Dive trip Terceira Island

Stay, Diving holidays in the Azores, in Terceira Island

With its 30 kilometers long and 18 kilometers wide, Terceira is the second most populated and most visited island in the Azores archipelago. Its rich heritage and numerous dive sites make it an ideal destination to combine diving and cultural activities. The historic center of Angra, with its colorful alleys, palaces, and monuments, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The interior offers volcanic landscapes that extend underwater through varied underwater architecture, consisting of tunnels, canyons, caves, and arches. The dive sites around the island are varied and correspond to all divers' profiles.

During your dive trip in Terceira you will discover the Underwater Archaeological Park of Angra do Heroismo Bay, a real underwater museum that holds second place on the podium of wrecks from the era of great discoveries.
Essential: Cemetarios de Ancoras, the most beautiful dive site in the park with its 40 anchors. Only 15 minutes from the port of Angra, we also recommend Arcadas do Judeu, a diving and snorkeling spot accessible to all levels.
Terceira Island is, therefore, a suitable destination for families, novice and experienced divers. June to September is the best time to observe the Atlantic and tropical fauna of the underwater landscapes of the Azores.

Marine species in the area

Dive sites

Arcadas do Judeu is a sheltered, shallow site with imposing rock formations located near the fishing port of Porto Judeu, opposite the islets of Cabras. To see: a long arch 7 meters wide and a corridor extending 10 meters long to a small submerged bay from where you can see a stone staircase rising to the surface.

Gruta do Ilhéu das Cabras is the islet of Cabras that lies south of Terceira, and whose left flank is perforated by the cave of the Ratões (the stingrays) in 15 m deep. In summer, there are two kinds of stingrays, the Myliobatis aquila and the Taeniura grabata. Inside, gorgeous backlighting. At a depth of 24 meters, schools of pelagic fish with barracudas and bluefish. On the walls of the cave, in the crevices, narwhal shrimp and nudibranchs. This main cave then opens onto two other caves colonized by the red cardinalfish, and sometimes forkbeards.

Scuba diving in Terceira also allows you to discover archaeological remains that testify to the strategic importance of the city over the centuries. The steamer Lidador is an ideal wreck for beginners and snorkeling. Located 50 meters from the coast in the Underwater Archaeological Park of the Bay of Angra do Heroísmo, this diving spot is accessible directly from the land from the Figueirinha pier in front of the São Sebastião Fortress.
It is a steamer dating from a hundred years, 78 meters long, sunk in 1878, in 8 meters of water and in which one does not penetrate. With a distance of about 80 m between the stern and the bow, it is still very well preserved. Some parts of the wreckage are still recognizable. Fishing is prohibited. To see: schools of dreamfish, seabreams, octopuses, nudibranchs, scorpionfish, peacock wrasses, damselfish, royal wrasses, comber fish, and red mullets.

The wreck is part of the underwater archaeological park of Angra do Heroísmo Bay, which also includes the famous dive site Cemitério das Âncoras - Anchor Cemetery - which harbors about forty anchors abandoned over the centuries. This spot is very protected, and the marine life is, therefore, prosperous.

On the north coast of Terceira, Calheta do Lagador is also sheltered and shallow. It is a perfect spot for snorkeling and a real nursery for juvenile fish in a small underwater bay at a depth of 4 meters. To be seen: parrot-fish, black-headed sars, octopus, moray eels, and amberjacks.

Still to the north, Baixa da Vila Nova is between 12 and 30 meters deep. This dive site is reserved for experienced divers because of the currents.

Fradinhos is a group of islets located southeast of Terceira and the port of Pipas, far away from the coast and swept by strong currents. It constitutes the emerged part of an underwater volcano. Very fishy with pelagic. From 30 meters, branches of black coral (Antipathella wollastoni), barracudas, Mobula rays. Accessible to experienced divers.
There is rich biodiversity around these islets, with caves in rows, vast galleries connected by corridors to explore like the one of the dive site Cinco Ribeira. Ilhéu da Mina is a 20 meters long islet located near São Sebastião, 50 meters from the coast.

About 15 minutes by boat from the port of Praia da Vitória, experienced divers can discover Pedra Perdida, a large rocky pinnacle that rises from 22 to 12 meters in depth and exposed to strong currents. At the top, there are castagnoles, amberjacks, and Mediterranean barracudas.

Finally, one of the best dive sites in Terceira is Banco Dom João de Castro to observe pelagics. This dive spot is located in the middle of the ocean and is aimed at experienced divers. Keep your eyes open while sailing to the bank: you will be able to see many species of cetaceans, turtles, and seabirds!