Portugal's Algarve Coast is located in mainland Portugal's southernmost region. With beautiful blue water and stunning white rock formations, it is without a doubt the most popular destination Portugal has to offer. While this area is popular with all types of visitors and receives over 7 million foreign tourists annually, it is also an outstanding place to dive. While there are many sites to explore here, some deserve special mention here are seven to help you start planning your dive vacation in Portugal.
Caves of Sagres
At the Caves of Sagres, you'll find three fantastic caves to explore at depths between 15 and 24 meters. One cave features a giant room with stalactites hanging from it feeling and an air pocket in which you can surface. There are also smaller rooms to explore as well as a magnificent outside reef with huge rocks covered in brilliantly colored corals. While divers certified to enter overhead environments can explore the caves, all others are welcome to enjoy the outer reef.
Valados
Valados is located about 2.5 miles offshore and features a huge fault in the ocean floor. Here you will find walls, overhangs, and caves, all teeming with fish and crustaceans as well as plenty of invertebrates. While maximum depth here is 24 meters, there is plenty to see in as little as 12 or 13 meters of water, making the site fun for all divers.
2 Anchors
Featuring a fantastic wall that forms a semicircle like an underwater amphitheater, Two Anchors is a great place to spot huge spider crabs, octopus, and very large sea bream. As you might suspect this site gets its name from a pair of old anchors. Both of them are enormous at over 2 meters tall, and each is home to a thriving community of macro life. Look for everything from colorful nudibranchs to little blennies as you explore. The wall here begins at a depth of 18 meters and drops to a depth of just 24 meters, making this a nice site for all certified divers.
The Blocks
A wonderful artificial reef composed of a group of about 20 one meter square blocks, this aptly named dive site is a great place to encounter very large triggerfish, bream, and others. You'll also find plenty of crustaceans and invertebrates as you make your way around this delightful dive site. Maximum depth is just 18 meters.
Praia dos Caneiros
A shallow dive sites featuring maximum depth at just 10 meters, Praia dos Caneiros covers a large area and features a huge rock that break the surface and towers toward the sky. While the top of the rock is home to nesting seabirds, and is called Birds Rock, the submerged portion of the rock features some fantastic overhangs and is a great place to find everything from octopus to spider crabs. A favorite site for a night dive, and ideal for all levels, Praia dos Caneiros is also a great place to encounter damselfish, bream, and many other species.
Carrapateira
Featuring a protected cove with a cliff to one side, and an underwater canyon as well as little caves and overhangs to peek into, Carrapateira is like a huge underwater labyrinth with big stones you can swim between. Watch for rays, Conger eels, lots of fish, and plenty of crustaceans. Depths here are from just eight to sixteen meters, and you can make a few dives without seeing the same thing twice.
Rocha Negra
You can see this big black rock breaking through the surface as your boat approaches it. Rocha Negra drops all the way down to meet the sea floor at depths between 14 and 16 meters. Its walls feature some intriguing overhangs and some spectacular fan corals, and the area is teeming with such fish as sea bass and bream. Watch for Congers, octopus, spider crabs, and all sorts of other aquatic life.
There are all sorts of fantastic accommodations all up and down the Algarve Coast - including some of the nicest luxury hotels and spas Portugal has to offer. There is no shortage of fun to be had topside, whether you are interested in history or just want to enjoy the exciting local nightlife. If you plan to come dive Portugal's Algarve Coast during the summer months, be sure to make your reservations well in advance as this is a very popular place for holidaymakers from around the world.