NBM Dive Site Resource
Ponta da Caveira
Santa Cruz das Flores, Autonomous Region of the Azores, Portugal
UNVERIFIED — The official Azores dive registry identifies Ponta da Caveira as a current coastal dive, with an average depth of 17m and a published maximum of 25m. Conditions, route and access must be reconfirmed locally.
Save this dive site to your free member profile.
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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
Located in a small, sheltered bay, this dive site features moderate depths of around 17 metres. It is a great place for beginner or night dives, or as an introductory dive to the island. The route follows a vertical wall heading east, with several cracks and caves along the route that have been formed by large lava tubes, some of which are filled by large congers (Conger conger), several species of moray eels, and forkbeards (Phycis phycis). Throughout the dive you are likely to see schools of curious grey triggerfish (Balistes carolinensis) in the water column, and as you reach the rocky seafloor you will spot clouds of Azores chromis (Chromis limbata), Mediterranean rainbow wrasses (Coris julis),ornate wrasses (Thalassoma pavo), parrotfish (Sparisoma cretense) and blacktail combers (Serranus atricauda). More experienced divers can continue along the wall to the end, where depth increases gradually to about 25 metres.
Before you arrive
Access notes
By boat 5 min from the Santa Cruz Quay. 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.