Also known as Santa Cruz da Graciosa, Portugal's Graciosa Island offers caves, shipwrecks, and astounding marine life including sharks, manta rays, and much more. A trip to the Azores is unforgettable in its own right, but diving at Graciosa Island is simply spectacular. Here are six of the many sites available around this beautifully idyllic Portuguese island.
Ilheus do Carpacho - Graciosa Island Dive Sites
Located on the southern side of Graciosa Island, this little island features caves and incredible rock formations including some that look like carved blocks, and some which look as though they were rolled into place by a giant's hand. In fact though, these intriguing natural sculptures were formed as the water and sand combined to carve their unique shapes over the millennia. Covered in beautiful anemones and inhabited by cardinal fish, schooling amberjack and Atlantic bonito, ornate wrasse, and huge grouper, and patrolled by yellowmouth barracuda, this site is simply incredible. Featuring maximum depth at just 11 meters, it is suitable for all divers.
Corvo - Graciosa Island Dive Sites
At Corvo, which features maximum depth at just 17 meters, you'll find enough to keep you busy for a few dives, at least. There is a boat wreck as well as three sunken cars and some old containers, all of which have become a fantastic artificial reef filled with such creatures as moray eels, lobsters, nudibranchs, and crabs, and all of which are teeming with fish. Colorful, and fun for all divers, this site is great for underwater photography.
Terceirense Wreck - Graciosa Island Dive Sites
Situated to the east of the island, in front of the entryway to the port, the Terceirense Wreck is home to red striped mullet, shoaling sea bream, fork beard, moray, and conger eels, cuckoo wrasse, parrotfish, and huge groupers, to name just a few! This 40 meter boat is broken in two big pieces, and is located just 20 meters beneath the surface. If you can make just one dive while exploring the Azores, this might just be the one to choose.
Baixinhas - Graciosa Island Dive Sites
One of the many sunken mountaintops in the region, Baixinhas is a sunken volcanic cone where massive stone blocks and dark colored sedimentary deposits contrast beautifully with the brilliantly colored coating of sponges and corals that abound in the area. Here, you'll find red scorpionfish and lots of different types of wrasse, as well as swallowtail sea perch and many others. Keep an eye on the blue as you explore this site - you never know when a shark, manta ray, or other big creature might pass in the distance.
Restringa do Freire - Graciosa Island Dive Sites
An easy dive site that is well-sheltered and always accessible even when other sites are blown out, Restringa do Freire begins at a depth of just 7 meters. Along the sandy, pebble-strewn slope, a rock wall rises up to break the surface, and a nearby pier attracts an abundance of marine life. Look for black and snowflake moray eels, octopus, pufferfish, damsels, and all kinds of wrasse as you enjoy this beautiful and relaxing site. Maximum depth is just 15 meters.
Baixa do Pesqueiro Longo - Graciosa Island Dive Sites
This huge sunken seamount rises up from the ocean floor at a depth of 96 meters to within six meters of the surface. There is a steep slope on one side, a plateau at a depth of about 20 meters on the east side, and huge rock formations where canary damselfish, swallowtail sea perch, barred hogfish, and schooling yellowmouth barracuda, amberjacks, trevally, and other fish can be seen in addition to various moray eel species. During the summer, this is a great place to encounter sunfish and devil rays. Best at slack tide, this site is sometimes subject to very strong currents.
Local dive centers are well-equipped and offer regular visits to these sites and many others nearby. Graciosa is a peaceful place that exudes rural charm. The local industries focus on things such as wine making and dairy, so expect to enjoy fantastic cheeses, local wines, and outstanding hospitality, no matter where you stay. While this area is somewhat off the beaten path, it is a wonderful place to get away from your worries and enjoy some of the best dive sites in Portugal.