Flores Island looks incredible from the air, imposing from the sea’s surface, and magical from a vantage point beneath the deep, mesmerizing blue water that surrounds it. If you are ready to escape crowded destinations and visit some truly pristine dive sites, this is an excellent place to do just that. Here, we’ll voyage to three lovely sites along the southern and southeast edge of Flores Island – a truly magical Azores destination.
Ponta da Caveira - Flores Island Dive Sites
A very beautiful and geologically intriguing site located on Flores’ southeast coast, Ponta da Caveira is situated just 1.5 miles off Santa Cruz Harbor. The site’s name means “skull tip,” and this is an apt description, because there can sometimes be treacherous rip currents here. Dive operators who frequent this site are well aware of the dangers and will select a different site when conditions are not favorable, however conditions can change quickly in the Azores, so it’s best to be aware that the potential for danger does exist here.
This being said, Ponta da Caveira is without a doubt one of the most magnificent dive sites in the area. It features a huge wall punctuated with small cave and deep crevices that hide black morays, forkbeards, congers, and loads of smaller creatures including crustaceans and nudibranchs. Be sure to look out into the blue and drift along the wall if conditions are right, because the same currents that sometimes make this site unwelcoming to divers bring in masses of fish including white trevally, bluefish, bonitos, and mackerel. There is plenty to see in the shallows here, and the bottom is typically located at depths between just 17 and 25 meters.
Baixa do Amigo - Flores Island Dive Sites
Baixa do Amigo is a fascinating dive site with plenty of big fish action to observe. Featuring depths between 12 and 40 meters, the site is located about 200 meters off Lomba Harbor. Here, you’ll find lots of barred hogfish, along with schooling almaco jacks, sea chub, trevally, bonito, and barracuda. Often, huge bait balls (usually mackerel) can be seen attempting to evade predatory fish; in rocky areas, there is no shortage of smaller, more colorful life including rainbow wrasse, parrotfish, Guinean pufferfish, and scores of nudibranchs, crabs, lobsters, and other fascinating creatures. Watch for stingrays in the sandy areas, and keep an eye out for manta rays during the summer months.
Baixa do Morro - Flores Island Dive Sites
A truly lovely dive site located along Flores Island’s south coast, Baixa do Morro is a submerged volcanic cone that rises up from the ocean floor 60 meters below the surface. The tip of this massive cone is located at a depth of just 6 meters, however there are currents here most of the time which less experienced divers will find overly challenging. A huge wall drops away to a depth of about 20 meters, and along the way, you’ll encounter schooling triggerfish, Guinean puffer fish, and lots of moray and conger eels, along with slipper lobsters and other small creatures. At 35 meters, a cave with two entrances provides the perfect vantage point for watching an endless parade of marine life passing in the blue. Along the site’s southern side, the profile is gentler, with a slope that gradually descends to the bottom. Your dive profile will be largely dependent upon current direction and strength; either way, you’ll encounter plenty of fish and see some truly incredible geologic features.
Getting to Flores and finding a place to stay is not terribly challenging, so long as you make arrangements in advance. Be sure to select a dive operator with care. If smaller operators are booked, check with those operating out of Faial to see if they’re offering trips to Flores; if they are not, they can put you in touch with someone who can get you to the sites you want to see. Once you arrive, you’ll be glad you made the effort to travel this far away from more crowded areas. The things you’ll see will amaze you, and you’ll return home with a renewed sense of wonder at the magnificence of the underwater world.