Find out what to expect from your first scuba dive in Arraial do Cabo.
Arraial do Cabo is a coastal town 160 km from Rio de Janeiro. White-sand beaches, clear water and abundant marine life make this peninsula a wonderful discovery. Known as Brazil's Diving Capital or the Brazilian Caribbean, its greatest attractions are diving and boat trips. Boat trips have their own article, so here we're focusing on your first scuba diving experience.
An introductory dive is a great way to explore underwater for the first time without taking a full course. After a short briefing on the boat, the crew helps you put on your wetsuit, weight belt, fins, BCD with the tank and regulator already attached, and finally your mask.
All set? Time to take the next step—literally! The technique is called a giant stride: one large step from the deck into the sea, entering upright and a little away from the boat. It's a step, not a jump. You dip below the water and return to the surface in 3 or 4 seconds. It's a memorable first moment, as anticipation turns into something completely new. Before descending, you'll spend time at the surface getting used to the equipment. When you're ready, let your instructor know and you'll go down together.
Now you're underwater! Imagine breathing and seeing normally while your instructor guides you throughout. It's 30 minutes of adventure among fish of all kinds, turtles, seahorses, rays and moray eels. At certain times of year, dolphins and even penguins visit the area. Orcas and humpback whales also pass Arraial, although sightings at dive sites are rare. Book the photography service in advance and you can take home pictures of the experience. Diving in Arraial do Cabo is worth every moment!