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Situated in the southwestern Europe, Portugal is the ideal holiday destination all year around. It is one of the oldest nations of Europe. Once the earth’s maritime leader, Portugal has an intricate history to discover alongside spectacular geographic landscapes, turquoise beaches, a rich food scene, and all the Port and bacalhau (salted cod fish) you can demand. Trace the diverse civilizations that have crossed Portugal in the castles, palaces, and narrow cobbled streets typical around the country. But Portugal has some surprises, as well – whale watching, natural springs, a village built from boulders, and a chapel made of human skeletons, to name a few of Portugal’s top sites to see.
Portugal is host to almost 100 dive sites which are situated up and down its 1200 kilometers of Atlantic coastline and around its islands. You can expect to spot historical wrecks, vibrant marine reserves, underwater caves and active volcanoes while diving in the country. With a long Atlantic shoreline, diving takes place at locations around the country including Porto, Aveiro, Peniche, Lisbon, Sines, Sagres, Lagos and Faro. Wreck enthusiasts will delight in Portugal’s variety of sunken ships and submarines from its long maritime history. Open ocean dives near Madeira and the Azores are sure to amuse pelagic lovers. Interestingly, the Azores is one of the only places in the earth to dive over a live volcano.