Oliveira e Carmo (Wreck) - Algarve & Berlengas

Diving the *Oliveira e Carmo* feels like stepping into a cold war movie, if that movie was set 28 metres down off the Algarve coast. This old patrol boat, scuttled in 2000, sits upright and largely intact, making it a dream for wreck penetration for those with the right training. We love dropping down onto the bow, seeing the deck guns still in place, then finning along the superstructure, watching the light play through the open hatches and doorways. It’s an intermediate dive, the depth isn’t extreme, but exploring inside requires good buoyancy and comfort in overhead environments. Inside, you can navigate through the wheelhouse, past what were once crew quarters, and into the engine room. It’s surprisingly roomy in places, with plenty of entry and exit points. What really makes this site special for us though is the way the marine life has taken over. Schools of sea bream shimmer around the mast, conger eels peek from shadowy crevices, and nudibranchs add splashes of colour to the metalwork. Our favourite part is the stern, where the propeller still sits proud, often covered in jewel anemones. It’s a photographer’s delight, especially early in the morning before any boat traffic stirs up the sediment. We’d suggest a strong torch, not just for penetration, but to really make the colours pop on the encrusting life outside.

Location: Algarve & Berlengas, Portugal, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates: 37.093600, -8.592400
Type: wreck
Maximum Depth: 28m
Difficulty: Intermediate

Marine Protected Area: Ria de Alvor

Best Time to Dive in Algarve & Berlengas

The warmest water temperatures in Algarve & Berlengas occur in January, averaging 16.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 16.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

January: 16.7°C (air: 13.9°C)
February: 16.7°C (air: 14.4°C)
March: 16.7°C (air: 14.4°C)
April: 16.7°C (air: 15.5°C)
May: 16.7°C (air: 16.9°C)
June: 16.7°C (air: 18.0°C)
July: 16.7°C (air: 18.7°C)
August: 16.7°C (air: 19.0°C)
September: 16.7°C (air: 19.3°C)
October: 16.7°C (air: 18.4°C)
November: 16.7°C (air: 16.7°C)
December: 16.7°C (air: 15.3°C)

Nearest Dive Centres to Oliveira e Carmo (Wreck)

Marine Life in Algarve & Berlengas

Home to 121 recorded species including 61 reef fish, 20 whales & dolphins, 14 sharks & rays, 7 crabs & lobsters, 4 other, 3 hard corals.

Notable Species

Pollock (Trachurus trachurus) - Reef Fish
Razorback (Balaenoptera physalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
Split (Scomber scombrus) - Reef Fish
Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
Northern krill (Meganyctiphanes norvegica) - Crabs & Lobsters
Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
Orca (Orcinus orca) - Whales & Dolphins
Blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) - Clams & Mussels
Moonfish (Mola mola) - Reef Fish
Blue-white Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) - Whales & Dolphins
Dog whelk (Nucella lapillus) - Sea Snails & Nudibranchs
Common shore crab (Carcinus maenas) - Crabs & Lobsters
Sand mason (Lanice conchilega) - Worms
loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
Portuguese Dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) - Sharks & Rays
Common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) - Whales & Dolphins
Spotted Lanternfish (Myctophum punctatum) - Reef Fish
Sea potato (Echinocardium cordatum) - Sea Urchins
Masked crab (Corystes cassivelaunus) - Crabs & Lobsters

Recommended Packing List for Oliveira e Carmo (Wreck)

Based on average water temperature of 16.7°C.

Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
Mask - essential for every dive
Fins
BCD - buoyancy compensator
Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories