Go Shark
SSI-affiliated shark and manta ray specialist at Marina da Horta, Faial, running marine-biologist-led Condor Bank and Princess Alice Bank trips.
Last updated September 2026
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About
Go Shark is a small, marine-biologist-led shark and manta ray specialist based at Marina da Horta on Faial, built around two named offshore banks rather than general boat diving. Silvio Solleliet-Ferreira, a French and Portuguese marine biologist who spent years studying blue sharks, shortfin makos and sicklefin devil rays in the wild, guides the trips himself alongside a small team, with a co-guide named Marianna recurring across independent accounts of the trips.
The centre's two headline products are Condor Bank, for blue and mako sharks, and Princess Alice Bank, an underwater seamount about 45 miles and 2-2.5 hours by boat from Horta where sicklefin devil rays gather; the seamount peaks at 32 metres, with a diveable platform reported at 35 metres. Each is sold across four ways to meet the animals: watching from the boat, snorkeling, freediving or scuba diving, so a non-diver can still join. Scuba on either bank requires a dive certification plus a paid check dive, with no minimum certification level named for either trip.
Beyond the offshore banks, Go Shark also runs daily coastal diving and snorkeling around Faial and the Pico islets, a two-hour Discover Scuba Diving try-dive, and open-ended SEAfari boat charters. It carries the general SSI affiliation, without an additional facility grade such as Diamond Center. Groups are kept small, 6 to 8 people depending on the trip, and the centre advises visitors to plan at least three days on Faial or Pico for a realistic weather window on the offshore banks.
What divers say
Reviewers consistently frame the shark and manta encounters as close but respectful, not a rushed circuit through the water; one account calls the approach "respectful and minimally disturbing" to the animals. That same care is credited by name in several independent reviews and a separate online recommendation, which single out Silvio and his co-guide Marianna for their marine-biology background. One diver traveling in July 2026 called out safety as a stated priority on the Condor Bank trip; another mentioned the crew carefully handling underwater camera gear on and off the boat.
A June 2026 reviewer who joined the season-opening Condor Bank trip reported seeing both a blue shark and a mako shark on the same outing, plus whales and dolphins on the boat ride out. The overall picture across a combined base of roughly a hundred reviews on two platforms is strongly positive, though at least one account describes a frustrating, disorganised booking experience, an exception against an otherwise consistent pattern.
Dive Sites (3)
Facilities
Pricing
We do our best to show current pricing, but rates may change without notice. Last verified September 2026. Always confirm the latest prices on Go Shark's official website before booking.
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Guided Dives
Other Services
Multi-dive packages reduce the per-dive price for coastal diving.
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of certification does Go Shark require for the deep offshore scuba dives?▾
Go Shark asks only for 'a dive certification and a check dive' before either offshore scuba trip, without naming a minimum level. Both Princess Alice Bank and Condor Bank scuba dives can reach 32-35 metres, at or beyond where many recreational agencies cap Open Water diving, so it is worth judging your own experience against that depth on its own, since the paid check dive alone may not confirm it. Watching from the boat and snorkeling, on both banks, need no certification at all.
How does the shark diving actually work in open water?▾
The Condor Bank trip is done drifting alongside the boat, not over a reef. A chum box is kept roughly 4 metres deep, at a safe distance from the group, and divers hold or clip onto lines with a maximum depth of 8-10 metres connecting them back to the boat.
Is there anything to dive or snorkel here without booking one of the offshore banks?▾
Yes. Alongside the Condor Bank and Princess Alice Bank trips, Go Shark runs daily coastal diving and snorkeling around Faial and the neighbouring Pico islets, including a marine protected area close to Horta, plus a two-hour Discover Scuba Diving try-dive for anyone with no certification at all.
Can Pico-based travellers join the trips?▾
Yes. Guests based on Pico can be picked up to meet the boat in Faial, and the Princess Alice Bank manta trip can alternatively meet at Madalena harbour on Pico instead of departing from Horta.
How many days should I plan on Faial or Pico to actually get out to the offshore banks?▾
The centre recommends budgeting at least three days, since the offshore trips are weather-dependent and often firmed up day to day, with little booked far in advance; one independent account describes the coastal trip choice being made on the day based on conditions, with confirmation by message the evening before or the morning of.
What is the best way to contact Go Shark to book?▾
Email and the website are consistent across every listing; phone numbers vary slightly depending on where you look, so email, the website or a direct message are the more reliable ways to confirm a booking.
Are there any conditions to plan around on these dives?▾
Yes. The centre describes Princess Alice Bank itself as an unpredictable spot for current, and its coastal pinnacle sites are also more exposed to current than a typical sheltered reef, which is part of why they draw bigger groups of pelagic fish. Come ready for current-aware, open-water diving, not a calm, static dive.
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