Best snorkeling spots near Lisbon

Anicha rock near Portinho da Arrábida

 

Lisbon is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city, but despite this, it has excellent snorkeling spots very close by. It's possible to snorkel on the north bank of the Tagus River, where the city is located, along the coastline that extends to Cascais, but the truth is that on the south bank, which is equally close, you can find much cleaner waters and a greater diversity of marine life.

I will mention three places, each offering distinct advantages:


Beaches in the Arrábida Natural Park:


For a more natural experience, both in and out of the water, the beaches of this natural park are perhaps the best option near Lisbon, located about 50 km from the capital.

It's a visually beautiful area with several beaches of distinct characteristics. One of the best known is Portinho da Arrábida. This beach has rocky areas with good snorkeling, but its highlight is the Anicha rock, which can be accessed by kayak or, for more experienced snorkelers, swimming; it is advisable to do so at low tide.




But there are other beaches in this natural park:


Alpertuche beach, less known and with a distinct walking path, has rocky areas to explore, mainly on the left side of the beach.




Coelhos beach, very well known and with a difficult path to reach, has a rocky area on the left side that connects to the rocky wall on the right side of Galapinhos beach, which is one of the good spots.




After Galapinhos beach, passing through Galapos beach, even Figueirinha beach, there are several points to be explored in the rock formations next to the water, highlighting a submerged rocky area in front of Galapos beach and the aforementioned wall between Galapinhos beach and Coelhos beach.


Sesimbra:


This town is about 40 km from Lisbon and is one of my most appealing places, as being in a sheltered bay; it almost always provides good conditions, even in winter, when the sea is stronger.

The pier at Praia do Ouro is especially protected and has much more marine life than you can imagine, sometimes providing images that surprise those who go there.

All this makes Sesimbra the right choice when I really want to go into the water regardless of the conditions, guaranteeing a good dive.

The far end of Praia da Califórnia, on the opposite side, is a more natural area, with more underwater vegetation, but a little less protected, making it good to explore when the sea is calm in this area.




Costa da Caparica


This bathing area is only about 15 km away. The sea here is stronger, but at Praia de Santo António, on the right side if you are facing the sea, is the largest pier in this area.

When the tide is high, if we dive two hours before it changes (when the sea becomes calmer), and if the wind is calm, this place can be good; even so, you need to be careful with the current near the pier, which is sometimes treacherous.

When conditions are right, it's an excellent experience; besides, this is where I started when I was 14, so it's always a special place for me.




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