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Praia do Gastão

Porto Santo · Portugal

What have people found?

East atlantic sally lightfoot crab and spotted seahare turn up here more than at our other rock pools. Common octopus, purple sea star and white sea star are the usual finds. ~25 distinct species have been recorded here.

What is the best time to visit today?

Download the app to see the 7-day schedule.

See low tide times at Praia do Gastão for the next three days
  1. Sun 15 Nov~11:30in the dark~23:30
  2. Mon 16 Nov~12:30
  3. Tue 17 Novin the dark~0:30~14:00

Every low tide each day, in local time at the shore.

Plan the week in Intertidal
  • A tide chart for every day, with the best window marked
  • Identify what you find from a photo
  • An alert when a good daylight low is coming

When do people visit?

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Most observations come from August and November.

What should you know before visiting?

Parking is about 100 meters away.
Arrive 45 minutes to an hour before low tide and leave as it turns. The water comes back faster than it left.
Grippy shoes beat sandals. Wet rock and algae are more slippery than they look. Rock pool safety
A rock pool is a fragile place. Look and photograph, take nothing. The rockpooling code

What lives at Praia do Gastão?

Species records from iNaturalist

Common OctopusOctopus vulgaris
Purple Sea StarOphidiaster ophidianus
White Sea StarCoscinasterias tenuispina
spotted seahareAplysia dactylomela
East Atlantic Sally Lightfoot CrabGrapsus adscensionis
snakelocks anemoneAnemonia viridis
Rockpool PrawnPalaemon elegans
Brown Brittle StarOphioderma longicaudum
Brown-lined PaperbubbleHydatina physis
Spiny StarfishMarthasterias glacialis
Sea SwallowGlaucus atlanticus
By-the-wind SailorVelella velella
Nimble Spray CrabPercnon gibbesi
Violet Sea SnailJanthina janthina
Decollate SnailRumina decollata
Scan this rock pool on your next visit.

Every organism named, every visit logged to your journal.