Sesimbra & the Arrábida, the area around P-39

Sesimbra & the Arrábida · Portugal · Reef

P-39

Exposed rocky ground at 34–42 m, lobsters and soft corals

Area photo: YukioSanjo · CC BY-SA 4.0

An extensive rocky bottom about 1.5 km west of Cabo Espichel, running 34–42 m. Its position out in the open means strong currents are common, and the site is thin on fish: what it holds instead is crustaceans, lobsters among them, and soft corals on the rock. A deep, exposed dive rather than a scenic one.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of P-39: typical dive 34–42 m (112–138 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit34 m42 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

38.4132° N, 9.2291° WPublished position for this site.

The dive

P-39 is an extensive area of rocky bottom about 1.5 km west of Cabo Espichel, in open water off the end of the cape. Depth varies between 34 and 42 m across the ground, so this is a deep dive from the moment you leave the surface, and because of where it sits strong currents are common — the drop has to be quick and on the mark, and the ascent is planned as part of the dive.

Do not come for the fish. The site does not hold much marine life; what it has is crustaceans, lobsters among them, and soft corals on the rock. It is the depth, the current and the ground itself that make the dive, which is why P-39 turns up on technical divers' lists on this coast rather than on a first-timer's.

Marine life and season

  • Macro critters
Month-by-month season rating for P-39
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairFairGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodFair

Season follows Sesimbra & the Arrábida: Aug–Oct is the warmest window; sheltered bay sites are diveable all year, but cape-facing sites take Atlantic swell in any month.

Know before you go

  • Strong currents are common because of the site's exposed position out beyond the cape; drops have to be quick and on the mark, and the ascent planned into the dive.
  • Depth. The ground runs 34–42 m, so no-stop time is short and any overshoot on the deep side of the range eats the plan.

Sources

  1. P-39 — Scubago — Scubago / SSI MyDiveGuide

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