Baixa do Ambrósio

An offshore seamount about 7 km north of Santa Maria that rises to within roughly 5 m of the surface and draws the Atlantic's largest known summer aggregation of sicklefin devil rays (Mobula tarapacana). From June to October, divers clip onto the mooring line at 5–15 m and watch groups of 10–30 golden backed rays, some with wingspans over 3 m, circle slowly in midwater alongside schooling almaco jacks and yellowmouth barracuda. Currents run moderate to strong, and late summer plankton blooms can bring whale sharks and oceanic mantas. A small platform sits near 40 m for experienced divers.