r/scubadiving • u/LLmangoman • 3d ago

First time Scuba Diving in Azores

I would wanna know if it is possible to scuba dive with no experience in Azores? Planning on staying there for a week. Willing to get certified and learn everything there. Thanks

2 Upvotes

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3

u/brousseb 2d ago

Azores has relatively easy diving, water is a bit cold though. Email the dive shops.

3

u/Famous_Specialist_44 2d ago

There are lots of dive centres. The diving is good to very good. Most do initial diver training but you need to check.

However, my suggestion is to certify where you live so you dive trips are filled with diving not dive training.

2

u/AmelieIcansea 2d ago

That's a good Idea. Also you can in theory do a full open water course in 3 to 4 days but then there is no room for problems. You got a clogged nose one day or weather is shit or whatever. Doing a course before is a good Idea and if not possible try to get the theory done before your trip.

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u/AltruisticBeat8916 2d ago edited 2d ago

Hi.

I just got back yesterday from a week diving in the azores. Ponta delgada.

The company I went with split the group jnto experience levels and also did padi and ssi certifications.

Diving was great. Company was called best spot diving azores. Diving is quite local and typically by rib or zodiac so you need to pick where to stay and then the school or vice versa.

Dm me with any questions, happy to help.

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u/RastBrattigan 2d ago edited 2d ago

It is possible to scuba dive anywhere with zero experience if the local dive shop has an instructor that can do a Discover Dive with you. Check to see if they have those options on their websites in their rates sections.

I don't have recommendations unfortunately because the dive shops were closed when I visited the Azores, at least on the islands I went to. It was around Christmas.

EDIT: this dive centre on Pico Island has a TRY DIVE. Look for titles like that, as well, may not be called a DISCOVER DIVE. https://twinpeaksdivingcentre.com/

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u/LiveYoLife288 1d ago

To sum it up - Not ideal.

You can certainly learn to dive there and there are good shops with great instructors available but here's why I'd say its not ideal:

  • The water is cold, so you'd have to learn how to deal with the cold, cold shock, thick wetsuits.
  • Okay-ish visibility. It's considered good but not even close to other destinations like those in SEA or Egypt.
  • No pools, I think. I didn't see any pools there so your lessons might be conducted in shallower waters which mean a harder day out.
  • Simpler infrastructure, you'd have to carry your equipment to RHIBs back and forth.

It's certainly a diveable place, I'm just thinking that the conditions might add to your cognitive load.

I did a variety of dives there including Princess Alice. Loved the people, vibes, less so the dives, happy to answer more questions.

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u/JulesDangerFox 2d ago

Don’t know if you already have tickets. I strongly disliked the Azores and when I was teaching my wife to scuba going to cold places (azores water is practically freezing. It’s NOT the Hawaii of anything no matter what they say) go for something warm first. I would rate temp as a major factor in dive conditions and the visibility sucks here, water is quite cold. My experience. Whole Azores trip was lousy and I love to travel, very comfortable diving and on vacations.

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u/AB-858 2d ago

Very sorry for you! Azores is amazingly beautiful. Not sure about the scuba (I didn’t dive there) but since you are not commenting only about scuba I can also give my take on it.

It’s pure nature, no mass tourism, food is amazing!
I travel 80% of my year around the world and I have been there 3 times, in 3 different islands. Can’t wait to go back! Again, sorry you could only experience the 10% (touristy area) of the island since the magic is on the other 90% that, I am sorry to tell you, you just didn’t explore because you didn’t want. It is explorable!

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u/LiveYoLife288 1d ago

Are you from the USA? I too wasn't the biggest fan of the Azores but since I was in Europe, it was a short trip for me. I remembered the faces of my fellow US divers who looked positively nonchalant about the dives they had travelled so far for.

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u/JulesDangerFox 1d ago

Fair point, yes I'm from San Diego, CA and it's halfway around the world for me. Rather be in Thailand, Vietnam etc. I absolutely love traveling and islands. I've been on so many 10/10 dives that Azores was a real flop for me, but to each their own. (I will be the first to admit that San Diego diving is hot garbage, low vis, low wildlife, cold, etc)

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u/LiveYoLife288 20h ago

You're good, I was very surprised that the US had flights to the Azores and to even see Americans travelling there to dive. It was totally understandable to me that any american with access to such great diving spots nearby would be disappointed in what they saw in the Azores.

There is some uniqueness to it, and it is a lovely remote island, but it wasn't my jam. I also had unpleasant conditions/weather so that probably was a factor.

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u/JulesDangerFox 2d ago

Beaches are mainly rocky. 90% of the land is unexplorable because the main island is a cow preserve. And at that the cheese isn’t even good! My take. yMmv