Azores Islands

The Azores is a distant volcanic archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean where divers come in search of the big stuff: sperm whales, beaked whales, humpback whales, fin whales, false killer whales, bottlenose dolphins, spotted dolphins, Risso’s dolphins, manta rays, sharks, sea turtles, and more. The topography is another selling point for the Azores: caves, tunnels, arches, ridges, gorges, underwater cliffs – so many elements for an exciting dive! The Princess Alice Bank stands out for its biodiversity and is considered the premier dive site in the Azores thanks to the unique opportunity to encounter large groups of friendly mobulas.

Berlengas Archipelago

Berlengas is the oldest natural reserve in the world. The archipelago is made up of the Island of Great Berlenga and the reefs of Estelas and Farilhoes-Forcadas. These waters are home to dolphins and large schools of fish and feature beautiful caves with red gorgonians and interesting macro life. Tech divers can also find about a dozen shipwrecks. In fact, the Berlengas Archipelago is the largest wreck graveyard in Portugal.

The Algarve Coast

The Algarve region has a long coastline of almost 200 km and is the top diving destination in mainland Portugal. There’s an incredible variety of marine life, from different species of finfish to nudibranchs, crustaceans, cephalopods, and cnidarians. One of the most interesting places to dive in the Algarve is Ocean Revival Park, an underwater park featuring four vessels that were deliberately sunk to create a huge artificial reef.

Madeira Archipelago

Madeira is famous for its diverse marine life such as barracudas, groupers, stingrays, and manta rays, and underwater scenery that includes caves, rocky reefs, and sunken vessels. The open ocean dives near Madeira are highly appreciated by pelagic lovers. The archipelago is one of the best spots for whale and dolphin watching.