Pico Island Adventures
Rua Padre Xavier Madruga, Lajes do Pico, Azores, PRT
Over het Centrum
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.
Beschikbare Cursussen
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 known for shark activity. The dives are conducted in the open blue water, under the guidance of experienced safety divers. The safety guidelines are based on research from shark scientists and the theories of Professor Erich Ritter. Before the trip, divers receive a detailed briefing on shark behavior and safety protocols. The team uses specialized baiting techniques to attract the sharks, allowing divers to watch them closely. To participate, divers must complete a check dive along the Pico coast the day before the shark trip. This check dive ensures that everyone is comfortable with their gear and buoyancy. The shark diving season runs from late June to the end of September.
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 meters, creating strong currents that attract large schools of pelagic fish. The main highlight is the presence of graceful mobula rays, which gather in groups of up to fifty. The journey to the bank takes three to four hours each way and departs early in the morning from Madalena harbor. The tour is conducted aboard our Cheetah Marine twelve-meter power catamaran, designed for speed and stability in Atlantic swell. Divers perform stationary deep dives, watching mobulas, tuna, and barracudas glide through the blue. Due to the remote location, the trip is dependent on wind and weather conditions. Divers must hold at least an Advanced Open Water certification and demonstrate excellent buoyancy control. Hot drinks, soft drinks, and snacks are provided on board during the cruise.
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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.