Situated on the North American Plate on a seamount that dates back to approximately 1.5 million years ago, the little island of Corvo is an ancient volcano with magnificent sea cliffs, faults, and basaltic lava flows much like those found in Hawaii. Reefs and small islets lie just offshore, hosting an abundance of marine life large and small. If you are ready for an adventure that takes you far from the beaten path, you’ll discover that far-flung Corvo Island is an excellent place to dive.
Baixa do Buraco
A massive underwater rock that poses a hazard to navigation but which serves as an exceptional dive site, Baixa do Buraco rises up from a depth of 25 meters to come to within just 7 meters of the surface. Like an underwater island surrounded by a submerged sandy beach, it attracts scores of almaco jacks and trigger fish, along with white trevally, barracuda, huge schools of mackerel, and many other fish. Nudibranchs, lobsters, crabs, and other small creatures can be seen on the rock’s surface.
Caneiro dos Meros
Located right in front of the harbor, Caneiro dos Meros is an unofficial marine reserve created by fishermen! This site is home to huge dusky groupers that have developed a fondness for divers as many visitors feed them. While there are other animals to see here too, the main attraction is the groupers. Maximum depth is 30 meters, however you’ll start seeing the fish at a depth of about 18 meters.
Gamela
Gamela is a submerged plateau, with its top situated at a depth of about 8 meters, and with walls that drop away to meet the seabed at depths between 20 and 30 meters. Huge rocky structures can be seen just a short distance away, making this a site that is fun to explore over and over again. Watch for forkbeards and moray eels in the crevices, and keep an eye out for flounder and stingrays along sandy stretches. You’ll find no shortage of colorful fish and other creatures here; wrasse, parrotfish, damselfish, and others are happy to pose for photos. Be sure to keep one eye on the water column; big balls of mackerel sometimes come through the area and they are certain to attract pelagics like white trevally, derbies, and almaco jacks. This is a fantastic site all divers will enjoy. There’s rarely a current and visibility is sometimes as good as 25 meters.
Moldinho
If you find geothermic activity fascinating, you are going to love diving at Moldinho. This site is a submerged volcanic cone that rises up from a depth of about 40 meters to within just 4 meters of the surface. While there is an abundance of marine life here, the main attraction is an area situated between 15 and 30 meters, where hydrothermal vents spew warm water out into the cooler waters of the Atlantic. Though this site is relatively shallow in areas, it is continually washed by current and is not suitable for novices.
Ponta do Topo
A very easy and shallow dive site with maximum depth at just 18 meters, Ponta do Topo has something for everyone. Craggy rock formations and a little cave that’s lit from above give the site a magical air; though the cave is too small to enter, it is fascinating to see even from the outside, thanks to the ever-changing play of light and shadow. Colorful reef fish can be seen throughout the site, and toward the end of the wall, a light current draws in pelagics including barracudas, trevally, and big Atlantic Bonito.
Corvo Island is home to a small population of approximately 1,000 residents; panoramic topside views include a stunning look into the main Corvo caldera. Located about an hour and a half by boat from the island of Flores, it is the smallest island in the Azores. Fresh local food, beautiful vineyards, and wildly magnificent beaches make this a wonderfully unique destination for diving and really getting away from it all.