Dive sites in Portugal
Browse by region, city or dive type to find suitable locations for your experience level.
Regions
All dive sites
Formigas Islets
Vila Franca do Campo · Azores · Portugal
A remote chain of rocky islets and submerged pinnacles in the eastern Azores, designated a marine reserve where mobula rays school in hundreds and blue sharks cruise the nutrient-rich mid-Atlantic waters.
Princess Alice Bank
Madalena, Pico · Azores · Portugal
A legendary open-ocean seamount 90 kilometres from the Azores where vast carousels of mobula rays, giant manta rays, and blue sharks congregate in summer.
Santa Maria Island Formigas Bank
Vila do Porto · Azores · Portugal
An offshore volcanic bank south of Santa Maria Island in the Azores where massive schools of barracuda, mobula rays, and oceanic pelagics congregate around submerged pinnacles in mid-Atlantic blue water.
Berlengas Islands
Peniche · Centro · Portugal
A remote UNESCO Biosphere Reserve off Portugal's central coast with crystalline Atlantic waters, granite reef walls, and abundant marine life thriving in a protected marine park.
Garajau Marine Reserve
Funchal · Madeira · Portugal
A marine protected area on Madeira's south coast where volcanic rock formations host enormous dusky groupers, massive schools of Atlantic fish, and occasional encounters with mobula rays and monk seals in crystal-clear Atlantic water.
Dive centers in Portugal
Algarve Divers
Albufeira · Algarve · Portugal
Algarve coast cave and wreck diving in southern Portugal.
Dive Madeira
Funchal · Madeira · Portugal
Madeira volcanic coast diving with monk seals and marine reserve.
Haliotis Faial
Horta · Azores · Portugal
Central Azores diving with Princess Alice seamount mantas and blue sharks.
Haliotis Peniche
Peniche · Leiria · Portugal
Berlengas Islands marine reserve diving from Peniche — Portugal's finest temperate water dive destination.
Azores Dive Center
Ponta Delgada · Azores · Portugal
São Miguel dive centre with blue shark encounters, volcanic topography, and the Princess Alice Bank pelagic dives.
Azores Sub
Ponta Delgada · Azores · Portugal
Azores diving with blue sharks, volcanic reefs, and pelagic encounters.
Best Spot Azores
Ponta Delgada · Azores · Portugal
Sao Miguel marine adventures — blue sharks, whales, and dolphins.
Indigo Divers
Vila Franca do Campo · Azores · Portugal
Vila Franca volcanic crater diving and blue shark encounters.
Haliotis Dive Center
Sesimbra · Algarve · Portugal
Multi-location Portuguese dive center offering Atlantic diving from the Berlengas to Sesimbra with seahorse conservation.
Season Challenge Azores PADI 5* IDC Dive Resort
Av. Dr. João Bosco C D · Azores · Portugal
Azoresdiving/Açordiving SSI/Mares Dive Center
Kiosk A · Azores · Portugal
Dive Center Azores Sub Centro de Mergulho e Loja
9680-187 Vila Franca Do Campo · Azores · Portugal
Espírito Azul Dive Center - Dive in Azores Islands
9680 145Vila Franca Do Campo · Azores · Portugal
AZZURRO - Dive Academy
Lugar do Porto de Pescas · Azores · Portugal
Madeira Diving Center
R. Dom Francisco Santana · Madeira · Portugal
Atalaia Diving Center
Travessa Vista da Praia · Madeira · Portugal
Azul Diving Madeira | PADI 5 star dive center in Funchal
R. Carvalho Araújo · Madeira · Portugal
Mero Diving Center
9125-080 Caniço · Madeira · Portugal
Manta Diving Madeira
9125-036 Caniço · Madeira · Portugal
Haliotis Madeira Diving Center
9200-126 Machico · Madeira · Portugal
Madeira Divepoint - Dive&Snorkel
São Martinho · Madeira · Portugal
Cipreia Dive Club Madeira | Funchal
Estrada Monumental 177 · Madeira · Portugal
Atlantic Diving Center - Clube Naval do Funchal
São Martinho · Madeira · Portugal
Dive Around Madeira
loja nº 1 · Madeira · Portugal
Lava Diving Center - diving in Madeira aquarium
9270-153 Porto Moniz · Madeira · Portugal
Scorpio Madeira diving center
9200-031 Caniçal · Madeira · Portugal
Calheta Diving Center
9370-135 Estreito da Calheta · Madeira · Portugal
Madeira Oceanos - Diving Center ( Focusnatura)
Ribeira da Boaventura Loja nº 2 · Madeira · Portugal
Cipreia Dive Club Madeira | Caniço - Praia dos Reis Magos
Praia dos Reis Magos · Madeira · Portugal
Azul Diving Madeira | Ponta de São Lourenço
9200-044 Caniçal · Madeira · Portugal
Porto Santo Sub - Scuba & Freedive Center
Porto Santo - Madeira · Madeira · Portugal
Rhea Dive Center
9400-000 · Madeira · Portugal
Diving in Portugal
Dive sites in Portugal include seamount, open-water, reef locations across Azores, Centro, Madeira. Each location includes depth, conditions and environment type to help you plan safely.
Use the region and city navigation above to narrow your search, or explore individual site pages for detailed conditions, entry type, skill requirements and nearby alternatives.
FAQ
How do I get to the Formigas Islets?
The Formigas Islets lie approximately 40 kilometres east-northeast of Sao Miguel, the main island of the Azores. Access is by boat from Vila Franca do Campo or Ponta Delgada, with the crossing taking approximately two hours depending on sea conditions. Due to the distance and Atlantic exposure, trips are weather-dependent and typically only operate from June through October when conditions are most favorable. Several dive operators on Sao Miguel offer day trips, and availability must be booked in advance as trips run only with sufficient participants and suitable weather windows. The crossing can be rough, and sea sickness medication is recommended.
What makes the Formigas marine reserve special?
The Formigas Islets and surrounding Dollabarat Reef were designated a nature reserve in 1988, making them one of the oldest marine protected areas in the Azores. The reserve encompasses the islets, surrounding waters, and several submerged pinnacles rising from the Atlantic seafloor. The nutrient-rich waters at this mid-Atlantic location support exceptional pelagic life, including what is believed to be one of the largest seasonal aggregations of mobula rays in the North Atlantic. The isolation and protected status mean that fish biomass on the submerged reef is significantly higher than on most Azorean dive sites.
What diving experience is required for Formigas?
Formigas is recommended for advanced divers with experience in open-water and current diving. Conditions can be challenging, with strong currents, surge near the pinnacles, and limited shelter if weather deteriorates during the dive. Most operators require Advanced Open Water certification as a minimum, and preference is given to divers with logged experience in current and blue water environments. The depth of the main pinnacles ranges from around 8 metres at the shallowest points to well beyond recreational limits. Safety stops in blue water with current are a regular feature of these dives.
What certification do I need to dive Princess Alice Bank?
A minimum of Advanced Open Water certification is required by all operators, and many recommend or require deep diving and nitrox specialties. The site involves open-ocean blue water diving with strong currents, no reference points, and depths of 30 to 40 metres on the seamount top. Significant surface swimming may be needed, and conditions can change rapidly. This is not a dive for inexperienced divers.
When is the best time to dive Princess Alice Bank in the Azores?
The season runs from July to September, with August typically offering the peak concentration of mobula rays and manta rays. The seamount sits 90 kilometres offshore, so weather windows are essential. Operators will cancel trips if conditions are not suitable, and it is common to have one or two cancellations in a week-long trip. Book at least a week to maximise your chances.