COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN
Protected Area
Parque Natural Norte da Ilha do Maio
Why dive here
With 43+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, orcas, sea turtles and sperm whales - COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN offers some of Santiago's richest wreck diving. Water ranges 24-29°C, warmest August, September, October.
The County of Carmarthen, what a glorious mess she is. This old steamship, sunk way back in 1922, isn’t about dramatic depths – she’s practically a snorkel site at a maximum of two metres. But don’t let that fool you. We love this wreck precisely *because* she’s so shallow and so thoroughly broken up. It's like an archaeological dig in real-time. You’re not penetrating cabins here, you’re swimming over, through, and around the skeletal remains of a substantial vessel. The sheer size of her, 105 metres long, means you could spend an hour just meandering through the twisted metal plates and enormous beams. Sunlight penetrates everywhere, illuminating schools of tiny baitfish that shimmer like liquid silver between the corroded ribs. Look closely and you’ll find plenty of cleaner shrimp busying themselves, and often a moray eel peeking out from under a particularly hefty piece of steel. Our favourite spot is near the stern, where the engine block is clearly visible, now completely overgrown with soft corals. It’s a photographer’s dream, particularly on a calm morning when the surface is like glass. Ideal for anyone who loves history and doesn’t need deep water to feel immersed.
Typical COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Reviews for COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN
Conditions
Ocean conditions, forecast and tides for COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN
COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN Ocean Conditions
Monthly averages for COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN, sourced from Open-Meteo marine data - nearest station: Open-Meteo marine grid (15.08, -23.79) (14km away)
October Averages
Sea Temperature
29°C
83°F · Range: 27.2–29.7°C
Air Temperature
27°C
80°F
Wind Speed
5.38 m/s
10.5 knots
Atmospheric Pressure
1013.6 hPa
Based on 4 years of monitoring data · Data sources: Open-Meteo marine data
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