Baixa da Penedia

Baixa da Penedia lies on the east coast of Santa Maria, about 50 metres from shore. The top of the reef is very close to the surface, at just 3 metres, and the bottom descends to 32 metres, which allows you to plan routes suited to each diving level. This makes it perfect for both beginners doing their first dive or preferring to snorkel, as well as experienced divers who want to descend deeper. It’s also an excellent spot for underwater photography and night diving. You reach it by boat, approximately 35 minutes from Vila do Porto marina, and the current is usually weak.

Right at the top of the reef there’s plenty to see in shallow depths. Schools of small colourful fish swim around here, such as the rainbow wrasse (Thalassoma pavo), and it’s not uncommon to find octopuses (Octopus vulgaris) and various moray eels hidden in the rock crevices. This rocky bottom is covered with acorn barnacles (Megabalanus azoricus), many of them inhabited by small blennies (Parablennius incognitus).

Around 15 metres down, an oval-shaped cave appears, decorated with sponges in varied colours. Following the descent along the wall, you reach a crevice near the bottom where it’s common to see a sizeable grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), accompanied by a school of trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex). In this area you’ll also find branches of black coral (Antipathella wollastoni) and small groups of anthias fish (Anthias anthias), which add colour to your dive.