Gruta dos Corais

Coral Grotto is located opposite the village of Velas, in São Jorge, less than 100 metres from the coast and just 2 minutes by boat from Velas Port. The top of the reef develops between 5 and 10 metres and the currents are weak, making this an easy dive site accessible to any diver. It is an excellent choice for dive baptisms, night dives and snorkelling sessions.

Despite being so close to shore, the site holds a unique landscape, especially for those who descend to the grotto that gives it its name, an area reserved for more experienced divers. The entrance, quite spacious, opens around 24 metres depth and is covered by dense branches of black coral (Antipathella wollastoni), which extend into the interior and surrounding areas. Inside you will find patches of narwhal shrimp (Plesionika narval), frequent prey of hakes (Phycis phycis), along with the striking cardinalfish (Apogon imberbis).

Returning to the top of the reef, marine life remains abundant and represents well what typically inhabits Azores seabeds. Several species of moray eels cross paths, among them the less common fangtooth moray (Enchelycore anatina), as well as rainbow wrasse (Thalassoma pavo), damselfish (Chromis limbata and Abudefduf luridus), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) and small schools of salema (Sarpa salpa).