The Selvagens Islands, former called Savage Islands, are a rocky perilous dive and bird destination far away from Madeira.
Name Dive Site: | Selvagens Islands |
Inserted/Added by: | lars, © Author: Lars Hemel |
Rated: | Rated 5.0, 2 votes |
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The Selvagens Islands, sometimes called the Savage Islands, Salvage Islands and Ilhas Selvagens, is a small volcanic rocky archipelago located just southeast of Madeira. They are actually nearer to the Canary Islands than to Madeira but nevertheless belong to Portugal. The group consists out of two substantial larger islands named Selvagem Grande Island (with Sinho Islet, Palheiro do Mar and Palheiro da Terra the northeast group) and Selvagem Pequena Island (with Fora Islet, Alto, Comprido and Redondo the southwest group). As with all Macaronesian Islands they are of volcanic origin with peaks Atalaia Summit, Veado and Tornozelos. Its Portuguese name translates as wild islands with a rugged landscape and coastline with countless smaller islets and rocks.
This protected nature reserve is surrounded by treacherous reefs making it a very inaccessible place which has, with the exception of a few wardens, never been populated by humans. It is one of the best spots in the Atlantic for sea bird spotters often on boats with large binoculars and zoom lenses waiting to take a look at nesting marine birds. Common species of birds are Cory's Shearwater and Berthelot's Pipit. Other tourists are divers, but because of its distance not many have visited this place. There are a few live-aboard tours and round-trips from Madeira and Porto Santos that can be booked in high season.
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