wreck

Log This Dive

Princess Alice Bank

Princess Alice Bank, now this is a dive that sticks with you. About 50 nautical miles southwest of Faial, it’s a deep seamount, not a wreck as some think, that punches up from thousands of metres to within 30-40m of the surface. We always feel a real sense of exposure out there, just a tiny speck above the abyss, and that's precisely its allure. This is expert territory, no question. Currents can be formidable, and the boat ride out can be choppy. What makes it special? The pelagics, absolutely. We’ve had incredible encounters here, particularly with schools of mobula rays, sometimes dozens of them circling, their wingtips almost brushing you as they glide by. It’s an ethereal ballet. Blue sharks are regular visitors too, sleek and curious, often making a close pass. We always keep one eye on the deep blue, just in case a whale shark decides to cruise by. That’s the real lottery ticket here. Below 30m, the rock itself is covered in a carpet of black coral, a unique ecosystem in itself, attracting bigeye tuna and schools of scad. Our advice? Go with an operator who knows the site intimately and prioritises diver safety. And be prepared for a long safety stop, drifting in that big blue, hoping for one last glimpse of something truly wild before you surface. It's a humbling dive, reminding you just how vast and unpredictable the ocean can be.