Mantamaria Dive Center - Azores
The team at Mantamaria Dive Center are our go-to for serious pelagic encounters in the Azores. We’ve always found their crew to be incredibly knowledgeable, especially when it comes to reading the ocean and knowing where to find the big stuff. They specialise in trips to the famous Ambrósio Bank, a seamount offshore that’s a magnet for schooling mobulas in summer. If you’re chasing that unforgettable moment of being surrounded by hundreds of these elegant rays, Mantamaria is your best bet. What we really appreciate is their commitment to respectful interactions. They don’t chase, they position you for the best view as the mobulas cruise by. You’ll spend less time motoring and more time in the water with these gentle giants. Beyond the mobios, they also run trips to Dollabarat, another excellent offshore bank, where we’ve often encountered schools of barracuda so dense they make the water shimmer, plus the occasional blue shark patrolling the depths. Visibility out here can hit 30 metres, a deep, clear blue that feels truly wild. Book early for the summer months, that's when the mobulas are most reliable. It's a full-day commitment, but absolutely worth it.
- Location
- Azores, Portugal, Mediterranean & Europe
- Coordinates
- 36.950974, -25.152630
- Phone
- +351 296 882 907
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.mantamaria.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI Resort [padi:22808]
- Address
- Estrada da Birmania s/n, 9580-507 Vila do Porto Açores, Portugal
Dive Sites Near Mantamaria Dive Center
Mantamaria Dive Center provides access to 15 dive sites in Azores.
- 3 Houses - 22m
- ANSA 9 - 2m (wreck)
- AQUÁRIO - 22m
- Arco do Cavaco - 18m (cave)
- Arcos Cruzeiro - 25m (cave)
- Arcos da caloura - 17m
- Arcos dal Calhetas - 18m
- Arena - 19m
- ARNEL - 5m (wreck)
- Baia de Sao Pedro - 9m (reef)
- Baixa do Espelho - 21m
- BAIXA DO OURO - 20m
- Biscoitos Cavern 1, 2, 3 - 19m (cave)
- Biscoitos Gate - 19m
- BURACO S. PEDRO - 17m (cave)
Other Dive Centres 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.
Notable Marine Life
- Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Short-beaked Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Stripy (Katsuwonus pelamis) - Reef Fish
- Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) - Reef Fish
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)
- Razorback (Balaenoptera physalus) - Whales & Dolphins
- pilchard (Sardina pilchardus) - Reef Fish
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