The second best of scuba diving in Brazil is Abrolhos. It's an archipelago some four to six hours from land, where you can't go on shore, so either you make one-day trips or take a live-aboard on one of several boats. The dives are very, very calm, shallow and relaxed, and though the visibility is not as good as Noronha, but the richness of the corals and marine life is incredible. It's good for all levels of experience. Best time of the year is November to March, when it is also possible to watch whales.

Abrolhos is Brazil's first Marine Park, covers part of an archipelago 80km offshore from Caravelas, Bahia. (Caravelas is situated about 155km south of Porto Seguro). The archipelago consists of five islands, but the only inhabited one is Santa Barbara, which has a lighthouse, built in 1861, and a handful of buildings. Abrolhos is being preserved because of its coral reefs and crystal-clear waters. Underwater fishing within the park is prohibited. The only approach is by boat, and staying on the islands is prohibited too. The underwater life is rich in the archipelago, a paradise for divers, with many animal species that inhabit the area. You may see star-pity-sea, corals colors, mollusks, algae, turtles, and from July to November, the Jubarte Whales appears in the region. The whales come from the South Pole to search for the lukewarm waters in the archipelago, to procreate and to breast-feed their nestling. The best time for diving is from December to April, due to higher transparency and temperature in the waters. The town of Caravelas on the mainland is the most popular gateway to the park. There exist tours to the islands, not only over a day but also stop overnights on a boat.