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Baixa da Barca

4
General Rating 
12345
Very Good
Marine Life Rating 
12345
Very Good
Seafloor/Scenery Rating 

Description

Access 

Boat

20 min do Porto da Madalena

Depth

Average Depth 
30m
Maximum Depth 
55m
Currents 
Moderate
Strong
Dive Types 
Deep
Coastal Reef
Ideal place for 
Diving Technical
Underwater photography
Diving Experience 
Advanced Open Water

Baixa da Barca

The Baixa da Barca (Barca Reef) is a challenging dive reserved for the most experienced, its dizzying depths providing a home to many diverse species.

The reef is one of 3 in the Pico-Faial Channel, 2 nautical miles north of the Madalena Islets Descending 20m to its shallowest peak, depending on what time of year you are diving, you can see schools of large pelagic species such as yellowmouth barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis), Almaco jacks (Seriola rivoliana) and Atlantic bonitos (Sarda sarda).

Along the flank, there are corridors and platforms from 30 to 50 metres, inhabited by territorial dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), forkbeards (Phycis phycis), barred hogfish (Pseudolepidaplois scrofa), island groupers (Mycteroperca fusca) and red scorpionfish. (Scorpaena scrofa).

The great attraction of this site is the large schools of blue jack mackerels (Trachurus picturatus) that attract other species, such as devil rays (Mobula tarapacana), ocean sunfish (Mola mola) and some pelagic species.