10 Things to Do in Vila do Porto That You Shouldn't Miss

We welcome you to Santa Maria, an yet untouched small island in the Atlantic, on of 9 beautiful Islands - the Azores!Our job is to show you much more than the "must-see", we want you to experience nature, we want you to feel adventure, we want you to know what makes this island unique. Visit our website and know all about us!

Our diving center is located in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, on the Island of Santa Maria, the southeastern most island of the Azores archipelago. This location offers ideal conditions for diving, not only because of its fantastic water visibility (up to 40 meters) and temperature (22-24ºC), but also because of its high level of biodiversity. This is considered by many as the best diving location in Europe, a 2 hours flight away from Lisbon. Santa Maria Island: There are a number of different types of dives around the island of Santa Maria. This is a direct consequence of the diverse geologic formations of the Azores archipelago - caves, tunnels and sand bottoms on the coast, small islets close to the coast or seamounts in the open ocean. Worth mentioning is the ‘’Baixa do Ambrosio’’ where a yearly concentration of mobula rays, unique in the world, occurs in the summer. Natural Reserve of Formigas and Dollabarat: Considered by many as the best dive site in Europe, this marine protected area lies in the open ocean, 20 nautical miles northeast of the island of Santa Maria. A vast number of marine species can be observed here - this is indeed the place where the largest number of pelagic species has ever been recorded. Boats: Manta - 7.10m, semi-rigid, 2xSUZUKI 90HP, 14 Persons Badejo - 8.00m, semi-rigid, HONDA 225HP, 20 Persons Rilusa - 7.10m, fibreglass, VOLVO PENTA 150HP, 8 Persons B-Trox Filling Station: This modern BAUER Pure Air certified filling station offers complete safety of operation and an exceptional air quality with up to 40% oxygen enriched air (Nitrox) Transport: 9-place van

The Dalberto Pombo Environmental Interpretation Centre (CIADP) resulted of the reconstruction of an old historic building in Vila do Porto. This Centre houses the collections of the naturalist Dalberto Pombo, true pioneer in the study of the geological and biological diversity of Santa Maria and aims to promote the natural heritage in a dynamic and interactive way, with educational and scientific approach. To know more about the marine fossils, unique in the Azores and of international importance, a new space was created in the Centre, the House of Fossils, where the visitor can observe several examples of the naturalist’s collection and of the University of the Azores’ reference collection.

The outstanding conditions of Azores, combining climate with oceanic currents creates excelent conditions for diving with massive amounts of sealife. Here, Haliotis created another project, in the island of Santa Maria making the biggest local center. Santa Maria spreads for 16,6 km long and 9,1 km wide, with an area of 97 km2, and 5 574 inhabitants. Santa Maria is part of the Oriental Group of the Azores Islands, together with Sao Miguel, wich stands 81 km away. Its highest peak, Pico Alto, reaches 587 m de altitude. Around Santa Maria there are some 55 diving spots with caves, Canyons, walls, reefs.... Again, oceanic big species are always a possibility even in the closer dives. ur mascot in Santa Maria is the Manta (Mobula tarapacana). Mantas are common here in some spots and can be seen from the surface to 50m. This species has a typical triangle shape, tail without thorn and can reach 3.5 Meters wide