Azores · Portugal · Reef · Cave & cavern
Willy Wonka
Volcanic arches in 7 to 19 m, named for a chocolate factory
The site sits in front of a chocolate factory, which is where the name comes from. Underwater it is volcanic rock cut by arches of different sizes that divers pass through, and the life on it is small: red scorpionfish and Madeira rockfish on the stone, blennies on the exposed rock and two species of moray in the cracks.
Where it is and how deep
37.7431° N, 25.6080° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
It is a ten-minute run from the Ponta Delgada marina, so there is almost no travel before the dive starts. The rock is volcanic and the depths range from 7 metres to 19, and the route is a sequence of arches: they come in different sizes and the dive passes through them one after another along the rock.
Between the arches the interest is small and close to the stone. Red scorpionfish and Madeira rockfish sit still and take spotting, redlip and black-faced blennies hold on the exposed rock, and brown and black moray work the cracks. Nothing here is deep enough to cut the dive short, so it rewards moving slowly and looking into the rock rather than across it.
Marine life and season
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Azores: June to September is the settled season and August into October the clearest water; diving carries on through winter in a 7-10mm or dry suit when swell allows.
Dive videos
¡WILLY WONKA BAJO EL MAR! | Arcos, VOLCANES y NUDIBRANQUIOS | São Miguel · Producciones Maldisub on YouTube
Azoren 2024 - São Miguel - Ponta Delgada - Willy Wonka · Gunnar Opsommer on YouTube
Sources
- Willy Wonka — Scubago
More dive sites in Azores
Reef
Four rock arches at 16 metres in a sheltered bay
Reef
A volcanic arch to swim through on a reef topping out at 7 m
Wreck
A 130-metre Liberty ship broken open in shallow water
A shore-divable reef of arches and sand from 4 to 20 m
A sheltered sand bottom five minutes from the marina
Passages in the wall of a protected volcanic islet
Pinnacle
A pinnacle topping out at 26 metres with walls to 45
A north-coast volcanic wall running to 35 metres
Similar dives elsewhere
Volcanic caves and coral blocks inside 18 metres
Three cannons and ammunition on the seabed at about 20 m
Sand, a small cavern and a broken wreck, all inside 15 m
A false ceiling right around a 10 m shoal off Corralejo