This dive site, Maria Alice, is a beautiful reef located southwest of the Grotto da Pombeira, off the coast of Portugal. It features a captivating underwater landscape of rock outcrops interspersed with pristine white sand, creating a scenic and vibrant environment. The site is relatively shallow, with an average depth of 6 meters and a maximum of 13 meters, making it easy to navigate and explore for divers of all experience levels.
Maria Alice is particularly renowned for its abundant octopus population, with divers often encountering numerous octopuses camouflaged among the rocks. Additionally, schools of bream and various species of wrasses are commonly observed, adding to the site's rich biodiversity and making for an engaging dive full of small, fascinating marine life.
While no specific best time to visit is mentioned, the dive site's shallow depth and prolific marine life make it an excellent spot for divers, snorkelers, and freedivers to experience Portugal's underwater beauty. Divers should be prepared for typical Atlantic water temperatures and enjoy the extraordinary beauty of its rock formations and vibrant ecosystem.
