Diving and snorkelling from Faial: Princess Alice Bank, Monte da Guia and when to go

Faial gives you two very different kinds of diving from the same marina in Horta. One is a full day at sea to Princess Alice Bank, a seamount far offshore where devil rays gather in summer. The other is a ten-minute boat ride to the flooded volcano at the edge of town. Which one fits you depends mostly on your certification and how many dives you have logged.

Princess Alice Bank is a seamount about 45 nautical miles south-west of Faial. Its shallowest point lies at about 30 m, and open-ocean fish gather over the top. The bank takes its name from the research yacht of Prince Albert I of Monaco, which found it in July 1896.

The official Azores dive portal lists the crossing at 180 minutes from Horta, or from Madalena on Pico. The average dive depth is 35 m, the maximum 60 m, and the currents are moderate to strong. Divers come for the groups of devil rays and giant mantas, with Atlantic bonito, almaco jacks, groupers and sometimes Galapagos sharks around them. On the long ride out you have a good chance of seeing whales, turtles and dolphins.

What a day looks like, from one Horta operator's 2026 listing:

• Leave around 7:30, first dive around 10:00, second around 13:00, back in Horta around 17:30.
• Advanced Open Water or equivalent, more than 30 logged dives, and a check-out dive with the centre first.
• An indicative price of €300 for the day (2026). Confirm when you book, as prices change by season.

The same operator gives July to September as the season, with water at 20 to 24 °C and visibility of up to 25 to 30 m. It also describes the bank as fully protected since 2025, so ask your centre what that means for the dive on the day. The trip only runs when the sea allows it. If the bank is why you are coming, keep two or three spare days in your stay.

Most dives on Faial are short boat rides from Horta harbour, and several suit newer divers and snorkellers. The figures below are from the official dive portal.

• Boca das Caldeirinhas, 10 minutes out. This is the mouth of Monte da Guia's crater, where it opens to the sea. A platform at about 10 m drops to 30 m, and a small cave with black coral sits at 50 m for those qualified to go that deep. It is listed for all divers, and the shallow part works for snorkelling. The inside of the crater is a protected area with restricted access.
• Gruta e Ilhéu Negro, 15 minutes out, on the north-west side of Monte da Guia. A cave with a wide triangular entrance opens into a big chamber, with a black islet nearby. The maximum depth is 20 m and currents are weak, so it suits beginners and night dives.
• Espalamaca Norte, 10 minutes out, beside Praia do Almoxarife. It averages 6 m, and at about 14 m small gas bubbles rise from the sand, which is volcanic activity. Octopus, stingrays and big schools of salema are common. It is the usual choice for try dives and snorkelling.
• Pontão 16, 10 minutes out. A 40 m barge sunk on purpose in 2003 lies on sand at 24 to 26 m. Advanced Open Water is recommended.
• Baixa da Feteira, 30 minutes out, off the south coast. The reef top is at 12 m, but it is exposed and the currents can be strong, so the portal recommends it for experienced divers only. Bonitos, barracudas and eagle rays pass here.

You can snorkel at Caldeirinhas, Ilhéu Negro and Espalamaca Norte on a boat trip with a dive centre. From the shore, try Poça da Rainha in Feteira, a basalt rock pool with steps into the sea, on a calm day. Porto Pim, Horta's town beach, is sheltered and has a lifeguard in summer, so it is the easy option with children.

All the boats leave from the marina in Horta, so staying in town means you can walk to the dive centre. Three centres are based at the marina:

• Central Sub, at Marina Sul: dives, snorkelling trips, equipment hire and courses.
• Haliotis Faial, at Cais de Santa Cruz in the marina: boat, shore and night dives, and PADI courses.
• Dive Azores, which runs the Princess Alice day described above.

Ask each centre which offshore trips it plans that season and how many places it has. For July and August, book the Princess Alice day well ahead. Leave a day free after your last dive before you fly, which is the usual precaution.

Can a beginner dive on Faial? Yes. Espalamaca Norte and Gruta e Ilhéu Negro are rated for all divers, with weak currents and shallow depths, and centres in Horta run try dives.

What do I need for Princess Alice Bank? One Horta operator asks for Advanced Open Water, more than 30 logged dives and a check-out dive first (2026). The bank is three hours out, with depths to 60 m and strong currents.

When is the season for Princess Alice? July to September, according to the operators, with water at 20 to 24 °C. Trips depend on the weather, so plan spare days.

Can I snorkel without a boat? Yes. Poça da Rainha in Feteira and the beach at Porto Pim are both reachable from the road. Pick a calm day.