Freediving
Weeks on Pico with
Doris Hovermann
Experience the fascinating underwater world of the Azores up close with freediving specialist Doris Hovermann, from tranquil shore dive sites to exciting blue-water dives with blue sharks and mobula rays.
The rugged rocks off Pico, with their crevices and caves, offer unique diving adventures, while a day on the open sea in search of pelagic fish like the pelagic ball is one of the absolute highlights.
MOBULA ROACHES
The unique place Princess Alice is a meeting point of megafauna in the Atlantic Ocean. These deep sea mounts are home to resident pelagic fish such as barracuda and amberjack. Research has shown that the mobula rays team up with the big fish to hunt. In addition, the mobula allow themselves to be cleaned in the warm water of the surface.
BIG FISH
Large schools of fish live around the Azores island and meet at the deep sea mountains.
Bait Balls
The slopes of the inorganic ridge in the mid-Atlantic bring a lot of food to the surface. Snipefish, bastard mackerel and sardines form huge schools which are then herded together by big fish and dolphins to the baitballs - a spectacle. At the surface it is the yellow-billed shearwaters that take part in the big meal and show us the way to this big meal.
Blue sharks
Blue and mako sharks are the beneficiaries of this huge food mass. At special points like the deep-sea mountain Pe de Sousa or the Condor Bank, which has been protected for years, we meet these wanderers of the seas.
DelphineS
The unique place Princess Alice is a meeting point of megafauna in the Atlantic Ocean. These deep sea mounts are home to resident pelagic fish such as barracuda and amberjack. Research has shown that the mobula rays team up with the big fish to hunt. In addition, the mobula allow themselves to be cleaned in the warm water of the surface.
WHALE WATCHING
Of course, the very large inhabitants of the seas are also on the move here. The various species migrate in the ocean and pass by this gas station in the Atlantic Ocean near Pico. Others spend their whole life here, like the female sperm whale.
PROTECTION
The slopes of the inorganic ridge in the mid-Atlantic bring a lot of food to the surface. Snipefish, bastard mackerel and sardines form huge schools which are then herded together by big fish and dolphins to the baitballs - a spectacle. On the surface, the yellow-billed shearwaters take part in the big meal and show us the way to this big meal.
SAFETY
Pico Island Adventures was the first company to deal with shark diving in the Azores. Since the beginning we have relied on the knowledge and expertise of Professor Erich Ritter. For many years Erich ran the Sharkschool on Pico and trained our teams. In the last years this work was continued by the shark researcher and free diver Lukas Müller. We follow these guidelines. That's why Pico Island Adventures can point to accident-free statistics and has made many shark lovers happy.
Doris Hovermann
"Your diving instructor"
Since 1994 I am an enthusiastic diver. It quickly turned out that I like to pass on my knowledge about diving to others successfully. I have a lot of fun passing on this enthusiasm to others. With safety & empathy to help everyone to the great experience in the water. No matter if you are a beginner, an advanced diver or a future instructor.
Through constant training - and of course by diving, diving, diving - in inland waters and worldwide in the seas, I can fall back on extensive qualifications and great experience.
- Since 2005 I am a diving instructor for the associations CMAS (i.a.c.), SSI and AIDA.
- Since 2009 I do this full time.
- Since 2011 I am a trainer for diving instructors. (Instructor Trainer)
- Since 2016 I am already "SSI Platinum Pro 5000" holder (Highest award of the diving association SSI).
- Since 2017 Relaqua® instructor (relaxation trainer)
- Sport leader and founding member of the German Freediving Association e.V. Link: DFV e.V.
- Member of the German AIDA National Squad 2009 - 2019
- Mares brand ambassador
