Azores Islands

The Azores have been considered by various international media as one of the best places to go in the Atlantic Ocean. Large groups of manta rays, lilies, saws or tuna, are common to be observed in the water column during scuba diving. Also frequent are the encounters with large mere. The Azores are undoubtedly one of the best places for diving around the Atlantic. there are  dive sites to suit all  expectations and levels of experience, such as the protected area of Monte da Guia, the lows of the Channel between Faial and Pico, among many others.
Dive into Princesa Alice, a bank at 45 miles (80 km) off land that can bring unforgettable experiences such as observing large groups of manta rays, lilies and other large pelagic fish. However, it is necessary to take every precaution because of possible strong currents. As this site is more demanding in terms of weather, we recommend the months of July, August and September
The exceptional conditions of location of the Azores, both climate and sea currents provide unique conditions for diving, making it possible to observe different species of underwater fauna and flora in the same dive.
One of the advantages of diving in the islands through some of the various agencies that provide it, is that these groups maintain a small footprint. Between one to five people groups are usually admitted, and are seldom accompanied by professionals specialized in marine biology.
The best time for this activity will be between June and November, although it is possible to practice it throughout the year. The clear waters ensure good visibility (on good days can exceed 60 meters), which is associated with mild temperatures make diving an activity not to miss.
For any kind of diving you can find agencies that provide the equipment and the monitoring by qualified personnel in the Azores.
Typically at the coasts off the islands of the triangle (Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial) conditions are particularly exceptional. Here the dive operators virtually guarantee a meeting with some of the most stunning species of the Atlantic. We can also take a closer look by passing some rock formations resulting from past volcanic eruptions.
You can often see shoals of mackerel, barracuda, yellow fin tuna, among others. Amazing is always to face a manta ray, which is not altogether so rare, even with some larger speciemens. Turtles also tend to get notice in these parts. Other smaller species of underwater life such as lobsters, octopus, sea stars, sea urchins, sea spiders and eels are also easy to find.
Less usual, but perhaps even more spectacular is the night diving: the luminescent plankton can assign a unique aura to the seabed. Similarly, some shrimp, anemones and nudibranches create amazing colour variations in the water.
Off the island of Santa Maria there are about 55 dive sites filled with caves, walkways, walls and huge underwater plains. Again, the strong possibility of finding many different species of ocean life in a short-range is high and delights any diver. Some agencies provide certain specific types of diving such as towed dive, dive scooter or blue water dive.
Already about 20 miles off the coast of Santa Maria are two particular spots for divers in better shape: they are the Low Ambrosia (a rise of about 40 meters) and Dollabarat (an underwater lift that comes from hundreds of feet deep to barely four meters under water. In this area you can often see sharks up).
For the less experienced there is still the snorkelling which also provides some unique moments. Read more about Azores Islands…