Sao Miguel

Ponta Delgada: Guests who are staying at Hotel Marina Atlantico, Sao Miguel Park Hotel and Hotel Talisman will be diving with Açordiving Dive Centre, Ponta Delgada.

Vila Franca do Campo: Guests who are staying at Caloura Hotel will be diving with Azores Sub Dive Centre, Vila Franca do Campo.

Açordiving Dive Centre

Located in Ponta Delgada, Açordiving Dive Centre offers easy access to all of the top diving sites in São Miguel, as well as a range of PADI courses. Established in 2000, Açordiving Dive Centre has a highly qualified, experienced team and modern equipment to ensure an enjoyable experience.

NB: Although departures are available from the beginning of April, diving conditions are more settled from the end of May onwards. For this reason we recommend trips from late Spring.

Dive Packs

Options available include 4, 6, 8 and 10 dive packages. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

Dive Courses

A range of diving courses is available for those looking to learn to dive. Please enquire for details.

Extras in Resort (payable locally)

• Trips to Villa Franca do Campo Islet, Sabrina / Lourecos (2 dives) & Formigas e Dollabarat: (during high season - July/August/September - it would be usual that one trip would run each week).
• Night dive
• Dives over 6 nautical miles away
• Personal dive guide
• Nitrox per fill
• Dive equipment rental: Full equipment is available to hire, including BCDs, regulators, 15L tank, refill, wetsuits, dive computers, full set, torch, fins, masks & snorkels

Azores Sub, Vila Franca Do Campo

Located a short transfer from the Caloura hotel at Vila Franca do Campo port, PADI accredited Azores Sub run their dive centre from a warehouse style base, right on the port. The centre has lockers, warm water showers and ample space to store kit bags. An upstairs classroom and filling station are also located on site.

Azores Sub base at Vila Franca do Campo gives excellent access to many of the best dive sites in Sao Miguel. Diving is typically run on a two tank morning programme at 08.30 and a single tank afternoon dive at 14.30. Azores Sub also run special trips to the dive sites of Dollabarat, Formigas and Tubaroes where there are excellent chances of encounters with mobula and manta rays. All diving is done from RIBs.

NB: Although departures are available from the beginning of April, diving conditions are more settled from the end of May onwards. For this reason we recommend trips from late Spring.

View a presentation from Azores Sub dive centre

Dive Packs

Options available include 4, 5, 6, 8 and 10 dive packages. Dives are scheduled according to the conditions, currents and tides on the day. Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.Number of dives as stated, guide, transfers to / from your hotel, air tanks and weights (weight belt extra charge).

Dive Courses

A range of diving courses is available for those looking to learn to dive. Please enquire for details.Equipment, study material and certification.

Extras in Resort (payable locally)

• Trips to Formigas e Dollabarat: (two dives. During high season - July/August/September - it would be usual that one trip would run each week).
• MV Dori Wreck dive
• Hydrothermal Vents dive
• Night dive
• Dives over 6 nautical miles away
• Personal dive guide
• Nitrox per fill (32% & 26%)
• Dive equipment rental: Full equipment is available to hire, including BCDs, regulators, 12L tank (15L subject to availability), refill, wetsuits, dive computers, full set, dive light, weight belt, fins, masks, booties & snorkels

Back to Top

Sao 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 Sao 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 sea water temperature varies a mild 17ºC (62ºF) in Winter to 24ºC (75ºF) where sub-tropical and Atlantic marine life live side by side.

We recommend a double layer 5mm long suit with 5 mm 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 Sao Miguel, are truly colorful 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 Sao 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.