The Azores are a group of mysterious extinct volcanoes that now rise up as beautiful green islands in the midst of the Atlantic Ocean. If you’re looking for some fantastic diving that is far from the beaten path, consider visiting. While there are many dive sites to choose from throughout the archipelago, some of the nicest are located along the eastern shore of Faial Island.
Baixa da Feteira
Located just about half a mile off the southeast side of Faial, Baixa da Feteira is an outstanding site for underwater photography. With colorful sponges and corals in abundance, including black coral in the deeper areas, this site is home to a wide array of marine life large and small. Featuring a massive pinnacle that rises up from a depth of 32 meters and tops out at a depth of 12 meters, the site is suitable for all divers. Look for nudibranchs, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and other small creatures, and keep an eye out for moray eels, large groupers, and passing groups of barracuda.
Panama Viana Wreck
For expert divers in search of adventure, the Panama Viana Wreck poses a challenge and holds some interesting surprises. Located at depths between 38 and 50 meters, this 80-meter long wreck has been sitting upright on the seabed since being lost in 2001 and is host to a brilliant array of marine life. One of the wreck’s most prominent features is the ship’s massive four-blade propeller, which is a favorite spot for dive buddies to take photos of one another.
Pontao 16 Wreck
A fantastic wreck located just a quick five minute boat ride from the harbor, the Pontao 16 Wreck sits at depths between 19 and 25 meters. Easily accessible and home to a fascinating who’s who list of local marine life, this wreck sits upright on the sandy bottom. Triggerfish, rays, nudibranchs, and schooling jacks and breams are encountered here frequently, and the wreck is home to a few resident moray eels.
Baixa Dos Inhames
Baixa Dos Inhames is a stunningly beautiful dive site. Relatively shallow, with depths between 10 and 18 meters, this site’s most prominent feature is a scattering of massive boulders that rise up like big coral bommies from the sandy seabed. Covered in corals, sponges, and anemones, these boulders are home to lots of smaller creatures including blennies and nudibranchs; schooling fish including cow breams and barracudas swirl around them, and stingrays make themselves at home on the sandy stretches in between.
Baixa Dos Espalhafotos
Featuring dramatic underwater architecture with a massive wall that drops from a depth of 5 meters to meet the seabed at a depth of 20 meters, Baixa Dos Espalhafotos is a huge rock about 75 meters long and 8 meters across. Ideal for all divers and perfect for underwater photography, the site is famous for its blennies, stingrays, schooling chubs, and vast schools of cow bream.
Faial has a rich history, so you’ll find no shortage of cultural attractions to keep you occupied during surface intervals. The island boasts numerous hotels and inns, lovely restaurants, and fantastic beaches with warm black sand and inviting lagoons. The perfect place to get away from it all while enjoying some fantastic scuba diving, Faial is a destination you may find yourself returning to again and again.