Surveys of the large scale near equatorial eddies (≂400km across) off the north-east coast of South America with expendable bathythermographs from the ships of opportunity and aircraft indicate that a large eddy (6N-11N) to the north and a southern eddy-like feature (2N-6N) probably are a permanent part of the circulation. Both features were observed during the periods of seasonal extremes, March and September, although during the latter period the structure of the eddies had enlarged and deepened, indicating a pronounced seasonal variability.