Portugal · Atlantic
Best time to dive Azores
Pelagic season is roughly June–October (offshore trips from late June): sicklefin and spinetail devil rays at Princess Alice Bank and Santa Maria, blue sharks off Faial/Pico July–early October, occasional whale sharks June–September. Water 16–17 °C in spring, up to ~24 °C in summer.
Peak season: July–September
Overall diving, month by month
Balanced scoring · forecasts include the 2026/27 El Niño outlook
Confidence: Nov high · Dec high · Jan medium · Feb medium · Mar medium · Apr medium · May medium · Jun medium · Jul medium · Aug medium · Sep medium · Oct medium · Nov medium · Dec medium
What's good when
Each attribute scored 0–10 for every month
| Nov2026 | Dec | Jan2027 | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pelagic & big animals | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 5 |
| Macro life | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Coral & reef health | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| Visibility | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 |
| Water temperature | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Weather & sea state | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| Operations & access | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 5 |
Water temperature & visibility
| Month | Water | Visibility |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | 19.5 °C (67 °F) | 20–30 m |
| December 2026 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 15–25 m |
| January 2027 | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 15–25 m |
| February 2027 | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 15–25 m |
| March 2027 | 16.0 °C (61 °F) | 15–25 m |
| April 2027 | 16.5 °C (62 °F) | 20–30 m |
| May 2027 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 20–30 m |
| June 2027 | 19.5 °C (67 °F) | 25–35 m |
| July 2027 | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 30–40 m |
| August 2027 | 23.0 °C (73 °F) | 30–40 m |
| September 2027 | 23.0 °C (73 °F) | 30–40 m |
| October 2027 | 21.5 °C (71 °F) | 25–35 m |
| November 2027 | 19.5 °C (67 °F) | 20–30 m |
| December 2027 | 17.5 °C (64 °F) | 15–25 m |
Marine life calendar
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mobula rays | ● | Peak | Peak | Peak | ● | |||||||
| blue shark | ● | Peak | Peak | ● | ||||||||
| whale shark | ● | ● | ● | ● | ||||||||
| dolphins | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Peak = best odds · ● = regularly seen · blank = unlikely. Calendar months, every year.
About the diving
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Current strength
- 3 / 5
- Luxury level
- 3 / 5
- Typical depth
- 5–35 m
- Max depth of interest
- 40 m
- Dive styles
- Day boat, Resort
- Suggested certification
- Advanced Open Water (offshore banks)
- Nearest airport
- PDL
- Snorkelling
- Good
- Known for
- mobula rays, blue shark, whale shark, dolphins
Famous sites: Princess Alice Bank · Ambrosio · Formigas & Dollabarat · Condor Bank
Season notes & sources
- Pelagic season is roughly June–October (offshore trips from late June): sicklefin and spinetail devil rays at Princess Alice Bank and Santa Maria, blue sharks off Faial/Pico July–early October, occasional whale sharks June–September. Water 16–17 °C in spring, up to ~24 °C in summer.