Diving
Diving in the Azores has the
advantage of the mix of subtropical climate and the Gulf Stream
waters, which means more than just one type of marine species available
sometimes even on the same dive. You’ll be able to view coastal
and oceanic vegetation near the islands. The Azores are perfect destination for a diving holiday.
Some of the advantages
in diving in a place like São Miguel in the Azores is that small
group size. Even though it is a commercial dive, the groups are
kept between one and five people and have local guides who are often
biologists.
Diving in the Azores is best
during the months of June to November but you can actually dive
year round in these waters. Good visibility is almost always a
given, and the water temperature makes the dive even more of a once-in-a-lifetime
experience. Visibility can be up to 60 meters on a good day.
If
you prefer snorkeling or you just want to try scuba diving for the
first time, you can find equipment, teachers and tours for that
as well. At the scuba diving center in São Miguel, not only can
you arrange a scuba diving trip for as little as EUR 30, but for
the non-divers in your group, you can find plenty of activities
to enjoy.
Pico and
São Jorge contain so many wonderful diving locations that diving
tour organizers from around the world are arranging tours here.
Conditions and probability are so good here that most diving boat
operators will actually guarantee an encounter with the big Atlantic
fishes. They will always promise to view the lava formations under
water, which resulted from volcanic flow in the past.
Divers will
frequently see schools of mackerel, barracudas, yellow-fin tuna
and trigger fish. Common sting rays grow to enormous size in these
waters. Even large mantas are sometimes encountered. Small sea
creatures such as sea spiders, sea urchins, tube worms, octopus,
moray eels and lobsters hide in the small underwater formations.
Night
dives are particularly spectacular since the luminescent plankton
can provide an eerie glow at certain times of the year. Shrimp
in huge swarms provide rainbow colors and nudibranches and anemones
provide color as well.
Around the island of Santa
Maria, there are over 55 dive spots with caves, grottos as well
as walls, flats and seamounts close to the island. Again, the tremendous
variety of species within a very short distance is a divers dream.
Some specialty type divers are done by some of the charter companies,
such as towed dives, scooter dives and blue water dives.
About
twenty miles off the island of Santa Maria are two special dives
for experienced divers and only in good conditions. The Dollabarat
is a seamount rising from several hundred meters to just 4 meters.
Sharks are often found in this area. The Baixa Ambrosia is a seamount
of 42 meters.
Many of the diving companies
can arrange snorkel tours for those who are non-divers. Diving in
the Azores is a great way to swim with turtles and diving birds,
to find black coral and soft coral and scores of other beautiful
species.
List of Diving Centres / Companies
Terceira
Faial
Graciosa
Flores
Santa Maria
São Jorge
São Miguel
Pico |