Baixa da Barca

Baixa da Barca is a dive for experienced divers only. The currents can become strong and the depths are considerable, so it is reserved for divers with Advanced Open Water certification. In return, the open blue makes it worthwhile: it is these very conditions that attract an enormous variety of marine life.

You’ll find it in the Pico-Faial Channel, 2 nautical miles north of the Ilhéus da Madalena, where there are three reefs close to one another, this being one of them. It takes about 20 minutes by boat from Porto da Madalena. The descent begins at the shallowest point of the structure, at 20 metres, and from here you can follow along the wall, with corridors and ledges descending from 30 to 50 metres.

On the pico shallower section, at certain times of year, large schools of pelagic fish such as barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis), greater amberjacks (Seriola rivoliana) and Atlantic bonitos (Sarda sarda) can be encountered. On the wall, between the crevices and ledges, territorial species live: dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), forkbeards (Phycis phycis), blackhead wrasses (Pseudolepidaplois scrofa), dark groupers (Mycteroperca fusca) and scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa).

The main attraction of the site, however, are the dense concentrations of Atlantic horse mackerel (Trachurus picturatus). These schools act as a magnet and draw heavyweight visitors to Baixa da Barca, from devil rays (Mobula tarapacana) to ocean sunfish (Mola mola), not forgetting the pelagic fish that usually patrol the area. It is therefore one of the preferred spots for those seeking technical diving and good opportunities for underwater photography.