Scuba diving in AzoresView MAP

Description: It is a deep dive, often subject to moderate to strong currents; it is nevertheless accessible to less experienced divers and even suitable for snorkeling. Most divers choose to hang to the anchor cable, between 5 and 15 meters, since most of the local fauna can be seen also at shallow depths.
For more experienced divers, however, it is possible to explore the sea bottom, at a depth of around 46 meters. It consists of a small 50-meter platform, rich in life forms: schools of pelagic fish, amber jacks of impressive size, bluefish and even ocean sunfish.

Description: This dive site is only recommended for experienced divers. The currents that can occur at this dive site make the dive more complex.
It is considered one of the best dives of the Azores Archipelago, together with the Formigas Islets , we can expect that in the crystalline waters we can see a variety of pelagic species, as well as groups of mantas that, during the summer months, gracefully swim to the around the divers.

Description: With the top of her stern at a depth of only 9 metres, and the bow in the deepest part at 20 metres, the Dori shipwreck is a great place for all types of dive and snorkelling trips.

Considered by many as the best dive site on the island of São Miguel, this wrecked Liberty ship on the sandy seafloor was built during the Second World War in the United States.

It was one of the few ships of this type that took part in Operation Overlord along the coast of Normandy, as well as taking part in a number of other wartime missions, and it eventually sank 800 metres off the coast of Ponta Delgada on 16 January 1964.

Today it is an underwater archaeological park; the stern, to the north, is still quite intact and is surrounded by clouds of small fish as well as occasionally shoals of pelagic fish. Heading towards the bow, you can see some of the larger structures of the ship still intact, as well as a multitude of large pipes and stairways.

Description: The protected area of the Vila Franca do Campo Islet is located directly opposite the town after which it is named, less than 500 meters from shore. It offers several excellent dives that are suitable for all experience levels, as well as lots of snorkelling opportunities.

Inside the islet you will find a large bay created by the crater of an extinct volcano that rose from the sea more than four thousand years. This is another great spot for snorkelling. The "Cozinha" is located on the east side of the islet, and here we find several passages along the wall to a depth of 10 meters large rocks that have rolled the islet due to erosion and small rock formations that are mixed with sand to a maximum of 18 meters deep.

Description: The Azores are one of the few places in the world where you can enjoy diving spots with underwater volcanic activity.
This diving spot is located in a sismic zone which is also volcanically very active. Therefore, it is possible to observe fumaroles, a secondary volcanic phenomenon. Also, the release of air bubbles creates a kind of “curtain”, which is an amazing natural spectacle.
This dive takes place in an area considered easy and at shallow depth, which makes it accessible to all divers.

Description: Located only 300 meters from the coast in a sheltered bay, Arcos da Caloura is a great place for snorkelling and all types of dive.
The top of the reef lies at a depth of 5 meters, dropping to 18 metres. At 16 meters you can find one of the four entrances to an impressive cave - the main attraction of this spot. Inside the cave it is common to see schools of large white trevallies as well as some resident dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus). The ceiling of the cave is regularly filled with dozens of different species of nudibranchs.
Around the cave there are many different smaller species, including several species of moray eels, Guinean puffers (Sphoeroides marmoratus), Mediterranean rainbow wrasses (Coris julis), wide-eyed flounders (Bothus podas), ornate wrasses (Thalassoma pavo), salema porgies (Sarpa salpa), Azores chromis (Chromis limbata), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense), and blacktail combers (Serranus atricauda).

Description: Amora is located in the south coast of São Miguel Island between Ponta Garça and Ribeira Quente. Unlike other dive sites, this is characterized by not having any type of rock formation, but stone rolled with considerable dimensions based on a sandy bottom.
The dive begins at a depth of 15/16 meters down to 30 meters at maximum depth, where big dusky groupers live.During all the dive we have the company of barred hogfish, ballan wrasses, parrotfish and blacktail combers.
In all stone area we have ornate wrasses, morey eels, salema porgies and Madeira rockfishes.
In the blue is common to find large schools of Almaco Jacks, trigger fishes, yellowmouth barracudas and white trevallies.

Description: The experience of diving on the Ilhéus das Formigas (Formigas Islets) begins when you board the boat for the 42 nautical miles from São Miguel. The remote location and strong currents mean that it is only recommended for experienced divers, but for those that have dive skills this is one of the best sites in the Azores. Many divers opt to combine this dive with Dollabarat Reef, another marine reserve in close proximity.
The long trip from any of the islands is in itself a great adventure, allowing divers to see cetaceans, turtles and seabirds on their journey toward the islets, marked by a small lighthouse. Even before dropping the anchor, you can see some of the schools of fish that abound in these crystal clear waters, such as Bermuda chubs (Kyphosus sectator), grey triggerfish (Balistes carolinensis) and Almaco jacks (Seriola spp.).
It is also possible to see sharks, including the mythical huge giant mantas (Manta birostris).