Azores
Azores
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Nine islands rising from a mid-ocean ridge, where the open Atlantic keeps its wanderers.
Volcanic and isolated, the Azores sit on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge nearly 1,500 km from mainland Portugal. Seamounts such as Princess Alice draw pelagic species — blue and mako sharks, mobula rays, sperm whales — into open blue water far from any reef.
Conditions
- Season
- June–October
- Temperature
- About 17–23 °C
- Visibility
- Often 15–30 m in open water
- Entry
- Boat entries into open ocean, often over great depth
What this water asks
Ease with swell and open blue where nothing is guaranteed to appear, and stillness rather than pursuit if something does.
The Blue Heart
Blue shark (Prionace glauca)
A slender, deep-blue pelagic that ranges entire ocean basins, drawn to the Azores' seamounts in numbers few other Atlantic waters can offer.
Best dive areas in the Azores
In the Azores diving is spread across islands. The heart of it is open blue water and seamounts.
Princess Alice Bank (Pico/Faial)
approx. 35 m to the summit, open blue · Advanced
Schools of mobulas, jacks and sometimes sharks; about 50 miles offshore.
Pecio Dori (Faial)
approx. 8–18 m · Open Water
A broken steamer in Horta bay, with groupers, bream and octopus.
Formigas y Dollabarat
approx. 10–45 m · Advanced
Offshore nature reserve: mantas, huge groupers, barracuda and strong currents.
Baixa do Ambrósio (Santa Maria)
approx. 5–40 m · Advanced
Seamount with groups of mobulas from July to September.
Temporada de mobulas en Pico
approx. 0–30 m · Open Water / Advanced
Trips from Madalena with mobulas, blue sharks and cetaceans at the surface.
Depths are approximate: always confirm them at the local briefing.
When to go and what to expect
The season runs June to October; seamount trips depend on sea state and are easily cancelled.
| Period | Water | Visibility | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov–Apr | 16–17 °C | Variable | Limited operations; seas often closed |
| May–Jun | 17–20 °C | 15–25 m | Season opens, cetaceans |
| Jul–Sep | 21–23 °C | 20–30 m | Mobulas at Princess Alice and Ambrósio; blue sharks |
| Oct | 20–21 °C | 15–25 m | Season closing, fewer trips |
Getting there and where to dive from
Ponta Delgada (São Miguel) has direct flights from Lisbon, Porto and some European cities; Horta (Faial), Pico and Santa Maria connect via SATA flights and summer ferries.
Dive bases: Horta and Madalena for Princess Alice, Vila do Porto for Ambrósio, Ponta Delgada and Vila Franca do Campo for Formigas.
- Indicative price
- Two coastal dives: around €90–120; a Princess Alice trip: around €150–220 (indicative).
- Fees and permits
- There is no general dive fee, but Formigas is a nature reserve with access rules handled by the centers.
- Certification
- An advanced card and blue-water experience for the seamounts; dive insurance recommended.
A presence dive in the Azores
A four-phase plan for Princess Alice, inside your agency standards and dive plan.
Before
During the two-hour crossing, we set the phone aside and watch the horizon. We review the blue-water plan together: line, maximum depth, time.
Below
When stable and conditions allow, notice the marine life without touching or pursuing it. Breathe naturally and continuously as trained. Keep your buddy, gas, depth and route in view; leave the observation whenever the dive needs your attention.
Between
On the boat, we share one sentence: what shifted in us with so much blue around.
Beyond
At home, we remember that waiting when something is slow to come.
The breathing in this plan is practised in Breathwork for divers. New to this? Read what Mindful Diving™ is.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best island for diving in the Azores?
Pico and Faial for Princess Alice and the Dori wreck; Santa Maria for the Ambrósio mobulas; São Miguel as a base for Formigas.
When can you see mobulas in the Azores?
Mostly from July to September, at seamounts such as Princess Alice and Baixa do Ambrósio.
What level do I need for Princess Alice?
An advanced or deep card, and ease in blue-water dives with current. Some centers ask for a minimum number of logged dives.
Is it cold diving in the Azores?
In season the water is around 20–23 °C. A 5 or 7 mm suit is typical.
Nearby waters
Atlas sites here
Azores — Princess Alice
Portugal · Azores
Presence here
Presence notes appear here once enough divers have logged this water — the same house number the Tide holds everywhere.
Safety first
On scuba, breathe naturally and continuously as trained; never hold, skip or deliberately restrict your breathing. Keep attention on your buddy, buoyancy, gas and surroundings. Leave optional exercises out of descents, ascents and any demanding task.
Dive this water with a trained practice
MD-1 Mindful Diver™ is studied online and practised on the dives you already make — including this one.