Santa Cruz - Light House and reef

This is a shore dive from a quite little fishing port on the South Coast approximate 6 Km past Lajes. A pleasant dive to 20m where we first visit the lighthouse, which fell into the Atlantic during a violent storm. Sat on a sloping bank from 10m down to 20m where the lighthouse rests on a flat bottom. After discovering the lighthouse we head South out past the breakwater to the Atlantic where a reef runs south the top of the reef is approximate 10m and the bottom of the reef gently slopes away to 30m. We swim along the reef at 15m as this is where the majority of the marine life is found. We always meet up with the resident common ray. Facilities at the port are plentiful with a traditional bar; shower and toilets are also within the port.

Steps to the Santa Cruz lighthouse

Calheta De Nesquim – Reef and Arches

This has to be one of my favourite shore dives. Another quite fishing port on the south coast and is at the eastern tip of Pico. A gentle shelf down to 15m where we find the reef that takes us down to 25m where we find the swim through arch which is home to “Black Coral”. We swim through the arch and wait for the Atlantic Big Fish to arrive. On this dive you can encounter anything from Manta rays to Tuna it’s a lucky dip of the Atlantic we then slowly return north to the rocks east of the harbour where the smaller marine life takes shelter in 6m where we can take our safety stops. There are plenty of facilities at the port and is an ideal port to have a traditional lunch and coffee and take in the views.

One of the many swim through arches

S. Joao - Shore Dive

A fantastic dive which takes us to the edge of Pico. A gentle slope taking you to 26m which is great reef full of moray eels and smaller marine life. On reaching 26m we discover a drop off down to 48m which is home to a large cavern. We venture down to 32m where we can enter the top of the cavern to see the home off the wreck fish. We then climb the slope back to 20m where we again discover a drop off to 50m which is a wall which is home to the Mediterranean moray eel and the common moray. We then return to 6m where was again we can complete our safety stop whilst enjoying the topography.

Some off the smaller marine life at S Joao

Biaxa Manhenha - Boat Dive

Must be said that this is my most favourite dive site off the coast of Pico and although one of our surcharge dives due to its location is well worth the additional cost. Situated just 1nm off-shore but 20nm to the East end of the Island although we do this leg by road and meet the RIB at Porto Calheta. The site is a sea mound from 85m to just 8m from the surface. A magnificent drop-off to the West of the mound which is a spectacular sight and to the East is a sloping shelf where you can cross to a second mound. The site is home to large Barracuda, Jack, Tuna and Manta rays. A truly spectacular site.

Barracuda on Biaxa Manhenha

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Princess Alice Bank – Mid Atlantic

This has to be said that it is the best dive of the Azores 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  in the Azores. The bank has a minimum depth of 35 m (114.8 ft), 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. A visit of the manta rays is a given with sightings of hammerhead sharks. A MUST!!!!

Below is just a small selection of the dive sites that are to be found around Pico. All of the pictures you see on this page have been taken by non proffesional photogrphers with standard underwater cameras

Dive Sites of Pico

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