Ilha das Cobras
Paraty · Brazil
Named for the serpentine green moray eels that emerge from every crevice in the rocky reef, Ilha das Cobras delivers one of the most characterful dive experiences on the Rio de Janeiro coast. The island's granite boulders tumble down to a sandy floor at around 18 meters, creating a maze of swimthroughs, archways, and overhangs colonized by orange cup corals, encrusting sponges, and schools of glassy sweepers. Parrotfish and sergeant majors are inescapable, their rasping and chirping audible from 10 meters away.
Conditions
Depth
3 to 18 m
Good for beginners
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 20 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
18 to 28°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 23 | 21 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 21 | 23 | 24 |
| Vis (m) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Current | Still | Still | Still | Still | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Still | Still | Still |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Green-Headed Tanager
Last confirmed Jun 15, 2026 · 43 records
Almost always
Nearly every dive
Masked Water-Tyrant
Last confirmed Jun 8, 2026 · 24 records
Very likely
Most dives
Brazilian Tanager
Last confirmed May 3, 2026 · 33 records
Very likely
Most dives
Green Moray Eel
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Common Octopus
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Stoplight Parrotfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear