Norberto Diver
Marina da Horta, The Azores, Portugal
Highlights
- We are the pionners of scuba diving in Faial Island, open since 1996
- We offer a wide variety of dive trips of Coastal dive, Blue sharks and Devil Rays, Whale Watching and Swimming with Dolphins tours
- 5 zodiac boats and 1 catamaran, capacity to have large groups (up to 14 divers each)
- We speak portuguese, english, french and spanish
- Daily trips, private trips, half day and full day trips
Choose your departure date
About Norberto Diver
Norberto Diver was founded in 1996, by Norberto Serpa, the “sea-wolf”, who has more than 20 years of experience working with marine life. He is a professional diver, free diving instructor and was a diving technician for the Department of Oceanography and Fisheries of the University of Azores. He is an active collaborator in several studies in the field of Marine Biology, with whales, devil rays and blue sharks.
Our Services
Facilities
Equipment Rental
Gas fills
Diving cylinders
Safety
Onsite payment options
Dive Styles
Languages
- English
- German
- French
- Spanish
- Portuguese
Our Staff
More Information
We are open from March to October. During our Spring (March to middle-June) and Autumn (October) we only perform Coastal Dives and during Summer (middle-June to September) we offer off-shore dives as well.
Our coastal dives spots are mainly in a Marine Protected Area in Faial Island, it is called "Monte da Guia" (it was classified Protected Area in 1980 and also protected by the Natura 2000 Network, as a Special Conservation Area). Is the result of an ancient underwater volcano. The steep walls of Monte da Guia Marine Reserve bloom with underwater flora and fauna. A 5 -minute trip from Faial’s capital and you have arrived. The old caldera’s steep walls continue underwater. A back-roll entry off the Zodiac and into the clear Azorean water, 68 to 75 F C) in the summer months, means a 5mm wetsuit is suitable. Descending to 80 feet (25 m), a sandy bottom awaits and gradually slopes off to a depth of 450 feet (140 m) toward the middle of the channel between the islands of Faial and Pico. Stingrays and giant dusky groupers call the site home as well. 1 resident grouper, weighing over 220 pounds (100 kg) resides in the skeletal remains of a tiny, timeworn steel vessel at 82 feet (25 m). Despite the megafauna you might see, the flora along this route warrants most of your attention. Algae and sponges cover almost the entire rock in all shades of the spectrum. The scene resembles a botanical garden more than an underwater landscape. Many nudibranch species also inhabit the steep wall. This dive offers something for everyone with the right conditions, from the macro- to megafauna-lover.
In middle-June the Devil Rays (Mobula tarapacana) start arriving at 1 specific spot. 1 of the lesser-known mobula species, the sicklefin devil ray, also known as the Chilean devil ray or spiny mobula, can reach a disc width of up to 12 feet (37 m). Their striking frontal horns resemble the frontal lobes of manta rays. These horns account for the name “devil ray,” as people compared these horns to devil’s horns. Mobulas are long migrators, usually traveling great distances in summer and winter to search for food. Sicklefin devil rays inhabit most tropical and temperate waters around the world. The Azores Islands in the Mid-Atlantic are 1 of the best areas to observe mass congregations. On Princess Alice Bank, 45 nautical miles (93 km) off the coast of Faial Island, divers have encountered over 80 individuals in 1 tight group.
Also, Blue sharks (Prionace glauca) are 1 of the shark species that we see the most during our summer. In this trip you will have the opportunity to see 1 of the fastest fishes in the ocean. It’s 1 in a life time experience, where you have the chance to be in the world of this amazing predator. This dive is not considered a deep dive. The divers will be between the surface and 10 meters, the depth where the bait box is placed. The boat will drift and the divers and snorkelers will be near the boat