Planning a trip?
Hotels, dive operators, gear, and how to get here are on the Fernando de Noronha location page.
Overview
Brazilian Navy corvette resting upright and largely intact at 62 m off Ponta da Sapata, where she struck the Cabeça da Sapata pinnacle in October 1983 and sank after eight hours adrift. The 56 m hull retains its bridge, gun mount and superstructure, and inside corridors remain penetrable for trained tec divers. Visibility frequently runs 30 to 50 m in the deep blue around the wreck, with passing reef sharks, jacks and the occasional manta. The signature deep wreck dive of Fernando de Noronha and a magnet for Brazilian technical divers, the V-17 sits well past recreational limits and is run only with extended range or trimix certification.
Briefing note
Extended-range or trimix certification required. Visitor numbers to Fernando de Noronha are capped and an environmental preservation fee plus marine park entry are mandatory; book the boat and dive well in advance through a tec-rated operator. Site is run as a single deep dive per day with mandatory decompression and is weather-dependent on the exposed southwest coast.
What you'll see
6 species curated- seasonalCaribbean reef shark
- seasonalLemon shark
- year-roundSchooling jack
- year-roundHawksbill turtle
- year-roundSpinner dolphin
- rareManta ray
Conditions
| Month | Water | Visibility | Current |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27–28 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Feb | 27–28 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Mar | 27–28 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
| Apr | 27–28 °C | 20–35 m | mild |
| May | 27–28 °C | 20–35 m | mild |
| Jun | 26–27 °C | 20–35 m | mild |
| Jul | 26–27 °C | 20–35 m | mild |
| Aug | 26–27 °C | 30–50 m | mild |
| Sep | 26–27 °C | 30–50 m | mild |
| Oct | 26–27 °C | 30–50 m | mild |
| Nov | 27–28 °C | 30–50 m | mild |
| Dec | 27–28 °C | 25–40 m | mild |
Season calendar
Peak season highlighted · current month outlined
Gear for this site
Beyond the basic kit- Twin tanks or rebreather — 62 m bottom requires extended-range or trimix gas planning.
- Decompression stage cylinder — Mandatory deco stops on every profile.
- Primary and backup dive lights — Penetration of corridors and gun-mount interior.
Next step
Book your trip to Fernando de Noronha
Hotels, liveaboards, dive operators, gear recommendations, and travel logistics for the whole region.
Plan your trip →Some links earn us a commission. Learn more