Gruta do Carapacho

Although listed as cave diving, much of this location is actually a cave open to the surface, so it can be visited without any certification or specific experience. It is located in Graciosa, near the Carapacho islets, very close to the bathing area with the same name and about 3 miles from Praia port. What is known as “Gruta do Ilhéu do Carapacho” opens into a colossal fissure in the largest of the islets, on the wall facing South.

The dive begins already inside the cave, where the backlighting creates an impressive setting that extends from the surface to 17 metres depth. As we move further into the darker interior, we encounter an enormous fissure that extends for about 50 metres in length.

Right from the start it is worth inspecting the walls, an excellent spot to observe various species of nudibranchs, especially the Hypselodoris picta azorica. With attention, it is still possible to come across a grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), some moray eels (Gymnothorax unicolor) and seabream (Serranus atricauda).

At the exit of the cave, the route continues eastward, skirting the outer wall. Over the rounded stone seabed, which descends to 32 metres, it is common to see schools of salema (Sarpa salpa), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense), greater amberjack (Seriola rivoliana) and sennet (Sphyraena viridensis).