Dive Locations

Amora is located in the south coast of São Miguel Island between Ponta Garça and Ribeira Quente.Unlike other dive sites, this is characterized by not having any type of rock formation, but stone rolled with considerable dimensions based on a sandy bottom.

The dive begins at a depth of 15/16 meters down to 28 meters at maximum depth, where big dusky groupers live.During all the dive we have the company of barred hogfish, ballan wrasses, parrotfish and blacktail combers.

In all stone area we have ornate wrasses, morey eels, salema porgies and Madeira rockfishes.

In the blue is common to find large schools of Almaco Jacks, trigger fishes, yellowmouth barracudas and white trevallies.

The dive site consists of a small reef, about 40 m long, situated just off of the Vila Franca Marina, midway between the coast and the Vila Franca do Campo Islet. It has a number of archaeological remains, in particular centuries-old anchors, which bear witness to the historical importance of Vila Franca do Campo, the first capital of the island.

The site is 14 metres deep, with the sandy seafloor at a depth of 22 metres. There are approximately  a dozen anchors, the earliest dating back as far as 300 years ago and the largest over 2 metres long.

Its proximity to the marine reserve of the Vila Franca do Campo Islet means this is also an interesting site for marine life. It is common to find several species of moray eels and nudibranchs, while along the sandy seafloor you may spot large common stingrays (Dasyatis pastinaca) and small surmullets (Mullus surmuletus).

Located only 300 metres from the coast in a sheltered bay, Arcos da Caloura is a great place for snorkelling and all types of dive.

The top of the reef lies at a depth of 5 metres, dropping to 18 metres. At 16 metres you can find one of the four entrances to an impressive cave – the main attraction of this spot. Inside the cave it is common to see schools of large white trevallies as well as some resident dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus). The ceiling of the cave is regularly filled with dozens of different species of nudibranchs.

Around the cave there are many different smaller species, including several species of moray eels, Guinean puffers (Sphoeroides marmoratus), Mediterranean rainbow wrasses (Coris julis), wide-eyed flounders (Bothus podas), ornate wrasses (Thalassoma pavo), salema porgies (Sarpa salpa), Azores chromis (Chromis limbata), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense), and blacktail combers (Serranus atricauda).

There are great differences in depth at this site, which means the Baixa das Castanhetas (Damselfish Reef) is an excellent option for divers with all levels of experience. Located less than 500 metres from the coast, opposite the Caloura bathing area, the site is a maze of interlinked caverns, tunnels and gorges.

The first cavern is at a depth of 12 metres. It has three wide entrances and is regularly occupied by a school of large white trevallies (Pseudocaranx dentex). From here you can explore a long narrow tunnel full of cardinal fish (Apogon imberbis) and small nudibranchs, before exiting back out onto the reef.

Along the top of the reef there clouds of Azores chromis (after which the reef is named), as well as several other smaller tunnels and caves where it is common to spot large dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus). The reef flank drops vertically to depths greater than 45 metres, where it is common to see schools of pelagic fish in the summer and sometimes devil rays (Mobula tarapacana).

Located about 20 metres from the coast, approximately three miles east of the Vila Franca do Campo Marina and close to the Ponta Garça Lighthouse, this is an excellent site for diving. With the top of the reef lying at a depth of just seven metres, this is also a great spot for snorkellers.

The top of the reef is home to a multitude of small colourful fish typical of the Azores, as well as small mystery blennies that find shelter in the empty barnacles. Heading east the reef  drops steeply to 14 metres, offering some fantastic stretches of black coral (Antipathes wollastoni) that is usually only found at greater depths.

Continuing to the east, the seafloor drops even deeper and you can sometimes see large common stingrays (Dasyatis parsnip). If you continue on this path you will come to a large rock formation with two small caves, where it is common to spot dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus) and  schools of pelagic fish such as white trevallies (Pseudocaranx dentex), Almaco jacks (Seriola rivoliana) and yellowmouth barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis).

With the top of her stern at a depth of only 9 metres, and the bow in the deepest part at 20 metres, the Dori shipwreck is a great place for all types of dive and snorkelling trips.

Considered by many as the best dive site on the island of São Miguel, this wrecked Liberty ship on the sandy seafloor was built during the Second World War in the United States.

It was one of the few ships of this type that took part in Operation Overlord along the coast of Normandy, as well as taking part in a number of other wartime missions, and it eventually sank 800 metres off the coast of Ponta Delgada on 16 January 1964.

Today it is an underwater archaeological park; the stern, to the north, is still quite intact and is surrounded by clouds of small fish as well as occasionally shoals of pelagic fish. Heading towards the bow, you can see some of the larger structures of the ship still intact, as well as a multitude of large pipes and stairways.

The ship’s boilers are regularly surrounded by schools of Moroccan white seabreams (Diplodus sargus cadenati).Fishing is prohibited in this area, which means that throughout the dive you can spot an exceptional number of common species typical of the Azores Sea.

The islet of Vila Franca do Campo is located on the south coast of São Miguel Island, less than 500 meters from the shore, just opposite the village that owes its name.

The islet, circular in shape, corresponds to the submerged part of a small submarine volcano originated more than 4000 years.

This dive is done on the west side of the islet of Vila Franca do Campo. Between 8 and 13 meters a platform where we can find natural formations of holes and passages. In this area we can find: Ornate wrasses, parrotfish, barred hogfish, moray eels, salema porgies, blacktail combers and also Azores chromis.

Between 13 and 22 meters we have a wall full of life with morays, octopus, hake, grouper and also several species of nudibranchs. On sand we can always find the wide-eyed flounders and is common to find several species of rays and even huge stingrays.

Looking into the blue that surrounds this amazing scenario we have the white travellies, yellowmouth barracudas, almaco jacks and sometimes the bluefishes.

The protected area of the Vila Franca do Campo Islet is located directly opposite the town after which it is named, less than 500 meters from shore. It offers several excellent dives that are suitable for all experience levels, as well as lots of snorkelling opportunities.

Inside the islet you will find a large bay created by the crater of an extinct volcano that rose from the sea more than four thousand years. This is another great spot for snorkelling. The “Cozinha” is located on the east side of the islet, and here we find several passages along the wall to a depth of 10 meters large rocks that have rolled the islet due to erosion and small rock formations that are mixed with sand to a maximum of 18 meters deep.

The area is protected, and there is an abundance of Azores chromis (Chromis limbata), ornate wrasses (Thalassoma pavo), blacktail combers (Serranus atricauda), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense), ballan wrasses (Labrus bergylta), barred hogfish, moray eels, common octopuses (Octopus vulgaris) and dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus). On the sandy seafloor you are likely to spot common stingrays (Dasyatis pastinaca), and in the water column there are often white trevallies (Pseudocaranx dentex), yellowmouth barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis), Almaco jacks (Seriola rivoliana) and bluefish. (Pomatomus saltator).

The Tufo is located on the south coast of São Miguel Island, between Ponta Garça and Ribeira Quente.

After getting to the top of the down which is located only to 4 meters deep, fall in the wall to north that have a maximum of 11 meters.

Following to South you will have a maximum of 15 meters.

The numerous passages between large passages forms authentic walls and the cracks on the rocks are true sanctuaries of life.

Several species of moray eels, octopuses, blacktail combers, parrotfishes, Madeira rockfish and Guinean puffers can be observed during the dive. It’s also usual to see congers with quite considerable dimensions.

On top of the ornate wrasses, salema porgies and trigger fishes are some of the species that give us the pleasure of their presence during the safety stop.