Santa Maria
Portugal · Azores
The Azores' Santa Maria and surrounding islands sit mid-Atlantic — blue water diving on seamounts with mobula rays, devil rays, sharks (mako, blue), and exceptional water clarity. Big-animal Atlantic diving without the tropics.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
North Atlantic island reef — mobulas, blue sharks, and rocky reef topography. Cold water resilient ecosystem, stable through the warming era.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
No unusual heat right now.
Fishing
Quiet water, and fishing is fully banned here.
Sources · Reef Life Survey · NOAA Coral Reef Watch · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
Coral cover over time
Live coral cover, by survey year
Across surveys in 2014 and 2024, live coral cover here has fallen from 19% to 18%. Every point is a real survey reading, never a projection.
Live coral cover, percent by year
| Year | Coral cover |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 19% |
| 2024 | 18% |
What you will see
17 species across the dive sites here
Yellowmouth Barracuda
Seen 3 months ago
at Baixa do Ambrósio
Least concern
Sicklefin devil ray
Seen 9 months ago
at Baixa do Ambrósio
Critically endangered
Whale shark
Seen 10 months ago
at Formigas Islets
Endangered
Common Remora
Seen Jun 2025
at Princess Alice Bank
Least concern
Portuguese Man O' War
Seen Jun 2025
at Princess Alice Bank
Wilson'S Storm-Petrel
Seen Jun 2025
at Princess Alice Bank
Least concern
Almaco jack
Seen Aug 2024
at Baixa do Ambrósio
Least concern
Dusky grouper
Seen year round
at Formigas Islets
Atlantic wreckfish
Seasonal visitor
at Formigas Islets
Blue shark
Seasonal visitor
at Princess Alice Bank
Near threatened
Shortfin mako
Seasonal visitor
at Princess Alice Bank
Endangered
Yellowfin tuna
Seasonal visitor
at Princess Alice Bank
Least concern
Black Moray
Rare sighting
at Formigas Islets
Least concern
Grey Triggerfish
Rare sighting
at Princess Alice Bank
Vulnerable
Ocean sunfish
Rare sighting
at Baixa do Ambrósio
Vulnerable
Oceanic manta ray
Rare sighting
at Baixa do Ambrósio
Endangered
Ornate Wrasse
Rare sighting
at Formigas Islets
Least concern
Dive sites
What divers say
Hundreds of mobula rays in formation at Princess Alice Bank. The Azores is Portugal's hidden big animal site.
Good to know
Long boat rides
Some seamounts are 2h offshore; pre medicate.