Dive the Azores offers a full array of dives to suit all qualifications and experience levels. The majority of the scuba diving takes place all around the coasts of Pico Island where the dive sites vary in depth from 6 to 50+ metres. Scuba diving in Pico is possible all year round with water temperatures ranging from 17 degrees C in the winter to 24 degrees C in the summer months. Visibility generally varies between 15-30 metres. Although due to the rainy winters our season is May through to OcUnderwater, the land drops away from the coastline in a series of slopes and steps, giving divers easy access to the walls, caves and swim throughs that make up the underwater scenery. There is abundant marine life to be found, from the small crab, octopus and slipper and spinney lobster to the larger rays and barracudas. Frome June we can visit the Manta Rays on Princess Alice and Blue sharks can also be spotted from August to October on the banks also
dive the dive, dive the difference
Dive Packages
Whether you are newly qualified to diving or of an advanced level, Pico has the diving to suit your experience. Our diving partners Twin Peaks Diving Centre is affiliated to BSAC and has received Premier Centre status.
We are not into selling you the biggest dive package possible to maximise our profit we offer you achievable packages that allow you to also take in the tranquil Azores and everything else they offer. We would suggest a 6 dive package for a weeks stay with the option to add additional dives locally, so you can choose your own balance between diving and other activities. Additional dives are not at a premium and are equal in price to that of a package. We offer packages to suit all levels from newly qualified to entry level of technical diving. Safety is paramount and all dive packages have the option to up grade to nitrox diving for those qualified, for those who are not qualified it’s possible for you to qualify ‘complete your BSAC Nitrox Diver Course
The Princess Alice Bank,
or Banco Princesa Alice as it is called in Portuguese, is a submerged seamount that is located 50 nautical miles (92.6 km) to the southwest of Pico Island and 45 nautical miles (83.3 km) to the southwest of Faial Island in the Azores. The bank has a minimum depth of 35 m (114.8 ft), and a depth to the seabed of 2993m located in its western zone. With clear waters that allow the observation of the ocean floor from the surface and an enormous biodiversity, the Bank, in addition to being an excellent fishing spot, is one of the important diving spots of the Atlantic Ocean.
Imagine the experience as we dive with a carousel of sometimes up to 30 mantas (mobula mobular) more commonly known as the devil ray out in what is deemed as mid-Atlantic ‘blue water diving’ the bank is home to some of the greatest pelagic marine life to read the full article …….read more
The Dive
This dive is guaranteed to be a dive that is rated as one of the best in your diving log book. We use a 7.5m 200 hp RIB with central seating, licensed to carry 12 but for your comfort and space we only take 8 divers on the boat. We depart from the marina at 07:30 and arrive on the bank around 09:30, we drop a shot line as we do not use the boats anchor line for safety reasons and comfort. We prepare for our first dive, some divers wish to descend to touch the bank at 35m this is not compulsory as the mantas will carousel around you at 10m where the majority of the dive is carried out. For safety reasons we ask divers to stay on the shot line but if conditions permit we allow the more experienced diver to leave the shot in pursue of the ultimate picture although you must have and be trained in the use of an SMB, After a light snack and surface interval we prepare for our second dive, another photo opportunity. It’s normal to see other pelagic life on the bank such as Tuna and wahoo along with barracuda, dusky grouper and the ever friendly trigger fish.
Princess Alice has to be my number one dive and I’ve dived a few places in my time,
J. Donbavand Derbyshire
Ex North West BSAC Regional Coach
The Blue Shark Experience
Prionace glauca, is a carcharhinid shark which inhabits deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. They feed primarily on small fish and squid, although they can take larger prey. Blue sharks often school segregated by sex and size, and this behavior has led to their nickname "wolves of the sea". Blue sharks are light-bodied with long pectoral fins. The top of the body is deep blue, lighter on the sides, and the underside is white. It grows to 3.8 meters long and can weigh up to 204 kilograms . The highest reported weight was 391 kilograms. They are easy to distinguish from other sharks.
Relationship with humans
Blue sharks are the most heavily fished sharks mainly as by-catch It is estimated that 10 to 20 million individuals are killed each year as a result of fishing. Blue sharks are not considered an aggressive species. Most interactions take place in deep water and on small boats as they rarely venture close to shore
The dive
The Blue shark experience occurs on an offshore bank around 20nm west of Fiail taking us around 60 mins to reach our site. These blue water dives requires excellent buoyancy control as there are no points of reference from the sea floor or a wall. Divers must therefore pay attention to their depth. We use reference lines on the side of the boat which can also be used to jon line from.
Divers are required to show there ability in buoyancy and trim on regular dives if booking our Blue shark experience. divers should be certified to a minimum level equivalent to a BSAC Sports Diver orPADI Advanced Open Water Diver.
Before entering the water all divers are briefed on conduct in the water as well as how to recognise potentially dangerous behaviour from the sharks. In order to avoid a negative impact on the sharks, divers are required to follow dive guides instruction. Touching and feeding the sharks are strictly forbidden. We use chumming techniques that keep the amount of food, blood and oil in the water at a minimum. Should the behaviour of the sharks (or divers) warrant it each dive may be terminated at the dive guides discretion.
