Plan + Spots · Destination Guide

Santa Maria (Azores)

Sun Island diving in the Azores: caves, reefs, and offshore pelagic reserves

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Ambrósio

Reef

Protected offshore seamount famed for summer mobula encounters.

Visibility25 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdQuite busy

CurrentModerate current

Baixa da Maia

Reef

Volcanic islet reef with schooling pelagics off Maia.

Visibility12 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

CurrentModerate current

Baixa Do Ambrósio

Reef

Offshore Santa Maria seamount known for summer mobula encounters.

Banco Dollabarat

Pinnacle

Offshore Azores seamount for big animals and strong current.

Visibility30 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CurrentVery strong current

Banco João Lopes

DeepPinnacleReef

Offshore Santa Maria bank with current and rich fish life.

Visibility20 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CurrentStrong current

Calçada do Gigante

ReefWall

Boat dive on Santa Maria's prismatic volcanic columns.

Visibility20 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeAverage variety

Formigas

DeepWallWreck

Remote Azores offshore reserve with walls, reefs, and pelagic life.

Visibility30 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

CoralHealthy coral

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CurrentStrong current

Gruta Azul

Cave

Gruta Azul is a sheltered cave dive in Santa Maria, Azores.

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

CurrentNo current

SurgeFlat calm

Gruta dos Camaroes

Cave

Low-light cave dive on Santa Maria with dense shrimp life.

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CurrentNo current

Ilhéu da Vila

Reef

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

CurrentLight current

Pedrinha

CaveReef

Pedrinha is a marine reserve off Santa Maria.

Visibility25 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CurrentNo current

SurgeFlat calm

All Dive Spots

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Ambrósio

Reef

Protected offshore seamount famed for summer mobula encounters.

Visibility25 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CrowdQuite busy

CurrentModerate current

Baixa da Maia

Reef

Volcanic islet reef with schooling pelagics off Maia.

Visibility12 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

CurrentModerate current

Baixa Do Ambrósio

Reef

Offshore Santa Maria seamount known for summer mobula encounters.

Banco Dollabarat

Pinnacle

Offshore Azores seamount for big animals and strong current.

Visibility30 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CurrentVery strong current

Banco João Lopes

DeepPinnacleReef

Offshore Santa Maria bank with current and rich fish life.

Visibility20 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CurrentStrong current

Calçada do Gigante

ReefWall

Boat dive on Santa Maria's prismatic volcanic columns.

Visibility20 m

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeAverage variety

Formigas

DeepWallWreck

Remote Azores offshore reserve with walls, reefs, and pelagic life.

Visibility30 m

AccessChallenging entry effort

CoralHealthy coral

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesBasic facilities

CurrentStrong current

Gruta Azul

Cave

Gruta Azul is a sheltered cave dive in Santa Maria, Azores.

AccessChallenging entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

CurrentNo current

SurgeFlat calm

Gruta dos Camaroes

Cave

Low-light cave dive on Santa Maria with dense shrimp life.

AccessModerate entry effort

Marine LifeGreat variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CurrentNo current

Ilhéu da Vila

Reef

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeGreat variety

CurrentLight current

Pedrinha

CaveReef

Pedrinha is a marine reserve off Santa Maria.

Visibility25 m

AccessSimple entry

Marine LifeExceptional variety

FacilitiesGood facilities

CurrentNo current

SurgeFlat calm