Pico Island Adventures
Rua Padre Xavier Madruga, Lajes do Pico, Azores, PRT
About the Center
Pico Island Adventures, located in Lajes do Pico, Portugal, is a dive center with 33 years of experience, established by Frank Wirth in 1993. Certified by SSI and TDI, it offers Snorkeling and Boat Diving courses, as well as guided dives. Facilities include lockers, a bar, accommodation, equipment rental, a dive shop, and air fills (nitrox). The center excels in its unique ocean adventures, such as diving with mobula rays at the legendary Princess Alice seamount, shark diving (including blue, mako, and hammerhead sharks), and whale and dolphin watching with a 98% sighting success rate for over 28 species, including sperm whales.
Utilizing a modern fleet, including a fast, purpose-built catamaran, Pico Island Adventures ensures comfortable and efficient trips to prime dive sites. Activities range from stationary dives for close encounters with mobulas to full-day expeditions for reef observers, offering opportunities for encounters with sharks, mobulas, whales, dolphins, and pelagics. The 'Season of the Giants' is also a highlight, with chances to witness blue, fin, and sei whales during their spring migration.
The center is also a resource for film, photography, and scientific productions, attesting to its professionalism and international connections. Beyond water activities, Pico Island Adventures provides car and scooter rentals, establishing itself as a complete Azores experience. Its base is situated in Madalena, Pico Island's capital, conveniently located 8 km from the airport and directly opposite the ferry terminal.
Available Courses
2 cursosBlue Shark Diving
The Blue Shark Diving program is a specialized open-ocean experience designed for shark lovers who want to dive with blue and mako sharks. The excursions depart from Madalena harbor to Condor Bank, a deep-water area…
Princess Alice Scuba Diving
The Princess Alice Scuba Diving day trip is an advanced open-ocean expedition to the famous seamount located forty-eight nautical miles south of Pico Island. The seamount rises from depths of two thousand five hundred…
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Frequently asked
What people ask before booking
The base is located at Port Velho 33 in Madalena, Pico Island, Azores, directly opposite the ferry terminal.
We work with land-based spotters, known as VIGIAS, who search the ocean with binoculars from high points on the island and direct our boats.
All participants must complete at least one check dive along the Pico coast the day before the shark trip to get used to the equipment and ocean conditions.
Sperm whales are seen year-round, while large migratory baleen whales, including blue whales, are typically sighted from February to June.