Baixa do Terceirense

Baixa do Terceirense is located in Terceira, approximately 100 metres from the smallest of the Carapacho islets and next to the cave with the same name. This group of small islands is very close to the Carapacho bathing area, about 3 nautical miles from Praia port. You reach the site by boat, with a 25-minute journey from Santa Cruz da Graciosa port or just 10 minutes if departing from Praia port, and the currents here are usually weak.

The dive profile is versatile, with depths between 5 and 40 metres depending on what you want to explore, which opens up the spot to divers of all levels. The highest point of the seamount forms a platform at 5 metres, where small colourful fauna abounds, such as the rainbow wrasse (Coris julis), the peacock wrasse (Thalassoma pavo), the damselfish (Chromis limbata) and various species of moray eels.

From that top, the seabed descends steeply to a second platform at 16 metres. It is at this level that it is worth keeping an eye out for schools of pelagic fish passing through the area, including greater amberjack (Seriola rivoliana), Atlantic sennet (Sphyraena viridensis), white trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) and Atlantic bonito (Sarda sarda).

Further down, the terrain drops again to another level, at 30 metres, where several colonies of black coral (Antipathella wollastoni) appear. With some luck, you may also spot groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), both here and already on the seabed, at 40 metres.