Hartley's Oceans & Islands

•

•

•

•

•

•

Pacific Islands

BRAZIL
Landbased Itinerary	Liveaboard Itinerary
With over 4,600 miles of coastline, no wonder scuba diving is Brazil's national pastime. Brazil offers amazing gifts to all divers – the beginner, advanced and the adventurous . There are special places every Brazilian makes at least one pilgrimage to - the national marine park of Fernando de Noronha; the island of the Forbidden with its incredible marine life and resident dolphin community. The national marine park of Abrolhos, the famous wrecks of Recife, and the incredible clear rivers and fresh water caverns and caves of Bonito. These places feature year round warm waters, coral reefs teaming with tropical fish, dolphins, whales, turtles, rays, sharks, all in abundance due to a unique combination of climate, Atlantic ocean currents and geographical location. In the interior, the Amazon river basin is abundant with jungle wildlife and plants from tiny orchids to towering trees. The best way to experience Amazon river area and the rainforest is the stay in one of the lodges that are devoted to preserving the natural environment.

The Fernando de Noronha Archipelago is a Marine National Park located 200 miles off the northeastern coast of Brazil. Noronha is a mountainous archipelago of volcanic origin that was wonderfully shaped into one large island and 20 smaller ones. Their beautiful sandy beaches and crystal-clear water host the most diverse marine life in Brazil. The archipelago is a world-class dive destination and a heavenly retreat for underwater pleasures. Due to its open ocean location, which provides pelagic fish and ocean mammals a refuge and the strict protections placed on this national park by the Brazilian environmental protection agency, we can guarantee the fish will be there when you are. The dive sites include a wreck dive, caverns, amazing coral and volcanic rock formations, an array of reef sharks, rare green and comb turtles of up to 660 pounds, schooling barracuda, all kinds of rays and schooling reef fishes of every kind and color, and wild dolphins. Did we say dolphins? Lots of dolphins? That's right! You will have the chance to marvel at the sight of over 600 spinner dolphins at one time. Noronha serves as the breeding ground, play ground and home to the oldest and largest residential school of dolphins on earth. For this and other reasons, the island is one of two in Brazil to have been designated a world heritage site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). The best spot to see the dolphins socialize and spin up in the air is from an outlook ashore, especially since swimming with them has been prohibited-of course, that is not to say you will not bump into them during your dives. While hiking the trails around the shore or up the forested mountain, you will also see that the archipelago provides habitat for several unique species of migratory and island birds. On top of it all, Fernando de Noronha visitors will be in the home to the only mangrove as well as the only known existence of Atlantic Rainforest in the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, the archipelago has a long and still noticeable cosmopolitan heritage going back to the occupation by the Dutch in the 17th century and the French in the 18th century, and passing by the distinguished visit of Charles Darwin and his research expedition in the 19th century as well as the presence of military Americans while Noronha served as a base for airplanes in the 20th century. The history of the 21st century is showing international visitors dive so much in the archipelago's hospitable human and natural environment as to call it their homes.

Recife and Olinda : Once a fisherman's village, Recife is now a star that shines over waters far beyond its historic harbor where two rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean after passing by mangroves that form one of the largest urban estuary systems in the world. The city is nicknamed The Brazilian Venice by virtue of its waters, while its formal name comes from coral reefs that run along the shoreline, shaping miles of seashore into natural pools and creating one of the prettiest beach areas in Brazil. Cosmopolitan Recife, where colonial architecture coexists with modern splendor, is the hub of northeast Brazil for excellent art, dining, trade, and education. No visit to Recife would be complete without a stroll through the hills of neighboring Olinda. Built in the early 1500's, charming Olinda is one of the largest and best-preserved Portuguese colonial towns, and was designated a world heritage site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). A living city full of art shops and galleries, ornate churches and monasteries, museums, cobblestone streets and shady squares, Olinda always has some kind of celebration in the making. Both Recife and Olinda offer exceptional topside touring as well as a rare diving adventure, all with a sense of history. Over the years there came to be more than 100 shipwrecks off the coast of the cities, 17 of which are now regularly visited in warm and crystal clear waters. These war galleons, steamships, tugs and barges date from 1652 to 1986 and offer a wreck diving experience that is a treasure not to be missed. Countless species of fish and corals will dazzle the senses, aided by excellent visibility and an average water temperature of 78 degrees Fahrenheit. As you make your way through these sites you will see some of Brazil's favorite shores between the surfing and snorkeling of Porto de Galinhas, and the sailing and power boating around the islands of Coroa do Avião and Itamaracá.

Bonito : A place so magical that they named it beautiful, Bonito, (literally beautiful in Portuguese) is the main destination in Mato Grosso do Sul for divers. Home to the largest and most diverse population of neotropical wild fauna on the planet, Mato Grosso do Sul is an entirely unique destination. In the vast open spaces of the Pantanal, animals are observed in their natural environment. Mato Grosso do Sul is a World Heritage Site. People come from all over the world to experience the crystal-clear fresh waters and explore the infinite caverns. The passionate diver will fall in love with this region. The dense forest reveals species of flora and fauna only found in this vibrant region. Here it is possible to live amongst the people, learning their culture and customs. Active participation in the daily activities of working ranches is encouraged on many of the grounds where people stay. Abismo Anhumas : Without question this is one of the most impressing places you will ever visit! Whether you are a diver or not, Abismo guarantees incomparable emotional and visual effects. The excitement begins upon arrival, where the only way down is from a 72 meter cord. The necessary rapelling techniques are learned the day before the dive with specialized instructors trained to monitor the safety of the operation. The wonder of Abismo is attributed to the diversity of the formations, both in and out of the water. The surroundings are something of another world, definately different from anything you possibly could have experienced elsewhere. The dive is executed in an immense lake inside of a cavern. For anyone who has avoided cavern dives because of the inability to surface, this is the dive of your dreams! At any time on this dive you have the ability to surface inside the cavern. Floating among formations of more than 10 meters, you are overcome by the surreal dream like sensation of floating through a submerged city.

Lagoa Misteriosa : Lagoa Misteriosa means mysterious lake, and that is precisely what you will encounter when you get there. Prepare to be enchanted by the intense blue waters and the mysteries of the depths below, which remain practically undiscovered still today. Time and again, dive instructors are amused with the shock everyone experiences when they arrive here to this paradise in the middle of the lush Pantanal. Even the most experienced divers and travelers are never prepared for what they find at Lagoa Misteriosa! Imagine yourself, slowly descending to depths beyond 50 meters below the surface, moving weightlessly through soothing waters the color of the most beautiful turquoise and saphires you can imagine, surrounded by rock formations created over (millions) of years. Looking up you can still see the clouds floating across the sky and the rich greens of the forest .... now remember, it is called Lagoa Misteriosa for a reason. Anyone who loves a mystery knows that the best part is the discovery! The Lagoa Misteriosa has been explored by many world-class divers. Five years ago Gilbeto de Menezes descended 220 meters without ever reaching the bottom. Is that enough space for you to explore? I dare you to find the bottom! Gruta Mimoso : Regardless of your experience, the infinite formations of the caverns and crystal-like waters will surely provide you with one of the most magical dives ever . This is the only cavern in the region where specialized training is not required prior to the dive. Therefore, whether this is your first dive or your hundredth, prepare yourself for a whole new world! Inside the caverns you will have plenty of space to discover the dynamic beauty and strength of our ever-changing planet. As with all of the dives described above, proper technical training will be supervised by specialists before any dive can be executed.

Abrolhos : The Abrolhos Archipelago is a Marine National Park located 45 miles off the mid-eastern coast of Brazil. The archipelago of five volcanic islands harbors 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, locally known as “chapeirão”. The species looks like a giant mutant mushroom and is overgrown with fans of fire coral and round knobs of brain coral also unique to this archipelago. Abrolhos is also home to some of the richest coral in Brazil, and one of the rarest in the world. All the existing species of fish in the South Atlantic can be found in the surroundings of the archipelago. Between July and November, Abrolhos is visited by Humpback whales, who give their own spectacular performance leaping from the water and emitting a variety of sounds and you can scuba dive and snorkel with them. Amazon River Basin : Experience the Amazon, its unique, and often, endangered rainforest flora, fauna and cultures. The town of Manaus is the gateway to the Amazon jungle where the Amazon’s tributaries, the Rios Negro and Ariau, and Anavilhanas Creek snake their way into this ecological wonderland. Explore this region on foot, by small cruise ship, motor boat, canoe or on a fishing expedition, all with encyclopedic guides and overnight stays in comfortable lodges, ship cabins or rustic village accommodations. The world's largest and most important river basin is a living greenhouse to over 10,000 varieties of plants and sanctuary to over 5,000 species of animals and birds. Take guided hiking trips beneath the canopy of the towering trees and cruise the waterways to discover the strange splendor of this exotic world. Iguacú Falls : A side trip to Iguacú is a must on a Brazil adventure. The Iguacú River flows at amazing speeds over a dramatic ledge a mile and a half long. There are catwalks leading you through the mist to the falls and small boats navigating the bottom of the falls. There are a number of small hotels in this area to explore the falls from.

Best Time to Travel : Fernando de Norhona : All year around. The peak season is from December 1 to February 28, so if you are planning your trip during that period, booking in advance is highly recommended. Recife & Olinda : October to March. Bonito : March to November. Abrolhos : January to April. If you want to see the beautiful Humpbacks whales your best bet will be to travel between July and November.