Season Challenge

Set on São Miguel in Portugal's Azores, Season Challenge is a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort making the most of one of Europe's finest diving grounds. Out here in the middle of the Atlantic, a mild climate and crystal-clear water reveal an extraordinary diversity of underwater fauna and flora, and São Miguel is the preferred spot for divers hoping to see manta rays glide gracefully by at sites such as Sabrina, Lourenços, the Formigas Islets, the Dollabarat coral reefs and the baixa do Ambrósio.

Courses and dive sites

With 8 PADI Instructors on hand, the centre covers the full learning path — from PADI Discover Scuba Diving and PADI Scuba Diver to the Open Water Diver course and the ReActivate refresher — making it a natural fit for first-timers and returning divers alike. Local favourites include the DORI Liberty Ship Wreck, Caloura Arches, The Mirrors, Willy Wonka and The Anchors.

An onsite training pool, classroom, house reef and dive boat back up every dive, and the team teaches in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese. Experiences start from USD 156.