Dive Review of Atlantis Divers in
Brazil/Fernando de Noronha

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Atlantis Divers, Feb, 2010, by Anne Efron, MD, US ( Reviewer 4 reports with 1 Helpful vote). Report 5782 has 1 Helpful vote.
No photos available at this time
Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Accommodations		Food
Service and Attitude		Environmental Sensitivity
Dive Operation		Shore Diving	N/A
Snorkeling	N/A
Overall Rating
Value for $$
Beginners
Advanced
Comments	Fernando de Noronha is considered the dive mecca in Brazil and is a protected area. Only a certain number of people are allowed on the island at any given time. All diving is tightly regulated and the government actually chooses who dives where on any given day. There are only 3 dive companies that operate and from what I saw there didn't seem to be much difference between them. They all seemed to use big boats, and they were all were packed tight - probably 50 people on a boat. Most accommodations on the islands are pousadas - rooms in private residences that are quite basic, if not down right rustic. There are also some beautiful eco-resorts that cost over $500/night. We had 3 days to dive in Fernando de Noronha and the day before we arrived a huge surge had wiped out the dock where the dive boats operate, so we lost a day while they jury-rigged a set up. They split us up into groups of about 10 - 12 with 2 dive instructors - one leader and one bringing up the rear. Our group was all English speaking and the briefing was given in English. Strong currents and all dives were drift dives, the boat picked up groups as they surfaced. Very interesting topography, warm water, mostly good vis. There are pods of spinning dolphins in the area and they gave us quite a show on our way out to the dive sites. Our issue was with the lead dive instructor. We were briefed that the first dive on day 2 was going to be 90 feet max, drift dive. The current was really strong and within a few minutes of entering, the dive instructor took off after a spotted eagle ray, we had to kick like crazy to try and keep up. Needless to say, we didn't catch him, and it was a waste of air. About 6 people had to surface with the following instructor soon after. Then, next thing I knew we were at 110 feet. I was reaching my no decomp limit per my computer so raised above the group a bit along with my husband. She then swam us into stronger current and we had to kick like crazy and go deep to get out of it and to try and stay with the group. I turned around to check on my husband and he was way above us and behind, so I swam up to him while she banged on her tank trying to get my attention. I ignored her. My husband hadn't been able to get out of the current and used up most of his air trying to catch up and was doing his 3 minute stop. I had gone over my no decomp limit so he surfaced out of air and I decomped below him, where the boat then picked us up. I can't even tell you what we saw as the dive was so stressful. If we had just been able to drift as we were briefed, it would have been fine, but she made poor decisions and we were stuck following. The island itself is beautiful with gorgeous beaches, big waves and surfers. It is really out of the way and I wish that we had had a better experience as it could have been phenomenal. Bottom line - for experienced divers only due to depth, current and poor leadership. Make a back out plan with your buddy and take a signal sausage. We were very glad that we had ours.
Websites	Atlantis Divers
Reporter and Travel
Dive Experience	101-250 dives
Where else diving	Caribbean and Central America
Closest Airport		Getting There
Dive Conditions
Weather	sunny	Seas	choppy, currents
Water Temp	-°F / -°C	Wetsuit Thickness	3
Water Visibility	- Ft/ - M
Dive Policy
Dive own profile	no
Enforced diving restrictions	Stay with group
Liveaboard?	no	Nitrox Available?	yes
What I Saw
Sharks	None	Mantas	None
Dolphins	Schools	Whale Sharks	None
Turtles	1 or 2	Whales	None
Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):
Corals		Tropical Fish
Small Critters	N/A	Large Fish	N/A
Large Pelagics	N/A
Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):
Subject Matter	N/A	Boat Facilities	N/A
Overall rating for UWP's	N/A	Shore Facilities	N/A
UW Photo Comments	Lots of other divers had cameras and they seemed to have decent designated areas, but I didn't look closely.

Report currently has 1 Helpful vote

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Dive Review of Atlantis Divers in Brazil/Fernando de Noronha

Atlantis Divers, Feb, 2010,

Ratings and Overall Comments 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Overall Rating

Reporter and Travel

Dive Conditions

Dive Policy

What I Saw

Ratings 1(worst) - 5 (best):

Underwater Photography 1 (worst) - 5 (best):

Dive Review of Atlantis Divers in
Brazil/Fernando de Noronha