Pedra da Greta

Depth (minimum - maximum): -14 m to -18 m

Type of diving: natural reef

Snorkeling: No

• Site Characteristics:
Corresponds to the original coastline. It was a beach at the end of the last glaciation, with around 8,000 years. This reef that looks "rocky" (in reality it is compacted sand), extends to a distance of about 1500 m, with 20-40 m wide and 1-2.5 m high, parallel to the coast. The stone has a labyrinthine structure, formed by large boulders and amazing and endless canyons. When diving here, one can identify specific areas from the profile of the reef (Lagosteira, Âncoras, Cabeço dos Robalos)

• Fauna:

The configuration of this reef is excelent to the fixation of a wide variety of benthic invertebrates. The sea fans population dominates the environment of the reef and comes heavily concentrated in some areas, with a lot of sizes and assorted colors (yellow, red, white, purple, pink), helping to make this dive one of the most interesting for biodiversity and color. All animal groups are represented in this area. Sponges and anemones of various types, shapes and colors cover the blocks giving them a large variety of colors. The numerous canyons provide excellent shelteres for many different species of fishes. You often see large breams, basses and sometimes anchovies and lilies around it. Other attractions: the basslets, moray eels, bibs and groupers. For most observers, the large variety of nudibranchs, in color and size, is a matter of interest.

• Diving Boards:

The anchor is positioned on the smaller stones on the periphery of the reef thus avoiding damage to the sea fans and other benthic organisms more sensitive. Start diving from the anchor to the north or south as the indication that you are given in the briefing.

When you get to the large blocks, start a zigzag course toward the north / south or east / west, depending on the sea conditions and the current at site. Start the journey back with a half tank. Here, the best way to see the fish is swimming slowly through the canyons, and sometimes keep quiet in the background, preferably hidden behind a rock and wait ...

Back to locate the anchor can become a difficult task, given the maze configuration of the stone that helps create a sense of disorientation, so the
diver should be prepared to a free water ascend, therefore the safety balloon is a very important an highly recommended equipment in these kind of dives.

• Warning:

Animals that  cover the rocks in this zone can be destroyed very easily: a fin movement with more violence, a console, octopus or flashlight hanging loose, poor control of buoyancy and it results in the destruction of one or more sea fans that took decades to grow. Therefore: equipment should be fixed to the body, one should swim slowly, pay attention to the bottom and make effective use of buoyancy control.

• Photo-sub:

To the average visibility in the local, macro option is the best: Pay attention to the nudibranchs that are very abundant, varied and colorful. If you have visibility to a few pictures of the environment, watch for the amazing ways that the stones here are the colorful and the features.

For the location of this dive site, click here!