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The secret Maracajaú of Rio, in Rio Grande do Norte is at the sea.  Maracajaú is a small fishing village that still retains its original features, with sailing rafts anchored on its white sands and coconut palms by the sea forming a paradise setting.  Located roughly 60 km north of Natal, Maracajaú Beach combines natural beauty with a relaxed atmosphere, a sea breeze and a tropical climate.  The local community here still lives primarily off of fishing, so there are many fishermen and fishing boats in the area.  The area is a divers paradise.

The area offers up accompanied diving, and diving for accredited divers.  Diving, accompanied by an instructor, including cylinder, vest, balancer, regulator, ballast, mask, snorkel, fins is R$170.00, while rental of just the scuba gear, is R$30.00 for regulator and and R$30.00 for the collector, and the cylinder rental is another R$30.00 per cylinder.

In front of the Aquarium restaurant, there is a view of the Teresa Panza Lighthouse, built in the 1940's, it is built where the Teresa Panza ship sank, after hitting a coral reef.  A good place to dive for those looking for a ship wreck and coral reefs.  Maracajaú and Perobas are between 50 and 90 km away from Natal, but the extra driving time for the beautiful underwater diving makes up for the difference in distance.

For those looking for something closer, it's possible to enjoy the marine life with only a snorkel and mask in the natural pools at Pirangi Beach, which are among the most sought after and are much closer to Natal.