Ilhéu da Mina

Ilhéu da Mina lies off the coast of the village of São Sebastião, in Terceira, about 50 metres from the shore, and measures just around 20 metres in length. It is a versatile diving spot: despite having quite deep sections, the dive can be adjusted to any diver’s level and can even be done as snorkelling, since the entry is at the surface, right next to the islet. You can reach it by boat in about 25 minutes from Porto de Angra do Heroísmo, or in 20 minutes from Praia da Vitória Port.

The diving approach is to save the shallower waters around the islet for the end and start with a vertical wall that descends to 20 metres. At its base opens a zone cut through by wide canyons, which you can traverse. In the water column, shoals often appear, with trumpetfish (Sphyraena viridensis) and greater amberjacks (Seriola rivoliana) feeding on small horse mackerel (Trachurus picturatus). From here you follow the islet to a nearby reef, which rises from 25 to 3 metres. Currents in this area tend to be moderate.

This reef concentrates abundant marine life and, skirting it on the southern side, it is possible to descend to 35 metres. At that point rises a rock formation shaped like a pinnacle, about 15 metres high, covered by large branches of black coral (Antipathella wollastoni) and, quite frequently, accompanied by one or another grouper (Epinephelus marginatus).