Declared a protected area in 1986, Portugal's Garaju Marine Reserve is home to massive groupers almost as big as you are, endangered Mediterranean Monk Seals, Manta Rays, and almost every king of fish, crustacean, and invertebrate imaginable. Add to this endless parade of life crystal clear waters, warm temperatures, and year-round diving, and you have discovered what might just be the ultimate place to dive. Let's take a closer look at some popular dives within the reserve.
Garaju
This part of the marine reserve is suitable for all divers, and is renowned for its dusky groupers, which follow divers from one rock formation to the next. While average depth here is 20 meters, there is plenty to see at depths between 14 and 32 meters. Watch for barracuda, mackerel, and tuna passing in the distance.
Lazareto
Here, you'll find an abundance of marine life, including brightly colored anemones clinging to the rock formations, which are strangely devoid of coral, and which resemble huge stacked blocks. Along the sandy bottom, you are likely to see stingrays, and all around, schooling wrasse, bluefin damsels, and other colorful fish add a special touch to what is a truly magical dive site. Lazareto is great for all divers and features maximum depth at just 18 meters. Watch for sea bream, moray eels, and more groupers.
Ponta da Oliveira Cave
Located at the end of the marine reserve along the rocky Ponta do Oliveira arm, this cave is home to monk seals, which are gravely endangered. You'll dive to a depth of 12 meters before entering the cave, inside of which you'll find plenty of shrimp and lobsters, along with moray eels and other creatures. You'll surface inside the cave where the air is breathable, and with luck, the monk seals may be at home. Depths here are from 15 to 25 meters, and outside, the wall that holds the cave is spectacular, attracting an abundance of schooling fish.
T Reef
This site features two pinnacles that rise up from the seafloor. Here, you'll find multitudes of crustaceans, including Spanish lobsters and all sorts of crabs large and small, along with shrimp peeking up at you from their rocky hideouts. It is not uncommon to encounter rays here, and barracuda are often seen as well. Maximum depth is 30 meters.
Arena
Featuring a semicircular shaped rocky wall that acts as a natural amphitheater, Arena is the ideal place to encounter everything from schooling wrasse to massive groupers. This site, with its sandy bottom, is also renowned as a mating area for rays, and there are also garden eels in abundance. Maximum depth is 30 meters, and the top of the wall is located at a depth of about 20 meters.
Mamas
Named for the pair of massive dome shaped rock formations that rise up from the sandy sea bed at 30 meters to come to within 13 meters of the surface, Mamas is best known for its colonies of moray eels. There are several different species here, plus there are plenty of other creatures including stingrays, barracuda, and clouds of smaller fish to keep you occupied between moray eel sightings.
Pinaculo
This area features underwater cliffs and canyons, as well as coastal cliffs that rise up from the water to form the side of the island itself. Here, you'll find a colorful assortment of wrasse, including Turkish wrasse and Ornate wrasse, plus you'll encounter enchanting bluefin damsel fish and many other small, colorful species. Depths here range from 14 to 32 meters, making Pinaculo an ideal site for all divers.
Topside, the picturesque Garajau Resort offers plenty of opportunities for rest and relaxation between dives, and nearby villages provide cultural and historic elements to what is certain to be one of the nicest dive holidays you've ever taken. As you might suspect, Garajau is a very popular place. Book well in advance to make the most of it.