Azores – Central & West

The central and western Azores are open-ocean diving on volcanic islands, with no coral reefs. Faial and Pico face each other across a 6 km channel and are usually dived together: sheltered coastal sites at Monte da Guia (crater wall, caverns, a cannon site and a barge wreck) and Pico's arches and tunnels, plus exposed reefs in the channel. The headline dives are offshore: the Condor Bank blue shark drift dive and the Princess Alice Bank, where groups of sicklefin devil rays gather in summer, both mainly from July to October. Terceira has the Underwater Archaeological Park of the Bay of Angra (the Lidador wreck and the Cemetery of Anchors) and the Sheep Islet cave with stingrays; Graciosa has a wreck and a cave, São Jorge a coral cave and the open-sea reef Baixa dos Rosais, and Flores a cathedral-like reef. The official dive portal lists no dive centre of its own for Corvo and none with its own website for São Jorge or Flores.

Facts

Best season: July – October for sharks, mobulas and the best visibility; coastal diving is possible year-round
Water and visibility: Sea temperature averages 16–22 °C (peaks 24–25 °C); visibility often exceeds 30 m from August to October, 10–15 m in spring. Wetsuit 5/7 mm Jun–Oct, 7/10 mm or dry suit Nov–May
Getting there: Airports on Horta (Faial), Pico, Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge (Velas), Flores and Corvo; Faial and Pico are linked by a short ferry. Island hops by air or ferry
Offshore dives: Condor Bank (blue shark, July–October) typically requires Advanced Open Water, 50 logged dives and a check dive; Princess Alice Bank is a full-day expedition for experienced divers
Marine park and rules: The Faial–Pico Channel is reported as a marine protected area, and the Monte da Guia crater interior has restricted access; no permit requirement was found on the official dive portal. Check current Azores Marine Park and operator-licence rules with a local centre

Season

Best months: Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Acceptable: Apr, May, Jun, Nov
Poor: Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar
Water temperature: 16–25 °C

Sea temperature varies only about 6 °C over the year (averages 16–22 °C, peaks 24–25 °C); the warmest water and best visibility (often over 30 m) run from August to September/October, while spring water is greener with 10–15 m visibility. Blue sharks and mobulas are mainly early July to mid-October.

Dive sites (26)

Pico

Arcadas de São Roque – 3–25 m, beginner
Baixa da Barca – 20–55 m, advanced
Baixa do Norte – 17–45 m, advanced
Cachorro – 0–18 m, beginner

Terceira

Arcadas do Judeu – 0–16 m, beginner
Cemetery of Anchors (Cemitério das Âncoras) – 0–35 m, intermediate
Fradinhos – 10–60 m, advanced
Gruta do Ilhéu das Cabras (Sheep Islet cave) – 12–24 m, beginner
Ilhéu da Mina – 0–35 m, intermediate
Lidador Wreck – 0–11 m, beginner

Faial

Baixa da Feteira – 12–32 m, advanced
Boca das Caldeirinhas – 7–50 m, intermediate
Canhões de Entre Montes (Cannons) – 18–22 m, beginner
Espalamaca Norte – 0–14 m, beginner
Furnas do Monte da Guia – 20–30 m, advanced
Gruta dos Camarões (Shrimp Cave) – 28–35 m, advanced
Gruta e Ilhéu Negro – 0–20 m, beginner
Pontão 16 (barge wreck) – 21–26 m, intermediate

Graciosa

Baixa da Senhora da Guia – 3–32 m, beginner
Gruta do Carapacho – 0–32 m, beginner
Terceirense Wreck – 17–21 m, beginner

São Jorge

Baixa dos Rosais – 15–50 m, advanced
Gruta dos Corais (Coral Cave) – 5–24 m, beginner

Flores

Catedral – 6–30 m, beginner

Offshore banks (Condor, Princess Alice)

Condor Bank (blue shark dive) – 0–18 m, advanced
Princess Alice Bank (mobula dive) – 32–60 m, advanced

Operators (9)

CW Azores – dive centre, Cais da Madalena, Madalena do Pico
Pico Island Adventures (Pico Sport) – dive centre, Porto Velho 33, Madalena, Pico
Dive Azores – dive centre, Horta, Faial
Norberto Diver – dive centre, Marina da Horta, Faial
Haliotis Faial – dive centre, Horta, Faial
Deep Blue Azores Diving Center – dive centre, Angra do Heroísmo, Terceira
Qmann Diving – dive centre, Canada da Vinha Velha 20, Altares, Terceira
Octopus Diving Center – dive centre, Av. Beira-Mar, Praia da Vitória, Terceira
Diving Graciosa – dive centre, Graciosa

Routes (7)

Site positions are approximate (the official portal publishes none) and are for orientation only — never for navigation. Offshore dives need a licensed local operator; check Azores Marine Park rules and current conditions.