Corveta Afonso Cerqueira (F488)

The wreck lies off Madeira's south coast below Cabo Girão, on the leeward side of the island, so it is sheltered by the landmass from the dominant W-NW-N Atlantic groundswell. The main exposure is the open-ocean southern arc (S-SSW-SE), where southerly swell and locally generated wind-wave can build and reduce visibility or stir up the surrounding sand. Conditions are calmest in summer; winter southerly storm swell is the limiting factor for boat access.