Wahoo Diving
Google 4.8/5 (194 reviews)
9 km away as the crow flies
Santa Maria · Azores · Atlantic
Max. depth · 40 mBanco João Lopes: Advanced Diving on Santa Maria's Northern Bank
Descend onto Banco João Lopes, an exposed underwater rock on Santa Maria's north coast, where dramatic walls plummet to 40 metres and pelagic encounters are a regular thrill.
What makes this site special
- Dramatic vertical walls descending to 40 metres.
- Frequent sightings of jamantas (Manta birostris).
- Abundant meros (Epinephelus marginatus) and badejos (Mycteroperca rubra) along walls.
- Diverse Azorean reef fish at the 14-metre summit.
- Opportunity for challenging drift diving in moderate to strong currents.
For subtitles in English: start the video firstthen click the gearat the top right of the video, select “Subtitles/CC”, then “Auto-translate” and choose “English”.
Banco João Lopes about the site
Banco João Lopes represents a significant underwater rock formation situated off the northern coast of Santa Maria in the Azores. The site begins with a shallow summit at 14 metres, presenting a vibrant ecosystem characteristic of Azorean depths. As you descend, the topography quickly transforms into dramatic drop-offs and vertical walls, a feature that distinguishes this offshore bank from more sheltered, coastal dives.
The dive profile here is dominated by these impressive vertical structures, especially prominent around the 20-metre mark. Exploring these sheer faces reveals a rich tapestry of marine life, with crevices and overhangs providing shelter for various species. The challenging conditions, including potentially strong currents, dictate a careful approach to navigation, allowing divers to fully appreciate the contours and scale of this submerged mountain.
Below 20 metres, the sheer walls become a hunting ground for larger predatory fish. Expect to encounter significant numbers of meros (Epinephelus marginatus) and badejos (Mycteroperca rubra), often seen patrolling the deeper sections of the vertical slopes. Their presence underscores the health and productivity of this offshore environment, which acts as a crucial feeding station.
One of the most compelling reasons to dive Banco João Lopes is the frequent presence of jamantas (Manta birostris). These majestic pelagics are often sighted gracefully cruising around the bank, particularly along its steeper edges. Their appearance transforms a dive into an unforgettable encounter, a testament to the site's importance as an aggregation point for open-ocean species.
The shallower sections of the bank, near the 14-metre summit, offer a different yet equally captivating experience. Here, you'll immerse yourself in fauna typical of the Azorean seafloor. Schools of peixes-rei (Coris julis), peixes-rainha (Balistes capriscus), salemas (Sarpa salpa), and garoupas (Serranus atricauda) populate the rocky outcrops, providing a colourful contrast to the deeper, more dramatic walls.
Diving Banco João Lopes: the marine life you’ll meet
Diving conditions
Banco João Lopes is an advanced dive site, with depths ranging from a minimum of 14 metres down to 40 metres. You should be prepared for potentially moderate to strong currents due to its relatively exposed position away from the coast. This site is recommended for experienced divers who are comfortable navigating in these conditions.
Three dives not to miss
Map of hotels, dive sites and dive centres in Santa Maria
Dive centres in Santa Maria
Hotels in Santa Maria
Frequently asked questions about Banco João Lopes
What experience level do you need for Banco João Lopes?
Banco João Lopes is an advanced dive site for experienced divers. You should be comfortable navigating around an exposed offshore bank, managing potentially moderate to strong currents, and following a profile that descends from the shallow summit along dramatic drop-offs and vertical walls reaching deeper sections.
How deep is Banco João Lopes?
Banco João Lopes begins at a summit 14 metres below the surface and descends to 40 metres. The profile changes quickly from the shallower rocky top to dramatic drop-offs and vertical walls, with especially prominent sheer structures around 20 metres and deeper slopes below.
What currents should you expect at Banco João Lopes?
At Banco João Lopes, you should be prepared for potentially moderate to strong currents. The site’s exposed position away from the coast creates challenging conditions and may require careful navigation. These conditions can support drift diving, so you need experience managing movement around the offshore bank and its walls.
What can you see at Banco João Lopes?
At Banco João Lopes, you can explore dramatic vertical walls, crevices, overhangs, and rocky outcrops. Jamantas are frequently sighted around the bank’s steeper edges, while meros and badejos patrol deeper slopes. Near the 14-metre summit, you may see peixes-rei, peixes-rainha, salemas, and garoupas among diverse Azorean reef fish.
