Cascais & Cabo Raso · Portugal · Reef · Sand slope
Pedra da Pata Roxa
Small-spotted catsharks on a rock-and-sand bottom at 24 m
Pedra da Pata Roxa is a deeper rock southwest of Cascais marina, a rocky bottom at about 24 m cut by tongues of sand. Its draw is the small-spotted catshark. Octopus and several species of fish make up the rest of the dive.
Where it is and how deep
38.6781° N, 9.4250° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The bottom here lies at 24 m and drops to a maximum of 30 m: rock interspersed with tongues of sand. The real treasure is finding the small-spotted catshark. Several species of fish and octopus also live here.
Marine life and season
- Octopus & cuttlefish
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Cascais & Cabo Raso: Boats run all year; the sea is coolest around March and warmest around September.
Dive videos
Pedra da Pata-Roxa | Cascais · Marco Cerieiro on YouTube
Sources
- Pedra da Pata Roxa – ScubaGo dive site — ScubaGo
More dive sites in Cascais & Cabo Raso
Reef
Small passages through the reef top on the swim back to the sand
Countless nudibranchs below the rocky recess that names the site
Reef
Large gorges that look like the Sintra hills on a clear day
Reef
Sheltered bay where an undulate ray turns up on lucky days
Beach entry onto a reef split by cracks running out from the shore
Reef
Try-dive reef where nudibranchs, octopus and cuttlefish share 8 m of water
Similar dives elsewhere
Reef
El Seno
San Sebastián & Getaria · Spain
Old anchors and cannons at the sheltered mouth of Pasaia
Reef
Cala Illurgieta
San Sebastián & Getaria · Spain
Mosaic rays in a sheltered cove used for training
A shore-parallel reef with angel sharks on the sand in winter
Sand slopes, low coral walls and a warship at 28 metres



