Brazil
Porto da Barra is the gateway to the Baía de Todos os Santos, named this way on 1 November 1501, when Gaspar de Lemos and Amerigo Vespucci sailed into the bay. At both ends of the beach stand old Portuguese forts, Forte Santa Maria and Forte São Diogo. In 1638, the forts of São Diogo, Santo Antônio and Santa Maria opened fire on the Dutch fleet of Maurice of Nassau and prevented it from landing at Porto da Barra. Next to the beach, between Forte Santa Maria and Forte Santo Antônio (Farol da Barra), lies the Parque Marinho da Barra.
Even though it is an urban beach, ocean waters reach the shoreline, which favours dives on the corals. Underwater, divers see different species of coral. On one dive at the site, a shimmering school of sardines and a solitary turtle appeared.
In Salvador you can dive all year round, but in winter the options tend to shrink because of bad weather. The best months in the city are usually from September to March, when the sea tends to be calmer.
Information on this page, including technical data such as depth, current, visibility, access, and recommended level, is informational and may vary. Confirm actual conditions with a local operator before the dive.
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Reviews are from other divers — personal experiences, not guarantees.
