YELLOWSTONE - Azores

Yellowstone isn't your typical Azores dive. Forget deep volcanic walls for a minute; this is a big, shallow wreck with a real story. Built in 1918, this steamship ended up dragging anchors and being blown ashore in Ponta Delgada Harbour just two years later. You’re diving history, barely five metres down. We love it because it’s so accessible, yet feels like a proper wreck dive. Because it’s so shallow, you get incredible light, playing through the skeletal remains of the hull. You can swim right over the massive metal beams and plating, imagining the ship in its prime. This isn't a penetration dive, but there are plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into. Schools of damselfish shimmer around the rusted structures, and we’ve often spotted large parrotfish grazing on algae that’s taken hold. Our favourite is spotting the octopus tucked away in a shadowed corner, blending perfectly until it decides to move. It’s a completely different vibe to the offshore pinnacles, and a great way to spend an afternoon after a morning of deeper diving, especially if you want a long bottom time to just explore and photograph. Visibility can vary, but generally, inside the harbour, it’s decent enough to appreciate the scale.

Location
Azores, Portugal, Mediterranean & Europe
Coordinates
37.736110, -25.666666
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
5m

Marine Protected Area: Porto das Capelas-Ponta das Calhetas

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 YELLOWSTONE

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 YELLOWSTONE

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