Diving in Azores

Best Time to Dive in Azores

The warmest water temperatures in Azores occur in January, averaging 16.8°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 16.8°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

• January: 16.8°C (air: 16.4°C)
• February: 16.8°C (air: 15.9°C)
• March: 16.8°C (air: 15.8°C)
• April: 16.8°C (air: 16.3°C)
• May: 16.8°C (air: 17.5°C)
• June: 16.8°C (air: 19.2°C)
• July: 16.8°C (air: 21.6°C)
• August: 16.8°C (air: 23.4°C)
• September: 16.8°C (air: 22.5°C)
• October: 16.8°C (air: 20.9°C)
• November: 16.8°C (air: 18.9°C)
• December: 16.8°C (air: 17.1°C)

Marine Life in Azores

Home to 229 recorded species including 153 reef fish, 23 whales & dolphins, 18 sharks & rays, 11 other, 7 seagrass & algae, 4 hard corals.

Dive Site Difficulty in Azores

Azores has 22 beginner, 18 intermediate, 1 expert dive sites - suitable for divers of all levels.

Recommended Packing List for Azores

Based on average water temperature of 16.8°C.

• Wetsuit (5-7mm) - recommended for 17°C water
• Hood & Gloves (3-5mm) - helps retain warmth
• Mask - essential for every dive
• Fins
• BCD - buoyancy compensator
• Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
• Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
• Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
• Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
• Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories

Marine Protected Areas in Azores

• Ilheu de Vila Franca do Campo - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ilheus das Formigas - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Lajes do Pico - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Silveira - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Misterio de S. Joao - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ribeiras - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Zona do Morro - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Cultura da Vinha-Sao Mateus/Sao Caetano - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category V)
• Cultura da Vinha-Zona Oeste - Protected Landscape (IUCN Category V)
• Porto das Lajes - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Ponta da Ilha - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Ilheu da Vila - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Ponta da Barca - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Costa Sudoeste (Ilha de Santa Maria) - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ponta Branca - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ilheu de Baixo - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Ilheu da Praia - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Costa Norte (Ilha de Santa Maria) - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Ponta do Castelo - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Costa Sudeste (Ilha Graciosa) - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Costa Noroeste (Ilha Graciosa) - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Pico das Camarinhas-Ponta da Ferraria - Natural Monument (IUCN Category III)
• Ponta do Cintrao - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Feteiras - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ponta do Escalvado - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ponta da Bretanha - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ferraria - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Caloura-Ilheu de Vila Franca do Campo - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Costa Este (Ilha de Sao Miguel) - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Ponta do Cintrao-Ponta da Maia - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Porto das Capelas-Ponta das Calhetas - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Ponta da Ferraria-Ponta da Bretanha - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Costa Sul (Ilha de Santa Maria) - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Ilhéu de Baixo - Restinga Ilha Graciosa - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ponta Branca - Ilha Graciosa - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ponta dos Rosais - Ilha de S. Jorge - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Caloura-Ponta da Galera - Ilha de S. Miguel - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Banco D. João de Castro (Canal Terceira - S. Miguel) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ponta da Ilha - Ilha do Pico - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Lajes do Pico - Ilha do Pico - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ponta do Castelo - Ilha de Sta. Maria - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ilhéu das Formigas e Recife Dollabarat (Canal S. Miguel - Sta. Maria) - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Costa das Quatro Ribeiras - Ilha da Terceira - Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Lajes do Pico - Ilha do Pico - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Furnas / Sto.António - Ilha do Pico - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ilhéu de Baixo - Ilha Graciosa - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ilhéu da Praia - Ilha Graciosa - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ponta das Contendas - Ilha Terceira - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ilhéu das Cabras - Ilha Terceira - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ilhéu da Vila e Costa Adjacente - Ilha de Stª. Maria - Special Protection Area (Birds Directive) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Banco D. Joao de Castro - Nature Reserve (IUCN Category Ib)
• Ponta dos Rosais - Natural Monument (IUCN Category III)
• Costa das Quatro Ribeiras - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Costa das Velas - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Costa Sudoeste (Ilha de Sao Jorge) - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Faja das Almas - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ilheu do Topo - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ilheus das Cabras - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Ponta das Contendas - Habitats or Species Management Protected Area (IUCN Category IV)
• Baia de S. Lourenco - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Baixa de Vila Nova - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Banco D. Joao de Castro - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Cinco Ribeiras - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Costa das Contendas - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Costa das Fajas - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Costa Oeste (Ilha de Sao Jorge) - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Entre Morros - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Ilheus das Cabras - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Monte Brasil - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Quatro Ribeiras - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• Topo - Resource Management Protected Area (IUCN Category VI)
• D. João de Castro seamount - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Formigas Bank - Marine Protected Area (OSPAR) (IUCN Category Not Reported)
• Ilhéus das Formigas e Recife Dollabarat - Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) (IUCN Category Not Reported)

Getting to Azores - Nearest Airports

• João Paulo II Airport (PDL), Ponta Delgada - 48 km away, approx 68 min travel time
• Lajes Airport (TER), Praia da Vitória - 122 km away, approx 148 min travel time
• Santa Maria Airport (SMA), Vila do Porto - 139 km away, approx 167 min travel time