Azores · Portugal · Artificial reef
Cemetery of Anchors
Four centuries of ships' anchors scattered across Angra bay
The Cemetery of Anchors is a field of lost anchors on the floor of the Bay of Angra do Heroísmo, part of Terceira's Underwater Archaeological Park. More than 40 anchors from the 16th to the 20th centuries lie here down to 25 m, in water with no current.
Also known as Cemitério das Âncoras.
Where it is and how deep
38.6593° N, 27.2196° WApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive is a tour of anchors spread across the bottom of the bay, the oldest from the 16th century and the newest from the 20th. They reach down to about 25 m, and no current runs in this part of the bay, where large ships once sheltered from bad weather.
Background
For centuries large ships sought shelter from bad weather in the Bay of Angra do Heroísmo, and many of them lost their anchors on its floor. Over 40 of those anchors, spanning the 16th to the 20th centuries, now make up the Cemetery of Anchors, one of the main attractions of the bay's Underwater Archaeological Park.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Fair | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good |
Season follows Azores: June to September is the best time to dive; August to October has the clearest water, and spring nutrients turn it green.
Dive videos
The Anchor Graveyard / Cemitério das Âncoras - Terceira, Azores · Arraia Divers - youtube on YouTube
Sources
- Mergulhos Costeiros — Terceira Adventures
- Terceira diving — Azores Tourism Directorate
- Mergulho — Terceira Adventures
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