Haliotis - Faial Diving Center

Haliotis – Faial Diving Center operates around Faial Island in the Azores, the western point of the "Islands of the Triangle" it shares with São Jorge and Pico. Out here the ocean holds the region's real wealth: hundreds of species of molluscs and fish, plus larger visitors like whales and dolphins.

Courses and dive sites

As a PADI Dive Center with two PADI instructors, Haliotis runs a full course lineup — from the Try Dive (Discover Scuba Diving) at USD 106 through Enriched Air, Deep Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy and up to Advanced Open Water. Signature sites include Princesa Alice Bank, where mantas are a regular sight, along with Entre Montes and Condor's bank, and shark dives that bring the blue shark into view.

The season runs June to October, with water between 18ºC and 23ºC and visibility of 10 to 20 metres — reaching up to 40 metres on remote dives like Princess Alice. A 5mm or 7mm suit is recommended. With easy, life-rich dives, small caves and shipwrecks, it suits everyone from first-timers to seasoned Atlantic divers.