Aljezur Seamount
Algarve · Portugal
Rising from 80 metres to within 25 metres of the surface on the exposed Costa Vicentina — Portugal's wild west coast — the Aljezur seamount intercepts the full force of Atlantic upwelling, concentrating nutrients that support one of the richest pelagic ecosystems on the Iberian margin. Mola mola (ocean sunfish) are reliably encountered here from July through October as they ascend to shallow water to be cleaned by wrasse, and the summit's rocky pinnacles are draped in large gorgonian sea fans indicating decades of low fishing impact. The site requires a live-aboard or strong-boat operation and is reserved for experienced divers comfortable with open-ocean conditions.
Conditions
Depth
25 to 50 m
Advanced depths
Current
Usually gentle
Can pick up on the edge
Visibility
15 to 25 m
Clearest in the calm season
Water
13 to 22°C
5mm wetsuit
Month by month
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water (°C) | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 14 |
| Vis (m) | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| Current | Strong | Strong | Strong | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Gentle | Gentle | Gentle | Moderate | Moderate | Strong |
Your chances of seeing each animal
Iberian Grey Shrike
Last confirmed May 18, 2026 · 5 records
Sometimes
About 1 in 3 dives
Greylag Goose
Last confirmed Jul 4, 2026 · 3 records
Rare
Now and then
Western Psammodromus
Last confirmed Oct 1, 2025 · 3 records
Rare
Now and then
Balearic Shearwater
Last confirmed May 4, 2025 · 2 records
Rare
Now and then
Gorgonian Sea Fan
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Ocean Sunfish
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Common Thresher Shark
Expected
Known here, not yet in recent logs
Gear