D. Joao De Castro

D. João de Castro Bank is a submerged volcanic seamount located between the islands of Terceira and São Miguel in the Azores archipelago of Portugal, named after the ship that discovered it in the nineteenth century. It rises from deep water to within a few metres of the surface, and the shallowest pinnacle area is known for volcanic vents that release warm gas bubbles through the rock. The site draws divers interested in this geothermal activity along with the pelagic life that passes over the seamount, including mobula rays and various species of shark. Depths vary sharply across the site, from the near-surface pinnacle down to open water well beyond recreational limits, and its offshore position and current exposure make it a dive generally suited to experienced divers arriving by boat from São Miguel or Terceira.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Atlantic Spotted DolphinStenella frontalisReported here · unconfirmed
• Bigeye TunaThunnus obesusReported here · unconfirmed
• Common DolphinDelphinus delphisReported here · unconfirmed
• Striped DolphinStenella coeruleoalbaReported here · unconfirmed
• Common Bottlenose DolphinTursiops truncatusReported here · unconfirmed