Dollabarat Reef (nature reserve)
Nature reserve – protected area with regulated access. Dollabarat is a seamount about 5 km (3 nautical miles) south-south-east of the Formigas, with the shallowest point at about 5 m (3 m on charts), part of the same reserve and Ramsar site. The dive starts in shallows around 5 m, moves to 8–10 m and drops to 20–30 m. Large dusky and island groupers, barred hogfish and occasional devil rays; skipjack, bigeye tuna, wahoo, barracuda, and possibly giant mantas and sharks. Cetaceans, turtles and seabirds are often seen on the boat trip. The position is approximate (the official guide publishes no coordinates) and is for orientation only.
Facts
- Region: Azores – East (São Miguel, Santa Maria, Formigas)
- Area: Formigas & Dollabarat (nature reserve)
- Depth: 5–50 m
- Level: advanced
- Current: strong
- Type: pinnacle, reef, manta
- Coordinates: 37.226, -24.7571 (approximate)
- Highlights: seamount top at about 5 m, dusky and island grouper, barred hogfish, devil rays, giant mantas and sharks possible, cetaceans on the way
- Permit: Nature reserve (since 1988, Regional Reserve since 2003; Ramsar site; part of the Azores Marine Park). Fishing, collecting and disturbing the birds are prohibited, and collecting geological or archaeological material needs authorisation. We did not find a separate public permit procedure for recreational divers: dive only with a licensed local operator (Santa Maria or São Miguel) and check current rules with the operator or the Azores nature-park authority.
- Issuer / contact: Azores Regional Government – Nature Parks (Parque Natural de Santa Maria)
- Tips: Remote, strong currents, experienced divers only. About 33 nautical miles (about 70 minutes) from Vila do Porto; 2 hours from Vila Franca do Campo. Fishing prohibited. Often combined with Formigas in one trip.