Highlights / Discover Portugal’s best dive sites from the Azores to the mainland

Discover Portugal’s best dive sites from the Azores to the mainland

Portugal is an exciting up-and-coming travel destination, recently winning the World’s Leading Destination three times, plus several other categories of the World Travel Awards. This small, culturally rich European country has so much to offer, from the mainland to the beautiful Azores and Madeira archipelagos. Diving in Portugal not only offers vacationers a unique mix of underwater conditions and landscapes but will keep you busy above the water as well. The water may be beautiful, but the food, wine, views, and culture, all paired with some of the best beaches in the world, make Portugal a dive destination not to be missed. The country is home to many protected marine parks, giving divers pristine diving conditions. Explore the dive site map to see where you should go diving in Portugal.

Divesites

Scubapro

Navio Zambeze (Wreck) (★3.7)

The Ocean Revival underwater park, marked on the surface by signalling buoys, consists of four Portuguese Navy ships that serve as unique artificial reefs, with the Zambeze being one of these ships.

EasyDivers Unipessoal Lda, 8200-371 Albufeira

Almeida Carvalho (Wreck) (★4.2)

The Ocean Revival underwater park, off the Algarve coast of Portugal, is demarcated on the surface by signalling buoys and consists of four Portuguese Navy ships that serve as unique artificial reefs. The Almeida Carvalho is one of these ships. Length 64m, Width-12m, Sunked on 21-September-2013. Max depth- 30m!

Palmela Desporto, 2955-211 Pinhal Novo

Forte da Baralha (★4.0)

Rock formation located a few meters south of the coast of Sesimbra, near Cape Espichel. It rises from the bottom (located at 15m) to the surface. It is rare that the top of the stone gets completely submerged.

Palmela Desporto, 2955-211 Pinhal Novo

Jardim das Gorgónias (★4.0)

This spot is one of the most popular in the area, only because of its easy orientation and the diversity of life. The most common course is to keep the rock on your left side and circle around it, taking into account that the north side of the rock is less deep, allowing for a long dive.

Porto Santo Sub, 9400-240 Porto Santo

Madeirense (Wreck) (★4.8)

This cargo boat sunk in October 2000. The highest point of the wreck is at about 24m and the bottom can reach 35m. There is rarely a current and visibility is always more than 25m. This site is sheltered from the prevailing wind.

SSI Iberica (Espana / Spain), 08028 Barcelona

Cordeca (Wreck) (★4.8)

This Navy corvette sunk in July 2016 to create an artificial reef. The top of the ship is at about 15m and the bottom is at 30m. Visibility is always greater than 25m. Usually sheltered from the current and the wind.

Palmela Desporto, 2955-211 Pinhal Novo

Baía da Armação (★4.0)

Set in a small bay by the shore, this spot (translated into English: Armação Bay) is a favourite because of its existing biodiversity.it is possible to dive here all year round because it is protected by high cliffs.

Mares, Janez Kranjc

Baixinha (★4.8)

Reef near Ilhéu da Cal, with depths between 7m and 30 meters, with some stone walls at the bottom, sometimes with some current. Visibility between 20 and 30 meters

Palmela Desporto, 2955-211 Pinhal Novo

3 Milhas (★3.8)

This spot consists of a large rock with a slit that crosses it giving the sensation of being 2 separate rocks.It is possible to pass underneath from one side to the other because there is an opening in the form of an arc.

Palmela Desporto, 2955-211 Pinhal Novo

Batelão (★4.1)

A small shipwreck of the barge that transported the stones appears in the construction of the new point of the harbor of Sesimbra.It is split in two but despite its small dimensions it is a very pleasant place for divers who are beginners or with less experience.