Baixa do Lobo
Boat-only seamount off Madeira's Ponta de São Lourenço, named for the Mediterranean monk seal, with black coral from about 25m to 40m on its east slope.
Last updated September 2026
The dive
A rocky platform rises from the seabed off Madeira's Ponta de São Lourenço, its top sitting around 14 metres before the ground gives way on the east side. Divers work down that slope, past black coral colonies from about 25 metres, to a sand shelf at the base near 40 metres. The shallower plateau near the top is a moderate stretch on its own; the full route down the slope, with its occasional currents, is the advanced half of the dive. Boats from Quinta do Lorde Marina in Caniçal reach the site in a short run.
What makes it special
The Mediterranean monk seal gives Baixa do Lobo its name: lobo marinho, Portuguese for the species, and the reason the site is known for the frequent presence of the rarest seal in the world. Madeira's own Desertas Islands population, still small but growing under decades of protection, is the source of any seal that shows up here. Sightings are opportunistic rather than guaranteed, so plan the dive for what is certain: the platform and its black coral, with a seal as the bonus.
Know before you go
Currents here are inconsistent rather than constant: some visits meet an easy drift, others meet resistance along the slope, so this is a guided boat dive, not a site to plan solo.
The full route down to 40 metres sits well past the 30-metre Advanced Open Water limit, even though one Madeira operator still markets the dive at that level. Confirm with your own centre that your certification, and the day's dive plan, actually cover the deeper half before you go.
The monk seal is a strictly protected, endangered species: if one turns up, hold your distance and let it choose whether to stay.
Why Dive Baixa do Lobo
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Monk seal namesake
Named for the Mediterranean monk seal, a frequent but unpredictable visitor here
- Black coral slope
Antipathella wollastoni colonies run down the east slope from about 25 metres
- Platform to sand-shelf profile
A rocky platform near 14 metres gives way to a sand shelf at 40 metres
Depth & Profile
Location
32.7398°N, 16.6943°W
Conditions & difficulty
Graded to the full 14-40m route; no source describes a shorter, shallower option stopping short of the east-slope drop.
Summary
The platform around 14 metres is a moderate dive on its own; the full route down the east slope to 40 metres, with occasional currents, is advanced.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Current: The site is sometimes subject to currents, not constant but enough to affect a dive.Dive it as a guided boat trip.
- Depth: The full route reaches 40 metres, well past the 30-metre Advanced Open Water limit, though the dive is sometimes marketed at that level.Confirm your own certification, not just an operator's listed grade, covers the day's planned depth before booking.
- Marine life: The Mediterranean monk seal, a strictly protected and endangered species, is reported at this site.Hold your distance and let the seal choose the encounter; never chase or corner it.
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
Why is Baixa do Lobo named for a wolf, not a seal?▾
It isn't really about wolves. 'Lobo marinho,' literally sea wolf, is the everyday Portuguese term for the Mediterranean monk seal, not a name shared with the land animal. The seamount's name comes from the seal, and independent listings for the site agree it is associated with frequent sightings, though none puts a number on how often one actually turns up.
Why do some operators list Baixa do Lobo as an Advanced Open Water dive when it reaches 40 metres?▾
One Madeira operator markets its full route at Advanced Open Water level, but PADI's own AOWD training caps out at 30 metres; 40 metres sits inside the Deep Diver specialty band. Treat that category label as marketing, not a certification rule, and confirm your own training and the day's dive plan cover the deeper half before you book.
Baixa do Lobo sits inside a Natura 2000 marine protection zone. Do I need a permit to dive it?▾
No. The site lies within the Ponta de São Lourenço Natura 2000 SIC, whose entire marine area IFCN classifies Type II partial protection out to the 50-metre depth line, well past this dive's own 40-metre maximum. That protection does not come with a booking requirement here: IFCN's Simplifica dive-reservation system covers six named Madeira marine protected areas, Garajau, Rocha do Navio, Porto Santo, Cabo Girão, the Desertas and the Selvagens, and Ponta de São Lourenço is not one of them. Protected status and a permit are not the same thing at this site.
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