Diving | Guide to The Azores

Princess Alice Bank (Diving with Mantas)

Norberto Serpa — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:48:27 +0000

Diving with manta rays (Mobula tarapacana) is considered one of the best dives in the Azores. It takes place on an underwater bank known as “Princesa Alice”, around 45 nautical miles south of the island of Faial. On this dive, you will have the opportunity to dive into the heart of the ocean with these majestic creatures. Large schools of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis), barracuda (Sphyraena viridensis) and yellowtail (Seriola rivoliana) are also occasionally spotted.

These trips take place from July to September, usually from 7.30 am to 7.00 pm. The trip lasts 3 hours each way; upon arrival, we carry out the first dive, return to the boat for an hour’s surface interval whilst having a light lunch, and then do the second dive.

Diving with manta rays is also an excellent opportunity for non-certified divers, as the manta rays and other pelagic species come to the surface. The boat is anchored and divers and freedivers stay close to the boat; safety lines will be attached to the boat for days with strong currents and for less experienced divers.

Includes

Explanation of the activity and safety rules
Boat with skipper
Dive guide
Tanks and weight belt
Snack between dives (sandwiches, water, tea, coffee, fruit and biscuits)
Excludes

Equipment is not included in the price. A charge of €20 per day applies for the hire of a full set of equipment.

Scuba Diving Baptism

Norberto Serpa — Thu, 07 May 2026 13:03:20 +0000

If you are in a place where diving is one of the most popular activities, why not try it? You will never forget the first breath under the water!

While still on land you will have a quick lesson on how all of the equipment works and the signs used for underwater communication. After that you will dive with a dive guide always by your side, taking care of you in every step of the dive.

The Azores are, without a doubt, one of the best destinations for scuba diving in the whole Atlantic. Our diving season operates from April to October. We offer more than 20 different diving spots around Faial and Pico islands to cover all preferences and levels of experience.

Usually we dive around the marine protected area of “Monte da Guia” where the majority of our spots are located. To get there, we use our zodiacs. They are only 5 – 15 minutes away from our dive center. The sea temperature ranges between 68 to 75 F (20-24ºC) in the summer months, therefore 5mm or 7mm wetsuits are suitable for most divers.

The coastal marine life around the islands of Faial and Pico is amazing. You will able to see many curious Grey Triggerfish (Balistes carolinensis), big Drusky Groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), Mediterranean Parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense), Octopus and Morays Eels that hide between the rocks as well as several species of small, colourful nudibranchs, among others marine life.

Coastal Diving

Norberto Serpa — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 07:50:03 +0000

The Azores are undoubtedly one of the best diving destinations in the Atlantic. Our diving season runs from April to October. Our dive sites are very diverse and can cater for all preferences and levels of experience, with more than 20 dive sites between the islands of Faial and Pico.

The most common dive sites are in the “Monte da Guia” marine reserve on the island of Faial. To get to the dive site we always use a semi-rigid boat, as it’s approximately 5 minutes from our base. The temperature of our waters varies between 20-24ºC in the summer months, so a 5mm or 7mm wetsuit is usually enough.

The marine life on the islands of Faial and Pico is fantastic! You’ll have the chance to spot curious hogfish (Balistes carolinensis), groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), seals (Sparisoma cretense), octopuses and moray eels among the rocks, as well as small species such as colourful nudibranchs, among others.

If you don’t have a diving certificate, we also offer snorkelling trips at the dive sites, or a diving baptism, where you are always accompanied by a qualified instructor who will take care of you underwater.

Diving Snorkellinkg with sharks

Norberto Serpa — Wed, 31 Jan 2024 08:14:46 +0000

Join us on this most exciting excursion! These trips take place from July to September, and we go to the dive site in semi-rigid boats, so it’s a half-day trip. On this trip, you’ll have the opportunity to see one of the fastest fish in the ocean, the blue shark (Prionace glauca). It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, where you have the chance to be in the world of this incredible predator.

Diving with Sharks: this dive is not considered a deep dive. The divers will stay between the surface and 10 metres deep, where the bait box is placed. The boat will be drifting and the divers and snorkellers will be close to the boat. There will be a safety cable tied to the boat in case there is a strong current and for less experienced divers.

If you want to do this dive, we advise you to have several days available, as this activity is only confirmed one or two days in advance, as we are always dependent on the weather conditions and the minimum number of clients required.

Our aim is to promote the safety and sustainability of this activity, so you should follow some rules and a code of conduct when diving with sharks in the Azores:

1.- Checking the validity of your diving certificate, medical examination and number of dives logged.

2 – This activity requires a “check dive” before diving with sharks. This is a normal coastal dive with the aim of checking the diver’s experience and comfort in the water.

Filling in a Risk Assumption document is required

Snorkelling with Sharks: explanation of the activity and safety rules
Boat with skipper
Snorkelling equipment
*All equipment is included in the price