Ilhéu da Mina
A roughly 20 m long islet about 50 m off the coast near Vila de São Sebastião. A vertical wall drops to about 20 m with wide ravines beyond; yellowmouth barracuda and Almaco jacks feed on blue jack mackerel schools in the water column. A nearby reef rises from 25 m to 3 m, and approaching from the south leads to 35 m, where a pinnacle about 15 m high stands among large patches of black coral; dusky grouper are sometimes seen.
Facts
- Region: Azores – Central & West
- Area: Terceira
- Depth: 0–35 m
- Level: intermediate
- Current: moderate
- Type: wall, reef, pinnacle
- Coordinates: 38.6481, -27.0729 (approximate)
- Highlights: wall to 20 m, black coral at 35 m, Almaco jacks, barracuda, dusky grouper
- Tips: The dive starts shallow and deepens depending on the route; moderate current. About 25 minutes by boat from Angra, 20 from Praia da Vitória.