Baixa do Pesqueiro Longo

Off the coast of Graciosa, Baixa do Pesqueiro Longo is one of those dive sites that suits almost everyone. Depending on the profile you choose, the dive can stay at 6 metres or descend to 96, which opens the door to both those who want to simply snorkel at the surface and those who practise technical deep diving. The current is usually moderate and access is by boat, approximately 6 minutes from Santa Cruz da Graciosa Port or 26 minutes from Praia Port.

The top of the reef sits at just 6 metres and descends in steep walls, making it a practical spot for safety stops or decompression stages. While you wait, there’s always movement around you: small colourful fish like rainbow wrasse (Coris julis), peacock wrasse (Thalassoma pavo), yellowtail damselfish (Chromis limbata), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) and schools of salema (Sarpa salpa) passing by the rocks.

Descending to 20 metres, you reach a platform that serves well as a stopping point to watch pelagics passing through. This is also where the larger bottom fish appear, notably large groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), red-mouthed groupers (Bodianus scrofa) and dusky groupers (Mycteroperca fusca), all amongst dense branches of black coral (Antipathella wollastoni) and the colourful Anthias fish (Anthias anthias).

In summer, with a bit of luck, it’s still possible to come across small groups of eagle rays gliding in circles around the reef, an encounter that makes the descent worthwhile in itself.