princess alice bank - Azores

Princess Alice Bank, now this is a place we always talk about over a post-dive Sagres. It’s not just a dive, it’s an expedition. You’re heading out to sea, way out, usually for a full day trip, and that isolation really adds to the sense of adventure. We love the feeling of dropping down onto an enormous, isolated seamount. It’s like discovering a lost city in the middle of the ocean. What makes it special? The sheer scale of the place. We’re talking about a vast underwater mountain range, not just a single peak. The top of the bank sits around 35-40 metres, making it a deep but accessible dive for experienced divers. You’ll often find large pelagic life cruising through, everything from mobulas to schools of tuna. The visibility here can be insane, sometimes over 40 metres, and seeing those silhouettes emerge from the blue is something else. Our favourite tip? Go slow. Take your time to ascend gradually, looking into the blue, because that’s often when the really big stuff, like a lone ribbonfish or a pod of dolphins, glides past. It’s an exhilarating dive, but not one for the faint of heart or those new to drift diving.

Location
Azores, Portugal, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
38.404650, -29.947620
Type
wreck

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)

Nearby Dive Sites in Azores

Nearest Dive Centres to princess alice bank

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 Species

Recommended Packing List for princess alice bank

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