Azores · Portugal · Wall · Night
Ponta da Caveira
Lava-tube caves hiding conger eels and moray eels
Ponta da Caveira sits in the sheltered cove of a small natural bay on Flores, a few minutes from Santa Cruz. Weak currents and moderate depths make it an accessible coastal dive, used for a first dive on the island, for try dives and for night dives.
0Where it is and how deep
39.4252° N, 31.1380° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The route follows a vertical wall facing east, cut through by crevices and caves formed by large lava tubes. Sizeable conger eels, several species of moray eel and forkbeards hide in the cavities. Most of the dive stays around 17 m; divers who follow the wall to its end find the depth increasing gradually to around 25 m, a section kept for more experienced divers.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Azores: June to September is the best time to dive; the clearest water lasts into October, spring water turns green, and in winter the Corvo ferry sails only when the weather allows.
Know before you go
- Treacherous rip currents can sometimes run here, and operators choose another site when conditions are poor; the name means skull tip.
Sources
- Ponta da Caveira — byAçores
- Diving South Flores Island — Just Gotta Dive
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