This dive site, Lourenços, is a prominent underwater pinnacle located off the coast of Santa Maria Island in the Azores, Portugal. The pinnacle rises dramatically from the seabed, with its top at 26 meters and impressive walls that plunge down to depths of 45 meters or more. Divers typically descend along mooring lines or free-descend to the top of the pinnacle, then explore the vibrant walls, often performing a drift dive along the edges, keeping an eye out for passing pelagic life. No specific historical details about the naming or discovery of the site are readily available.
Lourenços is renowned for its rich marine biodiversity. The site is a magnet for various pelagic species, offering opportunities to spot large marine life. Resident species include stingrays and round stingrays. The walls are adorned with anthias, creating a colorful spectacle. Other fish commonly sighted are grey mullet, axillary seabream, red porgy, wrasse species (including axillary wrasse), bastard grunt, blacktail comber, and white seabream. Triton is also listed, indicating some invertebrate life.
The best time to visit Lourenços for optimal conditions and pelagic encounters typically aligns with the warmer months, generally from June to October, when water temperatures are milder and large pelagics are more prevalent. Divers should be experienced due to the depth and potential for currents, making it an advanced-level dive. For freedivers, the pinnacle top at 26 meters offers a challenging but rewarding target, with the potential to encounter pelagic species in the blue. Given the exposed nature of the site, surface conditions and currents should always be carefully assessed before diving or freediving.
