4 sinkholes · down to 130 m
Cave diving in Mato Grosso
- Sinkholes4
- Max depth130 m
Why come here
Around Nobres, about two hours' drive north of Cuiabá, lies a limestone area full of flooded sinkholes and springs that cave divers have only recently begun to explore in earnest. The Dolina do Pai João lies at the foot of a steep wall, with very clear water and passages that run beyond 130 m according to the 2026 expedition; teams from GUE and the University of São Paulo and an IANTD team dived it on CCR, with their own compressor and oxygen. It is expedition terrain: the caves lie in protected areas, you need a state permit, and no operator takes visiting divers. In the dry season, from May to September, the water is low enough.
On a rest day
- Aquário Encantado: A blue spring near Nobres where you snorkel among colourful fish; day trips from Cuiabá include the snorkel gear.
- Lagoa das Araras: A small lake among buriti palms in Bom Jardim where red-and-green macaws and parrots come in at dusk; best from September to November.
All 4 sinkholes
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dolina do Pai Joãoℹ Info · explorationPermission neededNot known yet · Full cave | 130 m | Not known yet | Full cave |
| Gruta da Lagoa Azul (Nobres)⛔ Closed to diversPermission neededNot known yet · Full cave | – | Not known yet | Full cave |
| João Terêncioℹ Info · explorationPermission neededNot known yet · Full cave | 109 m | Not known yet | Full cave |
| Poço 2 de Maioℹ Info · explorationPermission neededNot known yet · Full cave | 60 m | Not known yet | Full cave |
Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.
Practical info: rules, fills and emergency numbers
Emergencies
- SAMU 192, fire brigade 193. No chamber for diving accidents confirmed in the state; the GUE expeditions had a mobile chamber of the fire brigade at the parking area. Ask DAN beforehand where the nearest chamber is.
Access and rules
- Access: permits are requested in advance from the state environment agency (SEMA-MT), which runs the Parque Estadual Gruta da Lagoa Azul; each area has its own rules for visits and diving. For the Nitrox team, local guides arranged the permits, the transport of gear and safety. The Gruta da Lagoa Azul itself has been closed to visitors since 2002.
Gas and fills
- Gas: no public fill station found. The Nitrox team brought a portable compressor, oxygen, diluents, bailout cylinders and sorb for the whole trip.
Water and season
- Season: the dry season from May to September. In the rainy season the water in the Dolina do Pai João rises more than 10 m.
Getting around
- Travel: Cuiabá airport (Marechal Rondon), ~150 km and about 2 hours via the BR-364 and the MT-241 to Nobres.
Rest day
- Rest day: snorkelling in the blue spring of the Aquário Encantado near Nobres, and at the Lagoa das Araras in Bom Jardim the macaws come in at dusk (best from September to November).
Good to know
- Read this first: the flooded caves in the limestone around Nobres, ~120–150 km north of Cuiabá, are expedition terrain. They lie in protected areas, the deepest go beyond 100 m, and every known dive was an expedition with a permit and its own logistics. No source names an operator that takes visiting divers.
News
News articles that mention one of the caves in this region, collected automatically and not checked by us.
Access and rules change: check what applies locally right before your trip. Source: GDELT Project and the news feeds of diving magazines.
Searched automatically, last on 11 Nov 2026.
No provider in Mato Grosso yet
The caves here are listed as information only: we don't know a dive centre, guide or club yet that takes visitors, so you can't plan a trip here yet. Do you know one, or are you one? Let us know.