Terceira
Portugal · Atlantic
Rising from the mid-Atlantic Ridge, Terceira is one of the Azores archipelago's most volcanically active islands, and its underwater terrain reflects that restless geology — lava arches, hydrothermal vents, and seamounts thick with gorgonian sea fans. Blue sharks appear in numbers that surprise even seasoned pelagic divers, mobula rays sweep overhead in loose squadrons, and the cold clear Atlantic delivers visibility that can stretch beyond 30 metres. This is open-ocean diving at its most elemental.
How this reef is doing
ⓘ How we measure thisReef state
Live science signals for this reef are still being gathered.
Coral cover
Fish life
Heat
Fishing
Open to fishing, and the water is fairly quiet.
Sources · Global Fishing Watch and reef gravity
What you will see
31 species across the dive sites here
Mediterranean Moray Eel
Seen 23 days ago
at Ilheu das Cabras
Least concern
Common Dolphin
Seen 23 days ago
at Baixa do Sul
Least concern
Sperm Whale
Seen 1 month ago
at Pico do Ambrosio
Vulnerable
Purple Sea Urchin
Seen 1 month ago
at Ilheu das Cabras
Atlantic Lizardfish
Seen 2 months ago
at Ilheu das Cabras
Least concern
Blacktail Comber
Seen 3 months ago
at Baixa do Sul
Common Two-banded Seabream
Seen 3 months ago
at Pico do Ambrosio
Least concern
Dusky Grouper
Seen 8 months ago
at Caverna das Focas
Conger Eel
Seen 8 months ago
at Baixa do Sul
Least concern
Salema
Seen 8 months ago
at Ilheu das Cabras
Least concern
Bottlenose Dolphin
Seen 10 months ago
at Pico do Ambrosio
Least concern
Amberjack
Seen Nov 2024
at Baixa do Sul
Least concern
Atlantic Wrasse
Seen year round
at Baixa do Sul
Ballan Wrasse
Seen year round
at Pico do Ambrosio
Black Coral Tree
Seen year round
at Pico do Ambrosio
Black Sea Bream
Seen year round
at Caverna das Focas
Least concern
Cleaner Wrasse
Seen year round
at Caverna das Focas
Least concern
Comber
Seen year round
at Caverna das Focas
Least concern
Encrusting Sponge (mixed species)
Seen year round
at Baixa do Sul
Lace Coral
Seen year round
at Baixa do Sul
Orange Encrusting Sponge
Seen year round
at Caverna das Focas
Purple Encrusting Sponge
Seen year round
at Caverna das Focas
Red Sea Urchin
Seen year round
at Pico do Ambrosio
Red Starfish
Seen year round
at Ilheu das Cabras
Yellow Gorgonian Sea Fan
Seen year round
at Pico do Ambrosio
Atlantic Grey Seal
Seasonal visitor
at Caverna das Focas
Least concern
Atlantic Mackerel
Seasonal visitor
at Baixa do Sul
Least concern
Atlantic Wolffish
Seasonal visitor
at Pico do Ambrosio
Blue Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Baixa do Sul
Near threatened
Mobula Ray
Seasonal visitor
at Baixa do Sul
Critically endangered
Sixgill Shark
Seasonal visitor
at Pico do Ambrosio
Near threatened
Dive sites
Baixa do Sul
mobula ray · blue shark · common dolphin · lace coral
Pico do Ambrosio
yellow gorgonian sea fan · black coral tree · common two-banded seabream · ballan wrasse
Caverna das Focas
conger eel · cleaner wrasse · black sea bream · comber
Ilheu das Cabras
salema · black sea bream · mediterranean moray eel · blue shark