SCUBA Diving in Salvador

Diving

By Christopher Minster

For centuries, Salvador da Bahia was Brazil’s most important city. It was the capital of the nation until 1763, when the capital was moved to Rio de Janeiro. It features a large natural harbor, and was a major New World shipping center. Thousands of ships came and went…and some came and never left.

Salvador is a wreck diver’s paradise: you can dive every day for two weeks and not have to see the same wreck twice. A number of decent dive shops have spring up, and the city itself is friendly and inviting. The waters in the bay are normally quite warm, and divers most likely will not need a wetsuit.

Don’t miss the Cavo Artemidi. According to local legend, the ship was sunk as part of an insurance scam…but whatever the reason, the Cavo Artemidi is one of the most spectacular wreck dives in Brazil. The massive freighter – it is approximately 160 meters (525 feet) long, larger than a football field – is mostly intact and sitting in water between thirty and one hundred feet deep. There are gaping holes in the hull that even novice divers can swim through without any risk of being stuck. Many species of dazzling fish make the wreck their home, including several species of angelfish. It is the largest shipwreck in Brazilian waters and is in a good state of preservation.

Located at the mouth of the bay, the Banco de Panela is home to the remains of more than 90 ships sunk during the Dutch invasion. The area is considered an archaeological site and it is forbidden to remove anything from the site. After 400 years, there’s nothing recognizable as a ship anymore, but you’ll see anchors, wood scraps, and a cannon or two if you’re lucky.