Azores

Graciosa: Delectable Diving & Dining in the Azores

Diver at Gruta do Carapacho
Diver at Gruta do Carapacho at an islet off Graciosa Island in the Azores

A small volcanic island in the Portuguese archipelago of the Azores, Graciosa offers a vibrant escape to a destination with beautiful nature, rich culture and delicious cuisine, as well as intriguing wrecks, marine life, caverns, caves and springs. Brandi Mueller tells us about her adventure there.

Azores: Adventure in the Atlantic

Whale shark feeding on bait ball of snipefish in the Azores
Whale shark feeding on bait ball of snipefish in the Azores

A powerful influencer of climate and ocean currents, the Atlantic Ocean is vast, stretching from the North Pole down to the South Pole. At around the middle of this massive system lie the Azores Islands, about seven hours flight from New York or approximately four hours from Lisbon. Silke Ptaszynski shares her adventure to the southernmost island of Santa Maria, with photos by Rainer Schimpf.

Looking for Moby Dick

It’s an adventure. You swim like a champion, trying to be as streamlined as possible and glide effortlessly through the water. Your heart rate is already at its limits and your breathing borders on hyperventilation. Your focus is on the sperm whale and its blow, which you can see just as you slide into the water. You are hoping to get the animal in front of your camera, but it is a bit of gamble.