Banco Princesa Alice
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Location
Azores
Dive Type
Recreational, TEK
Dive Site
High Seas
What you will see
Rock Formations, Sea Life, Sharks
Average Depth:
35mts
Maximum Depth:
60mts
Water Temperature:
16ºC-24ºC
There are dive sites… and then there is Princess Alice Bank.
Far out in the open Atlantic, almost 50 miles from the islands of Faial and Pico, rises a submerged mountain lost in the deep blue of the Azores. Reaching it is already part of the adventure. As the coastline disappears behind you, the ocean takes over completely. Dolphins race alongside the boat, seabirds glide overhead, and it is not uncommon to encounter whales or sea turtles during the crossing. After nearly three hours at sea, anticipation builds — because every diver onboard knows they are approaching one of the most legendary dive sites in the world.
Then suddenly, in the middle of the endless Atlantic, Princess Alice Bank appears beneath you.
The descent begins along the anchor line, suspended in crystal-clear blue water with visibility often exceeding 40 meters. And before you even reach the seamount, the magic starts. Shapes emerge from the blue. Silhouettes grow larger. Mobula rays glide effortlessly around you in graceful formations, sometimes dozens at a time, moving like a silent underwater ballet.
This is not a normal dive. This is pelagic diving at its absolute finest.
At depths between 30 and 40 meters, the seamount teems with life. Massive schools of fish circle in the current while amberjacks patrol the reef edges. Groupers hide among volcanic formations and colorful wrasses flash across the rocks. But the real spectacle happens in the water column. Giant manta rays can appear from the deep without warning, hovering impossibly close before vanishing back into the blue. Sharks are frequent visitors here too, especially the powerful Galapagos shark, adding to the raw, untamed feeling of this remote Atlantic sanctuary.
Everything about Princess Alice feels bigger, wilder, and more alive.
The currents, the distance from shore, the deep blue beneath you — all of it creates a sense of exploration that very few dive sites in the world can still offer. This is why experienced divers travel across the globe to reach this legendary bank. Not simply to dive, but to experience something unforgettable.
Princess Alice Bank is not just a dive site.
It is an expedition into the heart of the Atlantic Ocean.
-- Spot description by portugaldive.com
-- Photos by Luis Gui
Far out in the open Atlantic, almost 50 miles from the islands of Faial and Pico, rises a submerged mountain lost in the deep blue of the Azores. Reaching it is already part of the adventure. As the coastline disappears behind you, the ocean takes over completely. Dolphins race alongside the boat, seabirds glide overhead, and it is not uncommon to encounter whales or sea turtles during the crossing. After nearly three hours at sea, anticipation builds — because every diver onboard knows they are approaching one of the most legendary dive sites in the world.
Then suddenly, in the middle of the endless Atlantic, Princess Alice Bank appears beneath you.
The descent begins along the anchor line, suspended in crystal-clear blue water with visibility often exceeding 40 meters. And before you even reach the seamount, the magic starts. Shapes emerge from the blue. Silhouettes grow larger. Mobula rays glide effortlessly around you in graceful formations, sometimes dozens at a time, moving like a silent underwater ballet.
This is not a normal dive. This is pelagic diving at its absolute finest.
At depths between 30 and 40 meters, the seamount teems with life. Massive schools of fish circle in the current while amberjacks patrol the reef edges. Groupers hide among volcanic formations and colorful wrasses flash across the rocks. But the real spectacle happens in the water column. Giant manta rays can appear from the deep without warning, hovering impossibly close before vanishing back into the blue. Sharks are frequent visitors here too, especially the powerful Galapagos shark, adding to the raw, untamed feeling of this remote Atlantic sanctuary.
Everything about Princess Alice feels bigger, wilder, and more alive.
The currents, the distance from shore, the deep blue beneath you — all of it creates a sense of exploration that very few dive sites in the world can still offer. This is why experienced divers travel across the globe to reach this legendary bank. Not simply to dive, but to experience something unforgettable.
Princess Alice Bank is not just a dive site.
It is an expedition into the heart of the Atlantic Ocean.
-- Spot description by portugaldive.com
-- Photos by Luis Gui