Gruta do Sinal

A collapsed lava tube system on the south coast of Flores creates a series of interconnected swim-throughs and cavern chambers that fill with filtered blue light in the afternoon hours. Entry from the surface leads immediately into the first chamber at 12 metres where the ceiling opens to natural skylights, before the tunnel narrows to a 3 metre wide passage leading into deeper sections. Swarms of cardinalfish hover in the cavern recesses while cleaner shrimp work over resting conger eels and moray eels in the crevices. Just outside the cave entrance the rocky reef supports Atlantic parrotfish, ornate wrasse, and occasional visiting blue sharks that circle the area in the blue water. A genuinely memorable geological dive that rewards patient exploration.