast coast was the main port for the slave trade and has a strong African heritage that is visible to this day. The beaches, cuisine, music, and amazing colors offer visitors a relaxing and culturally stimulating vacation. The city is also a great place to experience a less commercialized Carnival than Rio.

Source: examiner.com