Approx 200 guests
87 rooms including stnadard rooms, suites and 1 bed apartments
A panoramic Restaurant
Hotel restaurant and bar - only 5 mins from town centre
Haliotis dive centre on site at hotel
2 dive or full day boat, night diving, Dollabart and Formigas
Full range of courses and kit hire payable locally
Wifi in communal areas

Hotel Colombo | Dive the Azores

Santa Maria lies in the south east of the Azores, a short 30min flight from San Miguel. This is a unique island, with gorgeous sea views and golden sandy beaches. It's a firm favourite too with our divers, thanks to the easily accessible dive sites, superb blue water viz and mobula sightings. At trip to Santa Maria for diving combines well with a few nights on San Miguel to explore the Azores on land - make sure to leave time to experience the food, wine and stunning hillside scenery.

The hotel Colombo has a privileged location, with glorious sea views from almost ever part of the hotel. It offers 3 types of accommodation. The standard rooms have a twin or double bed. There are also senior suites, with a larger living area. Or for families you can opt for an apartment, with a double room and 2 pull out beds for the kids in the living area. No matter which room you chose, all have a balcony, telephone, mini bar, satellite TV, safe and AC.

The dive centre Haliotis is based on site in the hotel Colombo with plenty of facilities, including changing rooms, a well stocked shop and classroom. The health club offers a wide range of services, including gym, jacuzzi, Turkish bath and spa massage services. There is an outdoor pool as well as indoor. Enjoy your meals in the on site restaurant or take a stroll into Vila do Porto, which is only 5 minutes away, to enjoy some of the local flavours.

Twin/double rooms

Large room with twin or double beds, equipped with air conditioning, telephone with direct access to the outside, free WiFi, minibar, cable TV, safe and complete bathroom with hairdryer.

Suites

The suites are larger than the standard rooms, with a small living area alongside the bed. All have air conditioning, telephone with direct access to the outside, free WiFi, minibar, cable TV, safe and complete bathroom with hairdryer.

1 bedroom appartments

The apartments typically have an entrance hall with wardrobe, a bedroom and a living room with individual balcony, telephone with direct access to the outside, free WiFi, cable TV and air conditioning. The room sleeps 2, and the living room consists of two sofa beds and a fully equipped kitchenette. There is also a bathroom with a hairdryer and a closet.

Soak up the sea views from the pool or hotel!

Call us or email to book

Covid Information for Hotel Colombo

Please ask about the latest in resort covid requirements, where applicable.

Country Covid Travel Information

View entry requirements here

There are no longer any COVID-19 vaccination, testing or passenger locator form requirements for entry to mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

From 18th March, when you travel to England from abroad you:
do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
do not need to fill in a UK passenger locator form
do not need to quarantine when you arrive
This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.

It includes people who are transiting through England.
Updated 13SEP 2022

Location

All the nine islands of the Azores Archipelago are located in the North Atlantic. These volcanic isles are scattered along a 600 km stretch of ocean from Santa Maria to Corvo. The islands of the archipelago are divided in three geographical groups: the Eastern Group, comprising Santa Maria and Sao Miguel, the Central Group, including Terceira, Graciosa, Sao Jorge, Pico and Faial, and the Western Group, composed by Corvo and Flores. Each island has its own individual atmosphere and distinctive flair. Typically, the best months for divers are May to October, when the marine life is at its most exciting and the water temps climb to 20-24C.

Covid Travel Information

View entry requirements here

There are no longer any COVID-19 vaccination, testing or passenger locator form requirements for entry to mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores.

From 18th March, when you travel to England from abroad you:
do not need to take any COVID-19 tests before you travel or after you arrive
do not need to fill in a UK passenger locator form
do not need to quarantine when you arrive
This applies whether you are vaccinated or not.

It includes people who are transiting through England.
Updated 13SEP 2022

Weather and Climate

The weather in the Azores is changeable! The islands enjoy a mild temperate climate throughout the year and benefit from the Gulf Stream; a current of warm water that heads north east from the Gulf of Mexico. The average air temperature varies between 11 and 26°C depending on the time of year and the surrounding ocean averages between 15 and 23°C. Being so far out in the Atlantic, the islands are prone to rainy days at any time of year, and without these showers of course, you could not enjoy the beautiful flora on the islands.

Travel

Flight options

There are weekly direct flights from the UK via Lisbon from Heathrow and Manchester with TAP. Depending on which island you are staying on, you may find you need a night en route before catching your onward Air Azores flight to Faial or Santa Maria.

Stopovers

If you are flying with TAP, you can also add a night or two in Lisbon, Portugal en route.

Arrange before you go

Regular Entry Requirements

If you are a tourist, you do not need a visa for short trips to EU countries, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. You can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. If you visit more than one of these countries within a 180-day period, check that you do not spend more than 90 days in total across all the countries you visit. That is because most of these countries apply the 90-day limit as a group. There are different rules for Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus and Romania.. Do ensure your passport has 6 months validity from your return date to prevent any issues with your airline. It is your responsibility to ensure your passport is valid and you fulfil entry requirements. Regulations can change: please review current FCO advice: click here

Insurance

Scuba Travel requires all of our customers to have diving insurance. Please make sure that you have appropriate cover for your diving activities. We also strongly recommend you have travel insurance. It's worth taking out travel insurance once you have paid your deposit to ensure you are covered for unforeseen events and cancellation. Find out more about our combined dive and travel policy click here

Immunisations

Your covid proof of vaccination must match your passport name and flight ticket name. Please speak to your local GP or check out the latest NHS advice on updating your NHS details or for other travel immunisations: click here

Preparing to fly

Seating

You will be able to manage your booking online once you have been ticketed (after you have paid your holiday balance). Most airlines will now enable you to select your seating at this point. There may be a small charge for prebookable seating before online check in opens. Please speak to the airline for more information about charges.

Check in

Depending on your airline, you may be able to complete check in online to print your boarding pass. If not, we will email your flight tickets to you in advance. You must print your ticket coupon.

Lounge

An airport lounge is a great way to start your holiday or to while away flight connections in comfort. Scuba Travel works with Lounge Pass to offer a huge range of affordable airport lounges around the world click here

Parking

Prebook your airport parking to save money! If you have a long way to travel, why not also look at booking an airport hotel. These aren't as expensive as you might think. click here

What happens when I arrive?

On arrival please make your way through baggage claim and immigration. There will either be a rep to meet you or you will have full details of your where to meet your transfer (with a confirmation voucher) in your travel documentation. If you have any issues on arrival, please contact us. We have an emergency contact, manned by a member of the team here in the UK. Please call 0044 7747 488 002. We will be able to help your rep locate you in the airport.

Transfers

Transfers are included in your holiday. You will be advised in your travel documentation of how to find your transfer.

Departures

At the end of your holiday, your return transfer details will be advised locally. EU passport holders do not need to pay a departure tax.

Info

Tipping

Tipping is entirely at your discretion. We do not make recommendations as to how much to tip. Should you wish to leave a tip for the staff and crew, it should reflect the level of service you have enjoyed.

Currency

The currency in the Azores is the euro. Card payments are accepted, but not in all shops or restaurants.

Phone coverage

The Azores has good GSM coverage but the signal can be patchy outside of the towns. Please check with your provider about data coverage.

Plugs and electricity

Electricity in Azores is 230 Volts, alternating at 50 cycles per second. If you travel to Azores with a device that does not accept 230 Volts at 50 Hertz, you will need a voltage converter. Outlets in Azores generally accept two round pin plugs.

Extras

Hire equipment

Kit hire is available from your dive centre Haliotis - this is arranged and paid for locally

Extras

Special trips, to sites such as dollabarat and formigas, night dives and all kit hire are paid for locally

Souvenirs

The dive centre has a shop on site for kit and souvenir purchases

Nitrox/Gas

Nitrox is available for recreational mixes. This can be prebooked and prepaid or paid for locally.

Payments

Deposits and Balances

A typical deposit for a holiday to Hotel Colombo is £250 per person, although this will depend on your exact flight option and travel class. Larger deposits may be required for some flight options (eg premium economy/business class).

Ways to pay

We accept mastercard and visa debit or credit cards. If you would like a pay by link to complete check out via email please let us know and it can be set up for you. We do not take AMEX. All non sterling card payments and UK business debit cards will be subject to the 3% surcharge. Alternatively, you are welcome to pay via bank transfer. Overseas bank transfers must add £8 to the sterling total to cover international handling fees. We are not able to accept PayPal transactions or personal cheques.

Group Payments

If you have booked as part of a group, you can still call and pay directly without needing to go via your group leader. Please have your trip reference number to hand to help us locate your holiday as quickly as possible. You will receive a transaction receipt - your group leader will forward your ATOL certificate and booking confirmation

Discounts

Repeat Guests

Are you one of Scuba Travel's repeat customers?
Over 60% of our customers trust Scuba Travel to book their next diving holiday, time after time.

And we believe you deserve a huge thanks for your ongoing support over the years, which is what our repeater discount is all about! Travel with us again in either 12 months or 24 months and you will qualify for a discount. That's all you have to do. No forms, no numbers to remember, no fuss, just a good honest price reduction.

5% off for repeat customers travelling with Scuba Travel within 24 months
Repeat discounts are not cumulative and cannot be applied to special offer prices

Included

Includes flights and transfers, accommodation on a B&B basis and 10 boat dives

Excluded

Additional dives, special trips, nitrox, meals outside of your board basis and and excursions

Tipping is entirely at your discretion. We do not make recommendations as to how much to tip. Should you wish to leave a tip for the staff and crew, it should reflect the level of service you have enjoyed.

Santa Maria is the perfect introduction to the varied diving in the Azores. The viz is usually excellent, with brilliant blue water. We recommend a stay here between June and September for the best viz, water temps... and most importantly marine life! The most famous residents are the mobula. Simply drop down at Ambrosio and you nearly always find a school of mobula. These curious beasts will usually then come in close to investigate divers. It's no wonder this area is a marine reserve. So sit back and enjoy the show!

The Haliotis dive centre is on site in the Hotel Colombo itself - making this one of the most convenient places to stay! Here you will find everything you need, including classrooms, changing rooms, and all the kit you could need. The dive team are PADI instrocturs and dive masters, with all the local knowledge you need to make your trip to Santa Maria memorable.

Daily boat diving on custom built RIBS
Mega for macro
Dive with the resident mobula fever
Must see dives at Pedrinha, Baixa da Maia and Gruta Azul
Swim throughs, caves and lava arches

Pedrinha is one of the islands must do dive sites. It's resident moray Veronica introduces herself to most divers. Large groupers hang around near the coral formations and. There's a lava canyon, climbing from the depths. Gruta Azul is best known for the huge sting rays, whilst Baixa da Maia is the place for huge schools of trigger fish and barred hog fish. Barracuda are common at Baixa de Sao Lourenco. But it is Ambrosio is the place to go for the magical mobula encounters. Special trips are regularly run (local surcharge applies) to Dollabarat and Formigas. These are remote islets where the schooling fish numbers are vast. You have good chance to see manta or shark on the walls. Dolphins and whales can be seen on the journey out.

Pedrinha

Skill level: All levels | Ave Depth: 7 | Max Depth: 35m

Located in the south part of the Island, at approx. 4nm from the marina this is one of the mandatory dives. Comprised of several small pinnacles at one site, the lava formations and canyons are magnificent. In addition, there are two galleries that divers can pass through very easily. The local is filled with small life and at times it is possible to see large pelagic fish there. The dive itself starts at 7 meters; normally we go straight to a wall filled with beautiful Marguerite (parazoanthus axinellae). Exiting that, we go into the first gallery located at 17 metres, exiting into a beautiful canyon at 32 metres, turning right and ascending to 18 metres where large schools of damselfish crowd the wall of the pinnacle. Going through a shelf we proceed into the second gallery that has three possible exits where some very beautiful, small coral formations are located. Sometimes there are a couple of very large groupers. Then ascend to 15 metres, passing through lots of small lava format

Gruta Azul

Skill level: All levels | Ave Depth: 7 | Max Depth: 17m

An amazing cavern where you can find huge stingrays and schools of small fishes. Its name, (Blue Cave in English), comes from the fact that when you came out of the cave you will find an amazing blue colour. Maximum depth is around 17 metres.

Baixa de Sao Lourenco

Skill level: All levels | Ave Depth: 7 | Max Depth: 50m

This dive spot is located in front of Sao Lourenco bay. It is a deep reef with some big underwater pinnacles. You will find big groupers on the bottom and schools of barracudas are common on the surface. It starts at 20 metres and goes down to 50 metres.

Ambrosio

Skill level: All levels | Ave Depth: 10 | Max Depth: 30m

Located in the north side of the island at 3nm from shore and 9nm from the marina, this is without a doubt one of the best dives in the Azores/Europe and the world. From late June to mid-October there are normally groups of 12-20 manta rays there, it is not unusual to see 40-50 at the same time; the record is 63. Large pelagic fish are also quite common here. Large schools of barracuda and tuna sometimes make their appearance, as well as bait ball from the small oar fish that the mantas try to eat!

Dollabarat and Formigas

Skill level: All levels | Ave Depth: 10 | Max Depth: 20m

Formigas are a group of very small islets located North- North-East of the island. Along with Dollabarat Dive, (the two are normally made in the same day), this is one of the most fantastic dives the Azores have to offer. Being a marine reserve, large schools of different species can normally be seen here, with special interest in the large pelagic. Located at 24 nm from the island of Santa Maria and 30 nm from the marina, the travel itself can be a fantastic experience, most of the time dolphins and whales are seen on the journey there. Since it is an offshore dive the visibility can be impressive; some days at the East wall of Formigas, where we have depths of 60 metres, the bottom can be seen from the surface. There are many possible dives here for all levels of divers, but the more common is on the north point, turning then to the East side. Normally there is no need to go beyond 15-18 metres deep, but at times the large school of fish or corals that exist there may require the div

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The Lounge Bar Almagreira

Snacks, hot meals and drinks on site at the lounge bar! Ideal for post diving relaxation and quick bites

A Travessa

A real hit with locals and visitors alike, this snack bar serves a range of freshly prepared meals for all

Mesa D'Oito

Tucked inland, this is arguably the island's best restaurant with a modern Azorean menu

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