Baixa dos Rosais

Off São Jorge, Baixa dos Rosais is a coastal seamount that is almost always dived at its highest point, around 15 metres, where the real spectacle happens: the passage of pelagic fish. It is not a particularly deep site, but it does require some underwater experience, as currents can become strong and the location is far from any shelter, approximately 3 miles from land and nearly 10 miles from Porto das Velas. Access is by boat, with approximately 75 minutes of navigation from Velas.

Despite being so close to the coast, this is one of the rare places in the archipelago where schools of pelagic fish compare to the great isolated underwater mountains, such as Princesa Alice, D. João de Castro, Formigas and Dollabarat.

Right from the descent, and especially at the top of the seamount, the diver is surrounded by dense schools that often gather here to hunt small prey. Among the passing fish are jacks (Seriola spp.), bluefish (Pomatomus saltator), barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis), bonito (Sarda sarda) and skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis). At the upper part, less frequent species also appear, such as red scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa), alongside a strong presence of moray eels. All of this makes it a natural destination for underwater photography.