Aquáticos Diving Center

The nearest airport is Recife Guararapes–Gilberto Freyre International Airport (REC), located right inside the city and close to the main beach hotels. International travelers can fly into REC via connecting flights, with Azul Airlines offering service from Fort Lauderdale (FLL).

Aquáticos is located at Cais de Santa Rita, S/n in the historic Recife Antigo (Old Port) area.

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Recife is known as the Shipwreck Capital of Brazil, and Aquáticos puts you right in the heart of it. With over 20 wrecks,  making it one of the top wreck diving destinations in South America, accessible from their base in the old port area, divers of all levels can explore sunken vessels dating back to the steamship era, World War II, and modern artificial reefs — all in warm, clear water year-round.

Conditions

Recife's waters are warm throughout the year, averaging 27-28°C (80-82°F), with generally good visibility. The ocean can be rough at times, making some sites more suitable for experienced divers.

Dive Sites

Most dive sites are reached by boat, with a ride of roughly 1.5-2 hours from the dive center. Aquáticos operates trips aboard their 62-foot vessel, the Galileo, with each outing typically including two dives.

Notable wrecks include: 

• Servemar X – One of the first ships intentionally sunk to create the Pernambuco Artificial Shipwreck Park. Lies at 25 meters and is well preserved.

• Naufrágio Pirapama – A diver favorite, sunk over a century ago and now home to a rich marine ecosystem.

• Walsa – A well-preserved tugboat at 40 meters, ideal for technical and deep dives. Sites range from 20 to 50 meters in depth, so most wrecks require at minimum an Open Water certification, with deeper sites suited for advanced and technical divers.

 

Sites range from 20 to 50 meters in depth, so most wrecks require at minimum an Open Water certification, with deeper sites suited for advanced and technical divers.

Marine Life

The wrecks are covered in colorful corals and teem with marine life. Divers regularly encounter grunts, squirrelfish, cobia, French and gray angelfish, and goliath grouper. Stingrays, sea turtles, and sharks are also common sightings throughout the wreck park.

Aquáticos does not provide on-site accommodations, however the dive center recommends several hotels on Recife's beachfront strip. Options include the Atlante Plaza, Radisson, Transamerica Prestige, and the Novotel Marina, which is conveniently placed near the dive center. All are conveniently located near the city's major attractions and beaches.

All rates are in USD. Dive rates are per person.

Packages	Prices (USD)
2-Tank Dive	$150
Airport Transfer (round trip)	$200
Hotel–Dive Center Transfer (round trip)	$100
Hotel (double occupancy, per night)	$95