NBM Dive Site Resource
Arcadas de São Roque
Madalena, Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal
UNVERIFIED — The official Azores dive registry identifies Arcadas de São Roque as a current coastal dive, with an average depth of 18m and a published maximum of 25m. Conditions, route and access must be reconfirmed locally.
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Historic Picture Placeholder
Aquatic life at this dive site
What divers may encounter
Three reviewed connections are featured here. Sightings vary by season, conditions, and chance, so they are never guaranteed.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Aquatic life research in progress
NBM is reviewing a likely local species for this position.
Site media
Photographs
Three views rotate from the published gallery on each visit.
Contributor media
Dive videos
Three featured video positions are reserved on every profile.Published reference location
Location map
The marker shows the public coordinates associated with this profile. Confirm current access, moorings, and departure details before the dive.Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
Recent field observations
Diver-reported temperatures
Automatically checked observations from dives during the past 14 days. Three reports are visible at a time; scroll for more.A report that passes the automatic checks will appear here with the dive date, diver’s display name, and temperatures at each depth.
Reports are automatically checked for plausible dates, depths, and temperatures. They are observations, not forecasts; confirm conditions before diving.
Why divers know this place
Highlights
In a quiet, sheltered area on Pico’s north coast you will find the town of São Roque, where tide pools are the starting point of a beautiful dive in the Arcadas de São Roque (São Roque Arches), a great place for beginner dives, night dives and snorkelling. The 3 metre deep tide pools are home to magnificent rock formations and impressive marine biodiversity, which are worth exploring before descending along the wall to a depth of 12 metres to the São Roque Arch. This impressive rock formation rises from the sea bed, almost touching the surface, and is covered with yellow cluster anemone (Parazoanthus axinellae), large schools of yellowmouth barracudas (Sphyraena viridensis) and colourful Azores chromis (Chromis limbata).
Before you arrive
Access notes
Coast 25 min by car from Madalena. Access is operator-, permit- and weather-dependent. The displayed coordinates are rounded locality points only—not an entry, launch, marina pickup, mooring, reef top, wreck position, cave entrance, descent point or navigation waypoint.
Plan within your training
Conditions and hazards
Open-Atlantic swell, changing visibility, surge and surface traffic are possible. Dive only with a current local operator and abort when conditions exceed training or the briefing.
At the site
Facilities and support
Use a licensed local dive center. Confirm transport, rental equipment, gas availability, emergency oxygen, communications, recall procedures, environmental restrictions and the current hyperbaric/emergency plan before departure.
Independent resource notice
This record is a starting point for independent verification. Access, closures, moorings, weather, currents, depth, visibility, operator availability, and site conditions can change without notice. Confirm current information with the responsible operator, property owner, managing authority, or another qualified local source before planning or attempting a dive.