Scuba diving is among the best in the world, despite (or because!) the cold Atlantic conditions. Yet, the
Azores are rated as the new discovery in the diving business. Most diving locations guarante an encounter
with the big fishes of the Atlantic and offer spectacular lava formations.
We frequently observe large schools of makreles (e.g. Trachinotus ovatus, Trachurus picturatus), barakudas
(Sphyraena viridensis), yellow-fin tuna (Thunnus albacares) and trigger fish (Balister carolinensis). Common
sting rays (Taeniura grabata) grow to an enormous size in these waters and even spectacular encounters
with large mantas (Manta birostris) are not uncommon. The underwater scenery alters between basaltic rock
formations with canyons and caves and open sand flats. Each little cave or rock can be home to a variety of
large and small marine animals, such as moray eels, octupus, lobster, spiral tube worms, sea urchins
and sea spiders. Night diving is spectacular and amazingly easy at selected sheltered spots along the coast.
During night dives we have been fascinated by the dazzling colours of hugh swarms of small shrimps, as
well as nudibranchs, Alicia mirabilis anemonees, and, depending on the time of the year, also biolumines-
cent plankton (causing the so-called ocean glow).