Luxury Diving Holidays in the Azores

Overview

Just 4 hours flight from the UK, the Azores is home to some of the best diving holidays in Europe. Made up of 9 volcanic islands, the Azorean Archipelago is hailed the ‘Hawaii of the Atlantic’ with impressive vistas, warm(ish) waters and exciting scuba diving.

The islands are dramatic in terms of topography and this continues into the water, where swim-throughs, caves, caverns and boulders populate the local dive sites. Scuba diving in the Azores caters to a range of divers from beginners to experts, with an array of reefs and wrecks viewed through waters with excellent visibility.

From our own research, we favour three islands in particular; Sao Miguel, Santa Maria and Pico which all offer a different scuba diving and snorkelling experience, as well as a range of adventurous activities top side. Diving holidays in the Azores are always a hit with Reefscape Travel clients.

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blue shark blue water diving

mobula ray

vila franca islet

blue shark

manta ray

dusky grouper

Sao miguel

moray eels

whale fluke

lake on Sao Miguel

In Depth

The best dive sites in the Azores are located offshore, where impressive pinnacles reach the shallows and draw in schools of pelagic life. For experienced divers, this is a big fish Mecca, with hunting mobula rays, mako sharks, blue sharks and large schools of amberjacks and tuna making an assault on the senses whilst divers hang in the water below.

For novice divers, the local sites are ideal with gentle conditions at the right time of year and excellent visibility of up to 40m. Diving holidays in the Azores are therefore ideal for families, couples and solo travellers alike, with plentiful marine life and even a few well-preserved wrecks to explore. Our preferred dive centres operate to great safety standards with top of the line equipment and experienced dive guides to ensure the best possible experience.

Pico is best for snorkellers, with many fantastic shore-based sites accessible from the local dive centre on the north side of the island. This is also the best placed island for access to the famous Princess Alice Banks where experienced divers can have unforgettable encounters with schooling devil rays. Blue shark diving in chummed waters can be arranged too. Santa Maria has the closest access to Formigas, Dollabarat and Ambrosio, some of the best dive sites in the Archipelago, and is the best island for those looking to focus only on scuba diving. For adventure-seekers and beginner divers, we recommend a stay on Sao Miguel for a blend of land activities, easy diving and the best hotels.

Beyond the Reef

Diving holidays in the Azores are usually complemented with an array of land activities, as there is so much to enjoy on these fertile islands. A day spent hiking on the islands rewards guests with astonishingly beautiful views and rugged scenery, while foodies will enjoy the chance to sample Azorean produce such as Sao Jorge cheese, wine from Pico and an array of fresh seafood and the traditional ‘cozido’ stew cooked underground by the heat of geysers.

For those looking to get stuck into some adventure, mountain biking and canyoning can be arranged, while history buffs can learn about the historic whaling industry in the Azores. Nowadays, the whales are protected and an important part of local tourism, with whale-watching tours and swims with wild dolphins being very popular. Blue whales, baleen whales, sperm whale and minke whales are frequent visitors to the island and getting up close to these gentle giants is a pretty unforgettable experience!

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