Diving Holidays, hotels, lessons and courses

<p>The Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, about 1300 km west of Portugal and 3900 km from the North American coast. They're known for their stunning green cliffs and charming Mediterranean-style buildings. The islands are self-governed as an Autonomous Region, with the Regional Government based in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel. The total population of the islands is 237,000 people.</p><p>The islands are divided into three groups: the Eastern group, which includes Santa Maria and São Miguel; the Central group, which includes Terceira, Graciosa, São Jorge, Pico, and Faial; and the Western group, which includes Flores and Corvo. The closest islands are Pico and Faial, just 6 km apart, while the farthest are Santa Maria and Corvo, about 600 km apart.</p>

The Azores

<p>The Azores islands, influenced by the warm Gulf Stream, attract large pelagic species, while their underwater features like arches and caves provide a home for tropical fish and great photo opportunities. From May to October, you can spot various whales, dolphins, and turtles from the surface and sometimes even hear them while diving.</p><p>São Miguel, the largest island in the Azores, is easily accessible with its international airport. There are good dive centres on the south coast, with "Kitchen" being the closest dive site, offering a gentle introduction to Azorean diving with its volcanic landscape and diverse marine life.</p><p>Near the village of Caloura, the "Galera" dive site showcases volcanic formations with walls and caves, providing habitat for various marine species like grouper and barracuda. Another popular site is the wreck of MV Dori near Ponta Delgada, offering opportunities to explore and observe marine life like crabs and octopus.</p><p>Formigas Reef, located around 20 nautical miles from São Miguel, is a popular spot for encountering rays and sharks but requires a longer boat trip. Dive operators also offer diving trips with blue sharks at seamounts, providing a chance to see these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.</p><p>Some species, like sperm whales, are present year-round, while others, like baleen whales, migrate through the archipelago in spring. The best way to observe them is through organized whale and dolphin-watching tours.</p><p><b>The best months for diving in The Azores are July, August, September and October.</b></p>

The Azores Diving Holiday

The Azores Scuba Diving Holidays

diving

<p>SSI Advanced Open Water Diver is the next recognition rating on the path to becoming an SSI Master Diver, and includes four SSI Specialty program Digital Kits. After completing the four SSI Specialty programs that interest you, as well as 24 logged dives, you will automatically receive the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver recognition rating, along with your SSI Specialty program certifications.</p>

Azores Diving Ponta Delgada

<p>Diver certification begins here. Start with PADI's online eLearning course. Move to the pool and practice your new skills. Then experience four open water (ocean/lake) dives. During the PADI Open Water Diver course, you’ll learn what you need to know to explore the underwater world using scuba.&nbsp;<br><br>The PADI Open Water Diver course includes three parts: Knowledge Development, Confined Water Dives, and Open Water Dives. Knowledge Development covers the principles, concepts and terms you need to know for dive safety and enjoyment. During the Confined Water Dives, you learn and practice scuba skills in a pool or water with pool-like conditions. You’ll enjoy making one or more minidives, which take you through the same steps you follow when you make open water dives. To complete training you practice, apply, and demonstrate what you learn during four Open Water Dives at a local dive site.<br><br>Earning a PADI Open Water Diver certification shows that you met the course requirements. Dive centers and resorts require proof of certification before they will rent scuba equipment, fill scuba cylinders or book dive excursions. As a PADI Open Water Diver, you’ll be trained to a maximum depth of 18 metres/60 feet, and are qualified to dive in conditions as good as, or better than, those in which you trained. It’s just the beginning of a lifetime filled with dive adventures.<br><br>In the PADI Open Water Diver course, you learn to use basic scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device, and a tank. The equipment you wear varies, depending upon whether you’re diving in tropical, temperate or cold water.<br></p>

AZORES SUB - Vila Franca do Campo

<div>A 4 day learn to dive course with full equipment. This globally-recognized certification program is the best way to begin your life-long adventure as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.</div><div><div><br></div><div>The 4 day SSI Open water diver course is an internationally valid entry level certification which allows the diver to safely plan and dives with a buddy, independent of supervision of a dive professional, up to a maximum depth of 18 meters.</div><div><br></div><div>SSI Open Water Divers are qualified to:</div><div><ul><li>&nbsp;Dive without direct supervision of a Dive Professional up to a depth of 18 metres.</li><li>&nbsp;Rent or purchase scuba equipment and participate in dive activities .</li><li>&nbsp;Continue further dive training by finishing the SSI Advanced Adventurer certification and taking further speciality dive courses.</li></ul><div>To sign up for a SSI Open Water Diver course, you must be at least 10 years old. You need good swimming skills and need to be in good physical health.</div><div><br></div><div>The SSI Open Water Diver course consists of three main phases:</div><ul><li>&nbsp;Knowledge Development ( independent study or in a classroom) to understand basic principles of scuba diving – There are six sections of the Open Water Diver course theory and video that need to be completed.</li><li>&nbsp;Confined Water Dives to learn basic scuba skills – these dives are conducted in the swimming pool, to help you master essential underwater and equipment skills.</li><li>&nbsp;Open Water Dives to use your skills and explore – you do four dives in the sea to complete the Open Water Diver course.</li></ul><div>You learn to use basic scuba gear, including a mask, snorkel, fins, regulator, buoyancy control device and a tank. &nbsp;Your SSI Instructor will explain the equipment you need and may suggest additional educational materials, such as the required logbook.</div><div><br></div><div><b><u>Rough daily itinerary</u></b></div><div><br></div><div><b>Day 1: &nbsp;</b>Theory ( Chapters 1, 2 and 3 ) and Pool Training</div><div>8:30 to 1:00 pm: &nbsp;Course registration and completing the first three sections of the Open water course theory and video, followed by some knowledge review quizzes.</div><div>2:00 to 4:00 pm: We hit the pool to learn to use the scuba equipment and to practice some essential underwater skills.</div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Day 2:</b>&nbsp;Theory ( Chapters 4, 5, 6 and Exams) and Pool Training</div><div>8:30 to 1:00 pm: &nbsp;Completing the last two sections of the Open water course theory and video, followed by some knowledge review quizzes and your final exams. &nbsp;The exams may also be taken on the last day of the course.</div><div>2:00 to 4:00 pm: We hit the pool again to learn to to learn some more skills and to practice and perfect the ones learnt yesterday.</div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Day 3:</b>&nbsp;Open water dives 1 and 2</div><div>8:30 am to 3:30 pm: Meet at the Dive centre, kit up, and head out by boat to the dive site. Do two dives along with your instructor, where you practice your newly learned skills and explore the underwater world. &nbsp;Learn to wash and properly care for you equipment, and log your first two dives.</div><div><b><br></b></div><div><b>Day 4: </b>Open water dives 3 and 4</div></div><div>8:30 am to 3:30 pm: Same routine as before, we meet at the dive centre, get ready, and head out by boat to the dive site. You do your third and fourth dives along with your instructor, where you demonstrate your skills, practice and explore the dive sites. &nbsp;When you return, we complete your paperwork ( and final exams, if not completed on day 2 ), log your dives and you are ready to be certified as a SSI Open Water Diver!</div></div>

<p>2 tank boat divers per day, including tanks, weights &amp; air only. This will normally be guided as part of a small group of up to 6 divers per dive guide.&nbsp;</p>

Get out to the best local dive sites by boat

<p></p><ul><li>Full dive equipment will include BCD, regular set with all gauges, wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins.&nbsp;</li><li>Tanks, weights &amp; air are included as standard in all daily diving as standard. A dive computer is generally at an additional fee per day, and paid locally.&nbsp;</li></ul><p></p>

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Portugal, The Azores (Sao Miguel)

Diving Holidays in Portugal, The Azores (Sao Miguel)

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4* Hotel Caloura

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4* Santa Barbara Eco Beach Resort

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Portugal, The Azores (Sao Miguel)

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Diving Holidays in Portugal, The Azores (Sao Miguel)

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Ready for adventures in The Azores (Sao Miguel)

4* Hotel Caloura

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Hotel Caloura

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4* Hotel Marina Atlantico

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Hotel Marina Atlantico

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4* Pestana Bahia Praia

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Pestana Bahia Praia

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4* Santa Barbara Eco Beach Resort

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Santa Barbara Eco Beach Resort

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5* Octant Ponta Delgada

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Octant Ponta Delgada

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4* Octant Hotel Furnas

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Octant Hotel Furnas

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