Amazon Basin – Brazil's Ultimate Freshwater Diving

About Amazon Basin (Freshwater Expedition Diving)

The Amazon Basin offers one of the world's most unique and adventurous freshwater diving experiences in the planet's largest river system. Rio Negro near Manaus provides black-water diving with remarkable visibility of 8-10 metres through tannin-stained waters, encounters with pink river dolphins from the surface (no in-water interaction permitted), huge pirarucu and arapaima fish, and eco-dives in flooded forest during the high water season. Rio Tapajós near Santarém offers clear green waters with pink dolphins, giant catfish, freshwater stingrays, and a completely different aquatic ecosystem. The diving is highly specialised with very limited operators making it an expedition-style adventure rather than a typical dive holiday. The flooded forest experience during high water (January-June) when divers can swim among submerged trees and vegetation is unlike anything else on earth. The Amazon Basin represents the ultimate frontier for freshwater diving enthusiasts seeking extraordinary biodiversity in one of the planet's most important ecosystems.

Highlights

• ✓Rio Negro black-water diving with 8-10m visibility
• ✓Pink river dolphin surface encounters
• ✓Giant pirarucu and arapaima fish
• ✓Flooded forest diving in high water season
• ✓Rio Tapajós clear green waters
• ✓Ultimate freshwater expedition diving

Getting There

Fly to Manaus (MAO) for Rio Negro diving or Santarém (STM) for Rio Tapajós. Manaus has direct flights from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Brasília. Dive operators are based in the cities with boat transfers to the dive sites on the rivers. Some remote sites require multi-day liveaboard-style expedition boats.