This dive site, Baixa do Lobo, is a captivating seamount located just minutes from Quinta do Lorde Marina, off the eastern coast of Madeira, Portugal. As a boat-only dive, it offers a unique underwater experience around its prominent structure. Divers typically navigate around the seamount, exploring its slopes and crevices where marine life congregates. While no specific historical events or stories are widely associated with the site, its name, 'Lobo' (wolf), hints at its most famous resident, the Monk Seal, known locally as Lobo Marinho.
The site is particularly renowned for the frequent presence of the Monk Seal (Monachus monachus), the world's rarest seal, making it a prime location for encounters with this incredible marine mammal. Besides these magnificent creatures, the seamount environment supports a diverse array of Atlantic marine life. Divers can expect to see various species of fish, including groupers and barracuda, alongside crustaceans and beautiful gorgonian corals that adorn the rocky landscape.
The best time to visit Baixa do Lobo for potential encounters with the Monk Seal often aligns with their known activity patterns in the region, though their presence can be frequent year-round. Divers should be prepared for potentially variable currents, which can enhance drift dives but also require attention. For freedivers, the average depth of 14 meters provides ample opportunity to explore the shallower parts of the seamount, while scuba divers can descend to the maximum depth of 29 meters to appreciate the full scope of this vibrant underwater pinnacle and its unique biodiversity.
