Barlavento Limestone Arches
Dive site
Along the Barlavento (windward) cliff coast between Sagres and Lagos, wave erosion has cut underwater arches, swim-throughs, and cathedral-like caverns into the base of the Algarve's famous golden limestone cliffs. The largest passages run from 4 m to 20 m depth with shafts of filtered light creating dramatic columns in the water. Inside and around the arches, spiny lobster and European lobster shelter in numbers unusual for mainland Portugal; white gorgonian sea fans anchor to the cavern walls; and conger eels of over a metre occupy permanent holes. Outside the arches, the flat limestone shelves support thick coatings of yellow encrusting sponges and clusters of Mediterranean mussels at the boundary of Atlantic and near-Mediterranean conditions. Eagle rays and bull rays are seen regularly on the sandy approaches.
Conditions
Depth
4 to 22 m
Open water and up
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
10 to 18 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
14 to 22°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 15 |
| Vis (m) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| Current | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | calm | calm | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Strong |
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