4 caves · down to 220 m · 3 suitable for an intro team
Cave diving in Bonito
- Caves4
- Max depth220 m
- Water temperature18–25 °C
Why come here
In the Serra da Bodoquena around Bonito lie clear springs, sinkholes and cave lakes, and you always dive guided, with each attraction's own guide and gear. Gruta do Mimoso is the only real cave dive, with exceptional visibility; Lagoa Misteriosa and Abismo Anhumas are guided dives to recreational depths in a sinkhole and a cave lake. The water is 18–25 °C. You book through an accredited agency in Bonito or Jardim with the municipal Voucher Único, and each attraction has a daily cap: in the school holidays (July, January) book at least a month ahead. Visibility is best from mid-April to September; from October to March rain and algae can cloud the water and activities are sometimes cancelled.
Don't miss
- Gruta do Mimoso: Bonito's only real cave dive, with exceptional visibility and large cone-shaped formations.
- Lagoa Misteriosa (Jardim): a sinkhole with water at ~24 °C and around 40 m visibility in the blue season, open again under an environmental licence since 2011.
- Abismo Anhumas: a cave lake lit only through the opening in the roof, where the world's largest known limestone cones stand underwater.
On a rest day
- Rio da Prata: Float with a snorkel for about 2.2 km through the clear water of the Olho d'Água and the Rio da Prata, among schools of piraputanga and dourado.
- Buraco das Araras: A sinkhole some 100 m deep near Jardim, where you watch red-and-green macaws and toucans from two viewpoints.
- Gruta do Lago Azul: With a guide you go down to an underground lake lit through the large entrance, which turns an intense blue from September to February.
All 4 caves
1 closed not shown ·
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abismo AnhumasEntry or dive feeBackmount · Open water / no overhead | 80 m | Backmount | Open water / no overhead |
| Gruta do MimosoEntry or dive feeBackmount · Cavern | 40 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Lagoa Misteriosa (Jardim)Entry or dive feeBackmount · Open water / no overhead | 220 m | Backmount | Open water / no overhead |
Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.
Where to stay
Find a place near Bonito, Jardim
Villages that work well as a base for the caves in this region. Find a place for your team:
- BonitoBooking.com ↗
- JardimBooking.com ↗
The links to Booking.com are affiliate links: if you book through one, DiveTripPlanner earns a small commission. You pay the same.
Practical info: rules, fills and emergency numbers
Emergencies
- SAMU 192, fire brigade 193. No chamber for diving accidents confirmed in the state; get DAN insurance (required at Mimoso) and ask DAN beforehand where the nearest chamber is.
Access and rules
- What you can dive: Gruta do Mimoso is the only real cave dive (from intro to full cave); Lagoa Misteriosa and Abismo Anhumas are guided dives in a sinkhole and a cave lake to recreational depths. Gruta do Lago Azul, Nascente Azul and Rio da Prata are for looking or snorkelling only.
Gas and fills
- Gas: no public fill station; each attraction supplies its own cylinders. At Anhumas you may not use your own gear.
Water and season
- Season: the best visibility from about mid-April to September ('Temporada Azul'); from October to March rain and algae can cloud the water and activities are sometimes cancelled.
Getting around
- Travel: Bonito airport (~13 km from town) with flights from São Paulo and Campinas; otherwise via Campo Grande (~300 km).
Rest day
- Rest day: the snorkel float in the Rio da Prata, the Buraco das Araras (a viewing sinkhole), the Gruta do Lago Azul and the Nascente Azul (3 km from Mimoso).
Good to know
- Read this first: in Bonito you only dive guided, with each attraction's own guide and gear. Bookings go through an accredited agency in Bonito or Jardim with the municipal 'Voucher Único': each attraction has a daily cap, and the prices are set by the municipality. In the school holidays (July, January) book at least a month ahead.
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