Formerly a Portuguese dependency, the majority of the islands are dry and sparsely vegetated today, but 200 years ago these islands presented a lush paradise to European sea-farers, and for over 400 years were regarded as one of the most strategically important locations in the trading world. As ships from Europe passed through these islands taking on fresh water and supplies, poor navigation and frequent storms meant that many of those vessels became casualties of the islands extensive reef system and the seabed is rich in materials lost, or discarded, by visiting ships. The seas are teeming with sharks, tuna, dolphins and turtles. You will meet shoals of bream, triggerfish, rockfish and perch and then there is the unusual underwater flora. Humpback and Grey Whales migrate past the islands (Mar-Apr).