Madeira · Portugal · Pinnacle · Sand slope
Baixa da Cruz
A 3-metre peak that drops to 35 on sand
Area photo: Alberto-g-rovi · CC BY 3.0
A rock off Machico that breaks up to 3 metres at its peak and runs down to a sandy bottom at 35 metres, less than 100 metres from the shore and directly in front of the 3 Marias site. Black coral grows on it and large schools of barracuda and salema are usually around it, so the shallow end is worth as much time as the deep.
Where it is and how deep
32.7164° N, 16.7558° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
The top of the rock is at 3 metres — shallow enough to locate from the surface and shallow enough to be the last thing you see before you get out. From the small peak the ground gets progressively deeper, running down to a sandy bottom at 35 metres. Barracuda and salema school around the rock in numbers and are usually there whatever the rest of the dive gives you.
Thirty-five metres puts the deep end at the edge of recreational limits, and that is the part to plan carefully: short at the bottom, with most of the time spent working back up towards the peak. Black coral is one of the things to look for on the way. The site lies offshore of Machico village, in front of 3 Marias and less than 100 metres out, which makes for a short run and an easy pairing with the neighbouring dive.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
- Reef fish swarms
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Madeira: Jun–Sep brings the warmest water and best odds of manta rays around the Desertas; diving continues year-round but cooler and rougher in winter.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Baixa da Cruz?+
The dive begins at 3 metres on a small peak and gets deeper until it reaches a sandy bottom at 35 metres, so the deep end needs Advanced Open Water level training and a planned short bottom time.
Sources
- Baixa da Cruz - Scubago — Scubago
More dive sites in Madeira
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Easy 2-metre entry, small wreck off the point
Cave & cavern
A tunnel in at 8 metres, out at 18
Wall
A wall that reaches the surface, sloping to 25 m
Reef
Amphitheatre reef in the underwater park, 10–24 m
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