Pedra do Anzol
A 150m plateau reef off Faro, Algarve, home to a resident wrasse divers call the Napoleon, linked to two satellite rocks at 14-18m.
Last updated September 2026
The dive
A single plateau-type rock runs roughly 150 metres across the seabed off Faro, its edges pocked with cracks and holes that shelter small fish and invertebrates. Depth stays shallow throughout the dive, averaging around 14 metres and topping out at 18, comfortably inside recreational no-decompression limits. From the plateau, a short swim west reaches two further isolated rocks, Piramide and Rodão dos Mulatos, so a single boat drop turns three separate rocks into one connected shoal, as local operators describe it.
What makes it special
Pedra do Anzol's signature is a single fish: a large resident wrasse local operators nickname "the Napoleon," a fixture that has staked a permanent claim on this exact rock. The plateau also anchors a wider cluster, so a diver who comes for the wrasse leaves having worked three separate rocks on the one outing.
Know before you go
Approach the resident wrasse calmly and slowly. It holds its ground for a diver who takes their time working the plateau's holes and cracks, but bolts from anything sudden, so a patient, observational pace suits this dive better than a fast pass over the rock. No dive centre's own site names Pedra do Anzol among its regular stops; ask directly if you want this exact rock added to your charter.
Why Dive Pedra do Anzol
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Resident wrasse
A large wrasse locals call the Napoleon has made this exact rock its home
- 150m rock plateau
One continuous formation, cracks and holes sheltering small fish and invertebrates
- Three-rock cluster
A short swim west reaches two more isolated rocks, Piramide and Rodão dos Mulatos
- Shallow, boat-only
Average 14m, maximum 18m, well inside no-decompression limits
Depth & Profile
Location
36.9833°N, 8.0333°W
Conditions & difficulty
Algarve-wide calibration, not site-specific; August is repeatedly flagged as the area's weakest month
No operator states a minimum certification for this site; the 14-18m depth band sits inside standard Open Water limits.
Marine Life
Rules and permits
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 'Napoleon' wrasse at Pedra do Anzol the same species as the tropical Napoleon wrasse?▾
No. In the tropical Indo-Pacific, 'Napoleon' usually refers to the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), a species that does not live in Atlantic waters. The fish divers meet at Pedra do Anzol is a large resident wrasse local operators call by the same nickname; it is not that tropical species, just a big wrasse that has taken up residence on this exact rock.
Why isn't it clear whether Pedra do Anzol sits inside a marine protected area?▾
It is not established either way. The Algarve's marine-park boundary work has so far covered sites in the Albufeira, Lagoa and Silves sector, well west of here; Pedra do Anzol sits in the Faro district, a stretch of coast that check has not yet reached. For now its protected-area status is simply unconfirmed, neither inside the park nor outside it.
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