Diving the Algarve

The beautiful Algarve region of Portugal, also known as the Faro District, is famous for its stunning red-sand cliffs that meet the crisp blue Atlantic Ocean. With nearly 200km of coastline, there are numerous opportunities to go scuba diving in the Algarve. This southernmost point of Portugal boasts beautiful weather year-round with calm, clear seas that make exploring underwater possible year-round.

Algarve diving offers dive sites all along the coast where beginning to expert divers can enjoy a wide variety of underwater attractions and marine life. Algarve dive centers offer daily dive trips to several shipwrecks and stunning natural reefs. In fact, Portugal’s largest reef lies just offshore, making this a unique area for scuba diving.

The mix of nutrient-dense water from the Atlantic Ocean and the extensive, healthy reef system creates an abundance of marine biodiversity. While scuba diving in the Algarve, you will encounter colorful nudibranchs, octopuses, conger eels, spider crabs, moray eels, and lobsters hiding among the rocky reef. Swimming around the reef, you will see snapper, triggerfish, grouper, sea bream, barracuda, and much more!
You can find many Algarve dive centers between the towns of Albufeira and Lagos that offer daily boat dives and a wide range of dive courses in the Algarve.

The descriptions provided here are intended as general information and personal experiences related to specific dive sites and locations and should not be construed as definitive advice or recommendations. Before diving, please confirm that diving is permitted at your chosen location, and comply with all relevant local laws, regulations, and posted signage. The responsibility for verifying the legality of the dive and assessing any associated risks rests entirely with you.