Praia do Martinhal

Praia do Martinhal covers two dives that share a name but little else. From the beach itself, Martinhal Reef (one to twelve metres) and Martinhal Resort (one to nine metres) are shallow walk-in entries over a rock-and-sand bottom that turns up cephalopods, nudibranchs and reef fish close to shore. A short boat ride from Porto da Baleeira harbour reaches Ilhas do Martinhal, a small rocky archipelago where sandy channels cut between low rock formations. The islets are reported at 16-20C year-round; as across the Algarve generally, March-May and September-November give the clearest water. There is no single fixed route here: operators work around the islets instead, since the group's shape supports several different approaches on the same outing. Rock walls at the islets carry gorgonians and soft corals in mixed colours, with crabs, shrimps, tube anemones and nudibranchs worked into the crevices. Conditions are calm most of the time, with an occasional current that operators flag as worth respecting.

Martinhal pairs an easy, walk-in beach reef that suits a first dive or a relaxed afternoon with a separate, boat-accessed islet archipelago that adds current and depth for divers who want it. The two sit a short boat ride apart and are dived from the same beach base, so a visiting diver staying at Martinhal has both a gentle option and a moderate one without changing location.

PuraVida DiveHouse, based a few steps from the beach, runs both beach entries as tank-rental shore dives. The islets need a short boat trip from Porto da Baleeira and a sensible respect for the occasional current: confirm the day's conditions with your operator and keep a buddy pair and surface marker on hand. As across Sagres generally, a 7mm wetsuit with hood, gloves and boots is the standard year-round recommendation, given the layer of cold water below about fifteen metres. No marine-reserve rule or permit applies at this locality.