Atlantic · Portugal
Azores — Terceira
Centuries of lost anchors and an 1878 steamer wreck in Angra bay
Terceira, in the Azores, has an Underwater Archaeological Park in the Bay of Angra do Heroísmo, where the Cemetery of Anchors and the steamer Lidador, lost in 1878, draw divers interested in the island's history. Beyond the bay, sites such as the cave at Ilhéu das Cabras and the Fradinhos islets add eagle rays, dusky groupers and pelagic schools. Most dives run from 3 to 25 m, from shore and by day boat, and the island is the closest to the Dom João de Castro Bank seamount.
About diving in Azores — Terceira
Guided shore and boat dives both run on Terceira. The coastal dives out of Angra do Heroísmo are briefed beforehand and led by a guide. The Fradinhos islets rise to the surface about 5 miles (8 km) off the south coast. Terceira is also the closest island to the Dom João de Castro Bank seamount, and dives there run from Praia da Vitória, beside the island's largest sandy beach.
Angra bay is an Underwater Archaeological Park. Large ships sheltered there from bad weather, and the anchors they lost now lie in quantity on the seabed, while the broken Lidador lies in the same bay. Beyond the bay the island's geology shapes the dives: arches and prismatic rock, a cave at an islet, an underwater pinnacle and islets that rise to the surface offshore. Resident fish hold on the rock, and dusky groupers, barred hogfish, eagle rays and schools of pelagic fish are the headline life.
Terceira suits divers interested in history, since the archaeological park's sites appeal to anyone curious about the island's past. Current at the coastal sites is absent or occasionally weak, and none of them is rated harder than low to medium, so newly certified divers can join most of them. The Cinco Ribeiras Cave, one of the most interesting cave dives in the archipelago, has long interconnected chambers that challenge explorers.
Best time to dive Azores — Terceira
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
The water is coldest in February and March, at about 15°C, and from November to May a 7 or 10 mm wetsuit, a semi-dry or a drysuit is recommended. In spring, nutrients turn the water slightly green and visibility drops to an average of 10–15 m. June to September is the best time to dive, with warmer water and more pelagic species around the islands, and in August the sea off Angra do Heroísmo feels warm. Visibility is best from August into October, often beyond 30 m.
Dive types & marine life
Dusky groupers and barred hogfish swim with large schools of pelagic fish at the Fradinhos islets. Eagle rays are seen at the Ilhéu das Cabras cave, and large pelagic schools are common at the Dom João de Castro Bank. More pelagic species are around the Azores from June to September.
- Wreck
- Cave & cavern
- Seamount
- Groupers
- Eagle rays
Best dive sites in Azores — Terceira
- 1
Cemitério das Âncoras
Over 40 anchors from the 16th to the 20th centuries, lost by ships sheltering in Angra bay
- 2
Lidador
Broken remains of a 78 m steamer that struck a shoal in Angra bay in 1878
- 3
Gruta do Ilhéu das Cabras
Cave dive at the islet where eagle rays pass among resident and pelagic fish
- 4
Fradinhos
Small islets off the south coast with dusky groupers, barred hogfish and pelagic schools
- 5
Banco D. João de Castro
Top of a volcanic cone with visible volcanic activity and common large pelagic schools
- 6
Arcadas do Judeu
Arches and an unusual prismatic rock formation, with resident fish
- 7
Cabeço do Farol
Underwater pinnacle for watching resident and pelagic fish
Site guides
Reef
Arches through an uncommon prismatic rock formation
Reef
Volcanic rock reef minutes from the Praia da Vitória marina
Artificial reef
Four centuries of ships' anchors scattered across Angra bay
Three chambers, from a shrimp cave to a funnel
Reef
Caverns and dusky groupers at bare islets in open ocean
Cave & cavern
A cave at an islet where eagle rays pass by
An 1878 steamer wreck reached by an easy entry from land
How to get to Azores — Terceira
Lajes Airport (TER), near Praia da Vitória, has inter-island flights within the Azores and routes to mainland Portugal and North America. Dive centres work from Praia da Vitória and from Angra do Heroísmo, the island's capital.
Questions divers ask
What certification do the Angra bay wreck and anchor dives need?+
The Lidador wreck, at about 10 m, needs Open Water certification; the Cemetery of Anchors, at 25 m, asks for Advanced Open Water. Both are guided dives in the Underwater Archaeological Park.
When is the best time to dive Terceira?+
June to September, with warmer water and more pelagic species. August to October has the clearest water, often beyond 30 m of visibility, while in spring the water turns slightly green.
How do divers get to Terceira?+
Lajes Airport (TER), near Praia da Vitória, has flights from mainland Portugal, North America and the other Azores islands. Dive centres are in Praia da Vitória and Angra do Heroísmo.
Is Terceira diving from shore or by boat?+
Both. Guided shore and boat dives run on the island, and dives to the Dom João de Castro Bank seamount run from Praia da Vitória.
Sources
- Locais mergulho - Terceira Adventures — Terceira Adventures
- About Us - Octopus Diving Center — Octopus Diving Center
- Octopus Diving Center — Octopus Diving Center
- Terceira Diving Tour — Visit Azores
- When to dive — Visit Azores
- Angra do Heroísmo Average Sea Temperatures — SeaTemperature.org
- Terceira — Wikivoyage
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