Princess Alice Bank, discovered in a shallow in 1896, has to be one of the best dives of the Azores. Banco Princesa Alice (which is another name of the site) is a submerged seamount located 50 mi/93km to the southwest of the island of Pico and 45 mi/83km to the southwest of the island of Faial in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores. The seamount rises up from the ocean floor more than 1500m/4921ft below, forming a platform at the depth of 241m/790ft, and then forming a peak at the depth of 35m/115ft. What is unique about this site is that it features water so clear that divers can see the submerged seamount from the surface. The dive is suitable for experienced divers only.
When To Go Diving
The best time to dive Banco Princesa Alice is from July to mid-October, when the average water temperature ranges between 18C/64F and 23C/73F.
What to see
Wreck and a wide variety of marine life, including massive schools of pelagic, such as sardines, mackerels, amberjack and queenfish as well as large colonies of Mantas (sometimes up to 30 mantas), tuna, barracuda, wahoo, dusky groupers and even Galapagos and hammerhead sharks.