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Scuba diving at Princess Alice Bank in Azores
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Princess Alice Bank

GOOD
AzoresBoat
About This Site
The most iconic offshore dive in the Azores and one of the great pelagic dives of the Atlantic. Princess Alice Bank is a submerged seamount that rises from over 1,500 m of open ocean to a pinnacle at roughly 29-35 m, lying about 45-50 nm southwest of Faial and Pico. It is world-famous for huge summer aggregations of mobula (devil) rays that gather in spinning carousels in the blue, alongside sharks, large jacks and other big pelagics. This is an advanced, big-day adventure dive far from shelter, deep, and exposed to strong currents.

Difficulty

Advanced

Max Depth

59m

Type

Boat

Typical Visibility

30m

Conditions Summary

Best time today

4PM - 10PM

GREAT

Best day in forecast

Friday

GOOD

2026-07-17

Community-reported visibility

n/a

Warnings for today

  • Rain expected - bacteria levels may increase

An isolated open-ocean seamount roughly 45-50 nm from the nearest land, fully exposed across the western half of the compass. It takes the full force of the dominant Atlantic groundswell through the wide SW-W-NW window, which is completely open to deep water. The NE-ENE sector is the one relatively sheltered arc, with shorter fetch back toward the central Azores group reducing swell energy from that quadrant. Persistent strong currents sweep the bank, demanding settled conditions and an experienced crew before any trip is attempted.

NNEESESSWWNW
Protected
Partially Exposed
Exposed
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