Hotel Talisman - Ponta Delgada

Influenced by the Gulf Stream, the Azores islands provide a convenient resting place for the world’s largest pelagic species, whilst the underwater arches, tunnels, caves and cliffs provide a haven for subtropical fish and stunning silhouette photography opportunities.

The Green Island, São Miguel

Of the nine islands in the Azores, São Miguel is known as ‘Ilha Verde’ or the Green Island.  Part of the Eastern group of islands, São Miguel provides a fantastic introduction to what is on offer both above and below water in this fascinating Atlantic outpost. Hosting the islands’ largest town, Ponta Delgada, the coastline boasts a number of dive sites.

Vila Franca

Situated a short boat ride from Vila Franca do Campo, this small islet formed from an ancient submerged volcano offers a few choices of sites. Impressive shapes are thrown by the large underwater boulders and the inlets of the walls.  In some places, fissures in the walls reach through to the lagoon in the middle of the islet. Octopus, morays, grouper and grey trigger fish are a common site. The dive site offers generally easy dives of up to 22m depth.

Dori Wreck

In January 1964, a Liberian cargo ship sank 800m from the south coast, close to São Roque.  She is situated at a convenient depth of around 20m and surrounded by a sandy bottom. Although not possible to penetrate safely, the wreck provides a striking sight and gives shelter to schools of fish such as Sea Bream and Salemas, wrasse, flounder and mullet.

Praia da Caloura

The sheltered area of Caloura stretching from Caloura beach to Ponta da Galera offers a variety of dive sites. Arches  and gulleys formed from lava flows, all at shallow depths, offers a wide variety of species, such as ornate wrasse, canary damsel, puffer fish and dusky grouper.

Underwater mountains

Experienced divers will enjoy challenging sites such as Ilheus das Formigas and Dollabarat Banks. Formed from volcanic mountains rising from the sea bed, pelagic encounters in strong currents are frequent in the summer months; subject to optimum dive conditions for experienced divers only.

Whales, hot springs and gardens

On whale watching excursions which can be booked locally, there is a great opportunity to see beaked whales, sperm whales, fin whales, humpbacks, false killer whales, spotted and bottlenose dolphins, rissos', turtles and more. These can be spotted from the surface from May to October.  Whilst rare to see them when diving, it is not unknown to hear them. On land, enjoy Terra Nostra Gardens, the hot springs village of Furnas and Gorreana Tea estate.

Twin Centres & Tailormade - São Miguel, Pico, Terceira

The Azores islands are well suited to twin centre island combinations.  São Miguel can be enjoyed as either a 1 or 2 week stay. If staying for 2 weeks, we highly recommend a split stay with either Terceira or Pico, to really enjoy all that this fantastic destination has to offer.

Pico is best visited as part of a 2-week stay, either spending the whole time on the island, with an obligatory night’s stay in São Miguel at the beginning and the end, or splitting the stay on São Miguel or on Terceira.

Terceira is best visited as part of a 2-week stay, either spending the whole time on the island, with an obligatory night’s stay in São Miguel at the beginning, or splitting the stay with São Miguel or Pico.

How to get there

Fly to São Miguel on the summer direct charter (1x per week), or fly scheduled with a change in Lisbon or Porto - there are several flights per week.

Regaldive recommend you travel to the Azores for diving holidays from mid-June onwards. If you'd like to travel before June, you can still enjoy the whale watching and could take a gamble on the weather for diving if you wish - we are happy to organise your holiday. The best months are July, August, September and October.

Dive Packages

Best Spots Azores Dive Centre offers a variety of enticing scuba packages, catering to divers of all skill levels, with dive education available through both PADI and SSI systems. 2-, 6-, 10-dive and unlimited diving packages are available to book.

Dive Courses

Best Spots Azores offers both PADI and SSI systems for global recognition; their course list includes the PADI/SSI Open Water Diver and Discover Scuba Diving for newcomers. For those looking to advance their qualifications, they offer Advanced Open Water Diver/Advanced Adventurer and Rescue Diver certifications. You can also master a new skill with speciality courses such as Deep Diver, Wreck Diver, and Nitrox (Enriched Air Diver).

For those aspiring to take their passion for scuba diving to a professional level, Best Spots Azores offers courses designed to prepare you for the industry. Starting with the Divemaster certification, you can gain the knowledge and skills to lead recreational dives and assist in training.

Special Trips from Ponta Delgada

For those seeking a true sense of adventure, Best Spots Azores organises exclusive excursions to some of the most spectacular and remote dive sites in the region.

For a truly iconic experience, join a full day trip to Princess Alice Bank. The dive site is an offshore seamount and gathering point for majestic pelagic species. Witness the breathtaking spectacle of mobula rays in huge squadrons, and keep an eye out for blue sharks, marlin, and even whale sharks in the deep blue.

Another incredible dive site is Formigas Islets and Dollabarat Bank, a secluded haven of untouched biodiversity. The crystal-clear waters surrounding these volcanic outcrops offer thrilling encounters with large schools of pelagic fish, manta rays, or even mako sharks, and loggerhead turtles.

Each trip is expertly planned to ensure an unforgettable, safe underwater expedition.

Equipment Rental

Best Spots Azores provides the latest rental gear for divers who wish to travel light:

• Full Gear Set
• BCD (Buoyancy Control Device)
• Regulator
• Wet Suit
• Fins & Mask
• Dive Computer

São Miguel, located on the eastern side of the archipelago, is by far the largest and greenest of the nine islands. It is made up of six volcanic complexes and municipalities. A most beautiful and varied island, ideal for longer stays and two centre holidays. 

To the west, Ponta Delgada, the main town and port has preserved its historical beauty. It is a delight to explore the narrow cobbled streets bordered by very well-preserved period houses. Within this municipality are the Sete Cidades, an extinct volcano crater of 40 sq. km, within which are two magnificent lakes, one deep blue colour and the other emerald green.

Getting Around

Public transport can be unreliable and slow. Travelling between the main towns on São Miguel can be done by bus, although taxis offer a much faster option. Fares are more than taking the bus, but most drivers speak a modicum of English and taxis are generally in good condition and are cheap when compared with the likes of the UK.

A good way to get about the larger islands of the Azores is to hire a car. The Portuguese drive on the right and special care should be taken when negotiating mountain and coastal roads, although main roads are fairly good.

Taxis and car hire can be arranged from your hotel.

Climate

The Azores have a maritime climate with mild temperatures ranging from 16°C (60°F) in winter to a comfortable 26°C (79°F) in summer. On average there are about three to four hours of sunshine a day in winter and seven to eight in summer. Rainfall is distributed around the year, but is heavier and more frequent in winter.

Characteristic for the Azores is the wide variety of weather conditions within a short period; a single day can produce wind and calm, hot sun and showers in any combination. A typical and true remark is that if you don’t like the weather, you just have to wait 10 minutes for it to change!

Water Temperature 

The waters of the Atlantic and the Gulf Stream meet at the Azores. The sea is warmed by the Gulf Stream and seawater temperature varies to a mild 17ºC (62ºF) in Winter to 24ºC (75ºF) where subtropical and Atlantic marine life live side by side.

We recommend a double layer 5mm long suit with 5mm shortie over, or 7mm semi-dry or similar, plus hood and light gloves. If your luggage allows, dry suit divers may want to carry their suit.

Currents and Visibility

The average visibility is 15–30 metres, although certain days can offer more.

There are plenty of sites sheltered from currents, although some swell and tidal surge may be encountered. Certain dives sites, such as Formigas and Dollabarat Banks are open ocean dives and as such will only be open to experienced divers in optimum weather conditions.

Time

The Azores are -1 hours behind GMT.

Currency

The Euro.

Tipping

Service charges are usually added to hotel and restaurant bills, otherwise it is customary to leave a 10% tip. Bar staff and taxi drivers also expect tips, which usually entails rounding up of the bill to the nearest Euro.

Food

The cuisine of the Azores is rich and varied. The fish dishes, the seafood, meat and cheeses, the famous wine from Pico island (once the table wines of the Czars of Russia) and the pineapple form an enviable basis for regional cooking. Don't miss the unique meals at Furnas where the cooking pots are buried in the ground and the food is slowly cooked by steam from the hot springs.

Activities

The pineapple plantation in Faja de Baixo is worth a visit to taste the delicious pineapple liquer and boiled sweets.

Sample 'Cozido a Caldeiras' at the Furnas and Terra Nostra Garden, which is a traditional meal, slow-cooked by underground vapours at the Furnas hotsprings.  The meal, consisting of a variety of meats and vegetables, is served daily at the Hotel Terra Nostra Garden. Not suitable for vegetarians!

There are many festivals in The Azores.  The festivals of the Holy Ghost, with roots in the Middle Ages, are common to all islands. The Festivals of Christ Lord (Senhor Santo Cristo) at Ponta Delgada, on the island of São Miguel, are truly colourful and entertaining events and bring in visitors and pilgrims from around the world.

Also, enjoy whale and dolphin watching trips, visit botanical gardens and tea plantations, go bird watching or partake in a jeep safari tour of the island.

Flight Information

Packages are based on the Portuguese owned SATA airline charter route which operates on a Saturday.

Quotes may be provided tailormade for travel on TAP, via Lisbon, on different days of the week.

Santa Maria - How to get there: 
Fly to São Miguel, with an overnight stay, before joining a connecting internal flight (daily), or fly scheduled with a change in Lisbon

Flight duration - charter:
London - Ponta Delgada: 4 hours

Departure tax: None

Visas

Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

Passports

Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.

Vaccinations & Health Advice

Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.

We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.

For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.