Baixa das Bicudas
Also known as: Bicudas
A volcanic pinnacle of basalt columns off Porto Santo, 22-30m, with barracuda schools over a rhodolite field at its base.
Last updated September 2026
The dive
Cross the top of the basalt columns and drop down their face to a wide bed of rhodolites at the base, a spread of green algae locally called pipocas, popcorn, for its shape. From there the route runs over small and medium volcanic rocks and into a canyon, where black moray eels tend to hold at the mouth. Beyond the canyon the ground opens into flat, white sand, where a resident grouper sometimes sits tucked into a crevice and rays turn up nearby. Goatfish work the sand throughout, and looking up from any point on the route silhouettes barracuda and jacks against the surface light. The dive finishes by climbing back to the top of the columns for a safety stop at 5m, about three minutes, near the anchor line.
What makes it special
Baixa das Bicudas is Porto Santo's other kind of dive: a natural volcanic pinnacle, not a wreck, on an island whose reputation runs almost entirely on its two scuttled ships. Vertical basalt columns and the rhodolite field at their base give it a different profile again, closer to a rock reef than either the Madeirense or the Corveta General Pereira d'Eça. One diver who covered both wrecks on the same multi-day trip called this pinnacle the favourite of the whole visit: unglamorous from the surface, but rich along its wall with anemones, crabs and an unidentified growth hosting skeleton shrimp. The name itself may trace to the barracuda, bicuda in Portuguese, since schools of them pass overhead on the same dive, a plausible reading of the name rather than a confirmed origin.
Know before you go
The route touches 30m and the detailed operator description of the dive calls it one for advanced divers, so confirm your certification and the planned depth with your operator before booking; access is by boat only, on a day trip out of Vila Baleira marina, since Porto Santo has no liveaboard. If the macro subjects along the wall are the draw, budget bottom time and gas for a slower pass: the one diver who found the skeleton shrimp could not get a photograph before running low on air. Expect 16-24C water year-round and pack accordingly, a 5mm wetsuit in summer or a 6.5mm semidry through the cooler months.
Why Dive Baixa das Bicudas
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Basalt pinnacle formation
Vertical volcanic columns rise from a 30m sandy floor to about 22m
- Rhodolite pipocas field
A rhodolite algae bed at the base leads into a canyon
- Barracuda and jack schools
Schools pass overhead near the top of the columns
- Advanced-grade depth
22 to 30m; the detailed route calls it a dive for advanced divers
Depth & Profile
Location
33.0437°N, 16.3102°W
Conditions & difficulty
The site's own maximum sits at 30m, and the detailed operator route description calls it a dive for advanced divers
Summary
Graded here to match the site's own depth and the detailed operator route description; other listings call it moderate or intermediate, so confirm suitability with your operator
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Depth: The dive's own route touches 30m, past standard Open Water limitsConfirm your certification and planned depth with your operator before booking
Marine Life
Rules and permits
- Conduct: no touching, no taking anything, no disturbing wildlife.
Diving with scuba or a scooter to watch marine mammals or turtles is prohibited, unless for authorised science or filming; a chance meeting is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
How deep is Baixa das Bicudas?▾
22 metres average, 30 metres at the maximum, a figure that agrees across the two independent descriptions of the site and its own catalogue record. The vertical basalt columns start near 22m and run down to a sandy floor at 30m, so plan the dive around Advanced Open Water depth limits rather than the lighter end of the range.
Do you need Advanced Open Water to dive Baixa das Bicudas?▾
Grading varies. Some listings call it a moderate or intermediate dive; the detailed operator route description calls it one for advanced divers, and that reading fits the site's own 30m maximum better than a beginner-friendly label does. Confirm suitability directly with your operator instead of relying on a single grading.
Is there a diving fee at Baixa das Bicudas?▾
The reserve's per-dive fee is written specifically for Porto Santo's two ship-sinking sites, the Madeirense and the Corveta General Pereira d'Eça, plus a handful of named reserves elsewhere in Madeira. Baixa das Bicudas is not named among them; confirm directly with your operator whether a fee applies here.
How do you get to Baixa das Bicudas?▾
By boat only, on a day trip out of Vila Baleira marina, Porto Santo's only town and departure point; there is no liveaboard serving the island. The site sits roughly a mile and a half off the west breakwater of Porto Santo Harbour.
What's the visibility like at Baixa das Bicudas?▾
Porto Santo's water typically runs 15 to 40 metres of visibility; treat the 60-100 metre figures some marketing pages claim as a rare best-day ceiling, not the norm anywhere on the island, including here.
Is Baixa das Bicudas good for photography?▾
It rewards a macro pass more than a wide-angle one. One diver's account describes a wall thick with anemones and crabs, plus an unidentified growth hosting skeleton shrimp that they were unable to photograph before running low on air; budget your bottom time and gas accordingly if that is your priority.
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