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The Azores have a high potential for tourism differentiation, due to its distinctive and unique characteristics and natural beauty. However, there is a lack of interactions between known areas that can be used in innovation processes and international differentiation of the coastal and maritime tourism offer, since the value of seascapes remains underestimated. A seascape assessment methodology was developed based on data from databases, scientific publications, reports and existing promotional flyers/books, complemented by the empirical knowledge of local stakeholders, in order to access baseline seascape values (e.g., ecological, economic, cultural, social or aesthetic). In this context, underwater visual surveys play a vital role, allowing a detailed mapping in the underwater realm and complementing a detailed categorization of diving trails/spots, fulfilling characterization gaps that help to define standard evaluation criteria (e.g. biodiversity, habitats, substrate, geology, level of human impact, other uses, accessibility, cultural heritage, conservation status). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]