Sesimbra

Sesimbra is located on the southern side of the Setubal Peninsula in the Lisboa region and is rapidly becoming one of the most popular diving destinations in Portugal. The closest airport is Lisbon Portela Airport that is located in 49 km from it. The area has many deserted beaches and some sites can only be reached by sea. There are various types of dive sites suitable for all levels of experience including walls, reef, caves, shipwrecks, snorkeling, drift and deep dives. One of the main dive sights off the Sesimbra coast is the River Gurara wreck, a 170m/557ft long Nigerian cargo ship. This site offers two dive locations at different depths: the stern lies at 25m/82ft and bow at 30m/98 (further from the coast). Only experienced wreck divers should attempt this site. Among the popular dive locations shoild be mentioned Baia da Armação (a reef dive near the shore where divers can find vast colonies of sea anemones and sponges), Arcanzil (requires higher level of training since it has some currents and can be quite deep), Baleeira (also an advanced dive where divers can find gurnards feeding), Paredes do Cabo (a shallow dive close to the coast of Cabo Espichel with a variety of corals on large rocks and views of the River Gurara), Ponta da Pombeira (an area renowned for its big fish) and Pedra do Leão (lion rock). To the east of Sesimbra there are two sites close together with distinctive rock and cave formations and a calm section with plenty of corals giving the site its name Jardim das Gorgónias (garden of the sea fans).