Access to location
Known as the Green Island, this is the biggest island of the Azores. It is about 54 miles away from its nearest neighbour, the island of Santa Maria, and about two times that distance from the closest island of the central group, Terceira.
Best time to visit location
São Miguel offers divers a great variety of sites and is easily accessible, with daily nonstop flights and a fascinating city base full of history and interesting monuments. Among the many coastal dive sites the ‘Dori’ shipwreck is undoubtedly the highlight. This Liberty ship from World War II rests on a sandy seafloor at an ideal depth for diving, just a few minutes away from the city of Ponta Delgada.
Between may and september
Information about the site
The Cabeços do Ilhéu dive is only recommended for experienced divers as there are strong currents and parts of the dive are quite deep.
There are four reefs in this area, all of them offering excellent opportunities for technical dives, but this is the most popular because at less than one mile from the Vila Franca do Campo Islet, it offers the best opportunities for spotting demersal species.
The top of the reef is located at a depth of approximately 25 metres and is covered with large stretches of black coral (Antipathes wollastoni). The star attractions are the several large dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus) and barred hogfish (Pseudolepidaplois scrofa) that are regularly sighted here.
On the edge of the reef, which drops to about 45 metres, you can often see impressive schools of pelagic fish such as Almaco jacks (Seriola rivoliana) and yellowmouth barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis). In the summer, devil rays (Mobula tarapacana) also join the mix, slowly swimming in and out of the blue.
Conditions around the site
CURRENTS
Moderate
DIVE TYPES
Deep
Coastal Reef
IDEAL PLACE FOR
Diving Technical
Underwater photography
DIVING EXPERIENCE
Advanced Open Water
Recommended diver experience level
Advanced DiverAdvanced Diver,Advanced diver with certificate up to rescue diver and at least 50 dives