Parting Shot

Augusto Salgado · Issue 86, Sep/Oct 2015 · pp. 68

Products mentioned: Nikon D7100, Hugyphot housing, Inon Z-240, Tokina 10-17mm

Parting Shot In the small group of islands that are situated 14 nautical miles south of the Island of Madeira, called “Desertas” (Desert Islands), there is one of the last colonies of monk-seal (Monachus monachus), with around 30-40 specimens. The monk seal is considered one of the rarest seals. There are less than 500 in the world. Sometimes, males undertake the trip all the way to Madeira, for the delight of skin divers (not for spear fishers, however). Although they look friendly, they are wild animals, and all precautions should be taken… One of the places, in the Madeira Island, that sometimes we are able to see monk-seals is a cave inside the “Garajau” Reserve area, where animals have been known to rest, away from human eyes. Well, on the last diving day in Madeira, this August 2015, with my junior son (13 years old), the dive was in the cave. Everyone was dully briefed beforehand;…