- Ultra available staff who know both the water & land of Santa Maria like the back of their hand
- Opportunity to scuba dive & rent a rebreather
- Beer (and other cool bevs) on the house following dives
- Seasonal AND frequent presence ofmanta rays and hammerhead sharks!
- Qualified team to handle disable divers
- Direct flights from Lisbon and San Miguel
Our opinion on the Mantamaria Dive Center:
On Santa Maria in the Azores, the diving is as good as the fish are big! Whether you’re a snorkeling buff or a lover of the great depths, Mantamaria Dive Center will immerse you in the Atlantic Ocean to find what makes you tick. Located right on the port of Santa Maria, Mantamaria Dive Center is open all year round and benefits from direct flights from Lisbon or Joao Paulo International Airport in San Miguel island. If time is not an issue, you can also take a ferry-ride from any Azores islands and find Jorge and his staff waiting for you with a warm welcome!
The Mantamaria Dive Center has many advantages. First, it’s very practical considering its location. Second, it has a pool to learn diving and train in. Third, the changing rooms, lockers, and hot showers are definitely a plus in the comfort zone. Finally, we must mention that the fridge is totally open—feel free to take anything you want (even beer... AFTER the dives!) whenever you want during your stay. Does it get much better than this?
Of course it does! The dives! In the Azores, you dive with manta rays, whale sharks, sperm whales (Hey, we told you the fish were big!), and dolphins. This golden opportunity is open to all levels and ages! In addition, for lovers of all things deep, the Portuguese archipelago is for you! With one of the four SSI instructors from Mantamaria Dive Center, you can dive up to 50 meters depth (and sometimes even more…). This will allow you to discover one of the strangest and most fascinating volcanic seabeds in the world. At these depths, you will see large reefs, caves, and underwater volcanoes as well as rare nudibranchs, stingrays, hammerhead sharks, barracudas, and groupers. Wow!
Also, for experienced divers who master the art of drift diving, deep diving, and non-guided diving, Mantamaria Dive Center offers you a boat to rent and all gear for autonomous day trips. You can even ask for a rebreather if your heart so desires, the dive center is rebreather-friendly!
So, are you asking yourself, “Why am I not already there” yet? Go! Go! Go! The great Atlantic is awaiting you!
