the tijuca archipelago sits less than a mile south of the carioca neighborhood of barra da tijuca, located in the west zone. the archipelago consists of ilha do meio, ilha alfavaca, ilha pontuda, and laje das tijucas - small islets that surround the main islands. the islands are a diving hotspot due to comfortable water temperatures, the wide variety of marine life found there and their proximity to the mainland. underwater visibility is generally very good, though it is diminished during low tide as a result of outflows from the joatinga canal.
