Açores

[CotoChris]

<font color='#0000FF'>Conclusion
The Azores has much to offer. It’s a great destination with good diving. Top side it is tranquil and unspoilt, personally I love this hence why we went to the açores and not Madeira or Tenerife. The diving was good and apparently much better in the summer. I can only compare it to my experience from diving in Portugal mainland and Gozo. I will return and try to do some Blue water diving to spot bigger fish. To dive with whales you need a permit, not sure how hard it is to get but personally I’m OK knowing that they are around and leave them unbothered. You can take special tours that go close to them though if you wish.
I dive with Espírito Azul (www.espiritoazul.com)who proved excellent, couldn’t fault them. Knowing how competent you are they can take you to more challenging sites. In the summer they will offer trips to some inhabited islands and marine reserve some 40kms away.

[John Gulliver]

Thanks, Chris! It's always interesting to read about other people's trips, especially about placed one hasn't been to, and the pics make it even more interesting.