Caramuanas

Caramuanas is the largest reef on the southeastern coast of Itaparica Island, at the entrance to the Baía de Todos os Santos. Part of it is exposed at low spring tides and forms natural pools, and the reef is used by several types of fishing. The reef grows as small mushroom-shaped columns, 3 to 5 m tall, similar to the chapeirões of Abrolhos, and the largest columns reach the surface.

There are large coral formations, and the reef stands out in the Baía de Todos os Santos for its great richness of corals. The most common are Mussismilia hispida, M. braziliensis, Porites branneri and the species of the Siderastrea complex. The Caramuanas reef is also the type locality of the sponge Placospongia giseleae, described as a new species.

In October 1998, 18% of the reef's coral colonies showed signs of bleaching. In recent years, mass tourism has caused trampling and anchoring damage from boats.