Known as the diving capital of Portugal, Sesimbra Marine Park has something for everyone. With splendid walls and exciting drift dives, as well as wrecks and even caves to explore, this magnificent area is well protected from outside sea conditions, and is home to a splendid array of marine life. There are enough dive sites here to keep you busy for days on end - here are just five to begin with.
Jardim das Gorgonias
A magnificent site where you'll find not only a beautiful gorgonian garden, but enormous sponges and colorful corals that come together to create an astonishing backdrop that makes Jardim das Gorgonias a favorite with photographers. The site features a number of terraces to a depth of about 20 meters. Watch for sea bream, anthias, sea bass, and other fish, and look for crabs, lobsters, and moray eels among the rocks. Many divers also encounter curious conger eels here, along with sea horses and nudibranchs.
River Gurara Wreck
Built in 1980 for Nigerian National Shipping, this impressive container type cargo ship is nearly 175 meters long. Lost after running aground on the Espichel Cape's rocks on February 26th of 1989, the ship is home to an almost unbelievable array of colorful life. From little nudibranchs to big sea bass, and from octopus to schooling batfish, you'll see them all here, swimming and crawling among colorful soft corals and splendid sponges. Maximum depth on this wreck is just 33 meters, and as the ship is so tall, the site is ideal for all certified divers.
Baleeira
A wonderful site for all divers, Baleeira features maximum depth at just 20 meters, and is one of the calmest sites the Sesimbra Marine Park has to offer. Here, you'll find forbeard and pouting, bream, sea bass, and all sorts of crustaceans, including some fantastic shrimp. One of the most exciting things about this site is that it takes place where octopus nest - you'll see large and small octopus as you explore Baleeira. Keep an eye out for the large pompano which can often be seen here, as well.
Ponta da Passagem
A fantastic wall dive site that's easily accessed from shore, Ponta da Passagem features average depths between 5 and 8 meters, and offers maximum depth at just 18 meters. Relatively protected and featuring a large swimthrough covered in colorful soft coral and anemones, this site is ideal for macro photography and wide angle photos alike. Look for nudibranchs and an abundance of crustaceans, and don't forget to look for the site's larger inhabitants too - conger eels, moray eels, and plenty of fish can be seen throughout the site.
Pedra do Meio
An outstanding site for all divers, Pedra do Meio is a great place to encounter rays, conger eels, moray eels, a wide array of fish, and plenty of smaller invertebrates and crustaceans. Not only are the rock formations lovely here, the coral and sponges delight the eyes with their many colors and intricate shapes. Whether you drift along or just explore the site, you're sure to enjoy the experience. Maximum depth is just 14 meters, and all divers with a good grasp of buoyancy control are welcome.
In addition to being a "mecca" for divers, Sesiembra offers incredible experiences topside, where historic sites dating back to before time was recorded can be seen, and where the environment is beautiful and unique. A short 30 kilometers from Lisbon, this area affords both natural and cultural attractions. Plan in advance, particularly if you plan to visit in summer, and you'll be able to visit the sites that intrigue you most.