Resorts and Hotels

 

Santa Maria Island, Hotel Colombo

Santa Maria Island, Hotel Colombo
Hotel Colombo is located almost in the middle of Santa Maria, a bit from town but with a lovely view of the island and the sea in the distance. Here you live well and the diving center is located directly next to the hotel and will take you on unique adventures on this small island which is the warmest and normally sunniest of the nine islands.
 
 

Sao Miguel Island - Hotel Marina Atlantico

Sao Miguel Island - Hotel Marina Atlantico
Beautiful Marina Atlântico hotel is located right by the harbor and a stone's throw from the Seasonchallenge diving center. All balconies are furnished. From here you can get to the best diving spots along the coast at Sao Miguel or make pleasant day trips on land.
 
 

Faial Island, Hotel Faial Garden

Faial Island, Hotel Faial Garden
Hotel Faial Garden resort is beautifully located overlooking the sea and from here it is close to both the harbor, the diving center and the historical parts of the island and many restaurants. One of many lovely places in the small "island kingdom" of the Azores
 
 

Pico Island, Hotel Caravelas

Pico Island, Hotel Caravelas
The hotel is centrally located in the village of Madalena on the island of Pico - just a short drive from Pico Airport - and the diving center is located in adjacent premises. The beach is close and from the hotel you have a view of the neighboring island of Faial.
 

The azores

The Azores archipelago is a fantastic destination for diving trips and today probably offers Europe's best diving. Especially during the summer months, this is a very good destination for a diving trip. In the clear blue waters in the middle of the Atlantic you will experience dramatic rock formations and you have a good chance of seeing large animals. Dolphins, whales, rays and sharks are some examples. A diving trip to the Azores is a wonderful experience that all divers should try. The Azores are 1000 km east of Portugal, in the middle of the Atlantic. The islands consist of a total of nine islands. They are divided into the western, central and eastern islands. For all of you who want to experience encounters with whales, swim with dolphins, enjoy amazing diving and fun snorkeling, this is a perfect diving destination. The rich marine life will not disappoint you. There are now boats that offer one liveaboard-like experience but we still recommend land-based accommodation and diving.
Swim with dolphins
Seeing dolphins in their natural environment is for many an unforgettable experience. Here in the sea around the Azores there is an opportunity not only to see dolphins but also to swim with them. To get the most out of the experience, some experience in swimming with fins, mask and snorkel is necessary. If you don't feel comfortable with it already, the diving center will help. A short course in the pool is all that is needed. The aim of the excursions is to offer a genuine nature experience and therefore the dolphins are not lured with food or other tricks. You are a visitor in the world of dolphins and the experience is completely controlled by the dolphins themselves. Dolphins are curious animals, which means that they often come close and it is very unusual to have excursions where you don't get to see them. It is possible to swim with as many as five different species of dolphins here Atlantic.
  • Whale and dolphin safaris, hiking around volcanoes, history and beautiful views
  • Blue shark, mako shark and mobulas in clear blue water - The big blue!
  • Amazing rock formations
  • Perfect for families and non-divers
There is also a lot to see and do on land, although the range varies between the islands. You can go here regardless of the time of year, but normally July - September is considered the best time. It is then also normally the warmest in the sea and the diving is sharpest.

Diving in the Atlantic

  • Dive together with Mantor and Mobulas
  • Dive with Blue Shark and Mako Shark in clear blue water
  • The diving suits the more advanced diver
Depending on which island you choose to visit, you will be able to experience completely different types of diving. Princess Alice Bank is one of the Azores' most famous dive sites. It is a deep sea mountain located 50 nautical miles from the island Pico and 45 nautical miles southwest of the island Faial. To get here, a boat trip of about 2,5 hours is needed from the diving center on the island of Pico or Faial. The mountain rises from the depths from a depth of 1500 meters up to 35 meters below the surface. Normally, diving here is carried out with the help of a descent line, as the currents can periodically be strong. The dive site is known for mantas or mobulas that swim between the surface and about 30 meters deep. In addition to these amazing wonderful creatures, there are also Jacks, huge tunas, Baraccudor, Blue Marlin and sharks. Few divers return disappointed from this unique and adventurous dive site. Mobulas are found throughout the region and can also be experienced at, for example, the islands Santa Maria, Terceira, Faial and Sao Miguel. Whale sharks are also seen here quite often, mainly at the eastern islands, and several species of whales also pass here regularly.
Dive with blue sharks and mako sharks
Another very exciting diving experience is diving with Blue Shark and Mako Shark. The dive site is reached after about an hour's boat trip from land from Pico or Faial. The diving takes place in the open sea, which places great demands on divers to have full control over balance, orientation and dive profile. There are no natural reference points such as bottom or wall available. As a rule, however, there is a line to hold on to. Every diver is required to undergo a checkup dive before being allowed to dive here. Before the excursion here, all divers are informed about how to behave in the water and how to recognize potentially dangerous behavior of the sharks. The information also aims to avoid a negative impact on the sharks. It is important that the divers follow the diving staff's instructions carefully. Extreme caution and attention is necessary but the reward of seeing the sharks here is a magical experience and diving experience of a lifetime.
Dramatic diving, amazing diving trip
The Azores offer something for everyone but some dives can involve strong currents and big waves at sea so you should have experience and training and feel safe on and in the sea. To get the most out of the diving, you should have at least an AOW certificate or equivalent. You will need to do at least one checkup dive before you are allowed to go to the more remote locations in the middle of the ocean. SMB (surface marking buoy) is usually a requirement. In addition to an exciting marine life, there are also fantastic rock formations, dramatic drop-offs, wrecks and white sandbars. The sea here is seething with life. Octopuses, echinoderms, shoals of fish, seahorses, nudibranchs and turtles and much more can be seen. The visibility here in the middle of the Atlantic is, as I said, magical many times with sometimes +60 meters. There's a reason the Azores are called Europe's own Galapagos.