Peak season now

Princess Alice Bank

Azores — Faial and Pico · Portugal

Princess Alice Bank is a submerged seamount rising from 2000 metres to within 35 metres of the surface, 60 kilometres south of Faial — one of the most productive big-animal dives in the entire Atlantic. From June through October, mobula rays aggregate in the hundreds above the seamount crown, joined by blue sharks, shortfin mako, oceanic whitetips and the occasional thresher. There is no reef structure here, only open ocean biology at its most elemental.

Conditions

Depth

35 to 50 m

Advanced depths

Current

Usually gentle

Can pick up on the edge

Visibility

25 to 40 m

Clearest in the calm season

Water

15 to 26°C

5mm wetsuit

Month by month

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Water (°C)	16	15	15	16	17	20	22	23	22	20	18	16
Vis (m)	15	15	20	20	20	20	25	25	20	20	15	15
Current	Strong	Strong	Strong	Moderate	Moderate	Moderate	Gentle	Gentle	Moderate	Moderate	Strong	Strong