Ilheu de Vila Franca do Campo
Also known as: Ilheu de Vila Franca, Ilhéu de Vila Franca - Boca, Ilheu de Vila Franca - Cozinha, Ilhéu de Vila Franca - Cozinha, Ilheu de Vila Franca - West, Ilhéu de Vila Franca - West, Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo, Ilheu de Vila Franca-Boca, Vila Franca do Campo islet
A volcanic islet 500 m off Vila Franca do Campo, Sao Miguel: a perimeter dive with a sheltered east face and an exposed west face, 12-20 m, boat-only.
Last updated September 2026
The dive
A small, 8-hectare volcanic islet rises about 500 metres off Vila Franca do Campo's marina. Boat-based scuba here works the exterior perimeter along a sheltered east face and an exposed west face, a different dive from the ferry-based walk into the islet's shallow crater lagoon that day-trippers take to swim and snorkel. The route passes three named points: Cozinha, the calmer east side at 12-20 metres, with the clearer water; West (Oeste), the same 12-20 metre band on the more current-swept side, where the current builds and larger fish gather, also used for surface marker buoy practice; and Boca (Boquete), the islet's north-facing crater entrance, named on operators' own dive maps though not separately depth-rated or described.
What makes it special
One short boat ride covers two contrasting dives on the same islet: a sheltered, current-light side for an easier profile, and an exposed side that runs real current. Azores Sub, the dive centre based at the islet's own marina, sells the whole islet as its primary local dive site, distinct from the wider circuit of stops it runs elsewhere.
Know before you go
Access is boat-only, run from the same marina: Azores Sub is based there, while Espirito Azul, also marina-based, and Azoresdiving, from Ponta Delgada, both name the site among their own dive spots. The west face's stronger current is the main thing to plan around when choosing which side to book. The islet has carried Nature Reserve status since 1983, integrated into the wider Caloura - Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo Resource Management Protected Area. It was also closed to bathing for the 2025 season, reopening for 2026 under a cap of 400 people a day.
Why Dive Ilheu de Vila Franca do Campo
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Sheltered east, exposed west
Cozinha's calmer face and the current-swept West/Oeste sit on the same short perimeter
- 12-20 m throughout
Both named sub-spots run the same published depth band
- Boat-only, from the marina
Run from operators' own boats out of Vila Franca do Campo, not the ferry landing
- Nature Reserve since 1983
Protected since 1983, now part of a wider 1,349 ha management area
Depth & Profile
Location
37.7059°N, 25.4429°W
Conditions & difficulty
The area's general window, when the water runs warmest.
Azores Sub prices a baptism/try-dive at the islet from EUR 70, a certified-diver package covering this site from EUR 229, and a snorkelling trip around the islet from EUR 73.62.
Both named sub-spots run the same published 12-20 m band. The shallower end suits Open Water; the deeper end crosses the Open Water ceiling, so the full route is graded Advanced Open Water.
Summary
The sheltered east face (Cozinha) is the calmer of the two; the exposed west face (West/Oeste), also used for surface marker buoy training, runs stronger current and reads as the more demanding half of the same dive.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Current: The exposed west face (West/Oeste) runs noticeably stronger current than the sheltered east face (Cozinha).Match the face to your comfort level, and hold your position steadily against the current rather than fighting it on the west side.
Rules and permits
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the 2025-2026 bathing ban at Ilheu de Vila Franca do Campo affect scuba diving?▾
The islet was closed to bathing ('banhos') for the 2025 season after several years of poor water-quality readings, and reopened for 2026 under a cap of 400 visitors a day. Officials were explicit at the time that visiting the islet itself was not banned, only bathing was, by law. No source, official or operator, states whether that legal term covers scuba diving or snorkelling, and dive centres kept running boat-based trips through the closure.
Can I do an introductory dive at Ilheu de Vila Franca do Campo without a certification?▾
One diver's account posted online says that without an Open Water certification, you are limited to a basic introductory dive here rather than the full site. No operator confirms a minimum certification directly, so treat this as a single, specific report that remains uncorroborated by any operator.
References
- 1.Governo dos Açores - Parques Naturais — Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo - Protected Area for the Management of Habitats or Species
- 2.RTP Açores, March 28, 2025 — Ilhéu de Vila Franca do Campo interdito a banhos em 2025
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