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Portugal
THE MOST EXCITING DIVE DESTINATION IN EUROPE
Along the Atlantic coast of Portugal, wreck lovers can explore exciting sunken ships. And fans of pelagics will love Madeira and the Azores for their diving spots in the open ocean, where whales and sharks await you.
Portugal is a country located on the Iberian Peninsula, in southwestern Europe. It is the westernmost sovereign state in mainland Europe, being bordered to the west and south by the Atlantic Ocean and to the north and east by Spain.
Divers who want to explore the underwater world of Europe definitely need to put Portugal on their list. Portugals long Atlantic coastline offers many great dive spots from the Algarve up to Porto, especially for wreck lovers. The country has a long maritime history and for that reason, many sunken ships and even submarines can be discovered.
Portugal is also the best country in Europe to encounter pelagics like whales and sharks in the open Atlantic ocean.
WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT PORTUGAL?
The best time to visit Portugal is between April and October. At this time it´s European summer and the temperatures are mild to warm. The sea is calm and it´s also the best chance to see the pelagics off the coast of Madeira and the Azores. The average water temperature in the summer is around 23 degrees.
WHAT ARE THE BEST DIVE SPOTS IN PORTUGAL?
As we mentioned already, the islands Madeira and the Azores off the coast of Portugal are the best dive spots in the country. Their exposed location in the open Atlantic makes encounters with whales, sharks, mantas and mobulas possible. On the Azores, you also can dive with blue sharks from June to October.
But the mainland of Portugal also has some great dive spots to offer. The best diving is considered to be in the Algarve. Around Porto, you can explore two sunken wrecks, the U-boat U1277 and the Tiber. On top of that, there is a high chance to see turtles, as the coast is an important pathway for loggerhead and leatherback turtles.
LIVEABOARDS IN PORTUGAL
The best destination in Portugal for a dive safari is the Azores. As the Azores are 7 islands, you can cruise around to explore more great dive destinations than you would explore in a day trip. Also, many dive spots are far out in the ocean, like Princess Alice Bank, where you can see the blue sharks.
Azores
HIDDEN GEM FOR WHALES AND SHARKS
Swimming with whales or dive with Blue Sharks in Europe is impossible? Then you haven´t been to the Azores yet. Time to explore the islands on your next liveaboard trip.
The Azores is an archipelago made up of 9 individual volcanic Islands found in the Atlantic Ocean, roughly 1400Km west of Lisbon, Portugal. The islands are located where three tectonic plates meet, the North American Plate, the Eurasian Plate, and the African Plate.
With over 100 dive sites, up to 24 different species of Whales, Whale Sharks, various Sharks and over 3,000 different marine species to look out for, the Azores have some of the most diverse marine life found in the world. And it is all located in Europe – only 3 hours away from Portugal.
The best time to visit the Azores is between June and October. That´s the chance to see mantas, mobulas and whale sharks. The water is crystal clear with visibility up to 60m.
WHAT ARE THE BEST DIVE SITES IN THE AZORES?
Princess Alice Bank near Pico Island lays one of the best dives sites throughout the whole of the Atlantic Ocean. It is an underwater pinnacle starting at around 30-40 meters. The crystal clear water is full of pelagic fauna, hammerhead sharks, blue sharks, schools of barracuda, dolphins, mobulas, tuna or black marlin. Definitely a must on your liveaboard trip.
The smallest of all islands, Santa Maria, is the most popular islands amongst divers. During the summer it is the place to swim with whale sharks. And 4 km off the coast you can dive with schools of devil rays up to 50 animals. On top, you can see sunfish, schools of barracuda, sardines, groupers, rays and octopus.
Another dive site is Formigas Islets, where you will find some amazing marine life including, Galapagos sharks, giant Manta rays, turtles, schools of tuna and even Hammerheads have been spotted in this area. Or Dom João De Castro Bank, a huge underwater volcano with crazy vertical walls, which are leaking with natural gases.
LIVEABOARDS IN THE AZORES
Not many liveaboards cruising around the Azores. That means you will mostly be alone with all the amazing dive sites. But either liveaboard will make sure, that you will not forget your trip to the Azores.
From $ 2,584.00
From $ 2,550.00
