Diving in Madeira

Madeira Island is one of the surprises of the Atlantic. With its warm summer climate and crystal clear waters it attracts millions of tourists every year, but it also has a lot to offer in its dive sites thanks to its rich marine biodiversity and the artificial reefs that can be visited.

Diving options in Maderia range from close shore dives to visiting aquariums, nature reserves and artificial reefs elsewhere on the island. Here are the best diving options in the capital so that you can include this experience among the things to see and do in Funchal.

If you have always wanted to dive but have never been able to, this type of excursion is ideal for you. With the assistance of an instructor you will first take an introductory course in a swimming pool and then you will be given the equipment to dive in the sea at depths of up to twelve metres.

The boat departs from the Fort of San José, in Funchal, and the dives take place about two kilometres from the coast.

All with the official diving equipment and a certificate of recognition that will certify your knowledge of the subject.

The excursion has a total duration of three hours and almost an hour of actual diving. The initial instruction is in the shallow water of a swimming pool and also includes a theory lesson with safety and care instructions.

These excursions are usually the most demanded by tourists arriving in Funchal and wanting to try a diving experience.

The actual dives are always done in the open sea in small groups of up to four people, each guided by an expert instructor. It is also one of the activities to do in Madeira with children as the minimum age is eight years old.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... About 80 euros per person.
• Duration of the excursion... The tour lasts approximately three hours between the instruction and the actual dive.

The Madeira Aquarium is located in Porto Moniz, about fifty kilometres from Funchal, but as the short distances of the island allow for the movement of tourists, it is possible to book a diving excursion to the aquarium in the capital city with return transfer included.

These excursions are perfect for you to meet local fish species, swim with sharks, rays and moray eels and interact with the other divers in the group, always with the assistance of a professional guide.

This tour also includes a guided visit to the Madeira Aquarium and a certificate of appreciation for your participation.

The dives reach a maximum depth of six metres and are a very interesting experience for both beginners and experienced divers.

These excursions usually include a transfer service from Madeira to Porto Moniz and back, but at an extra cost.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences start at 100 euros per person and include the transfer service, but at an extra cost of approximately 30 euros.
• Duration of excursion... The tour lasts approximately three hours between instruction and the actual dive and a further two hours for the return transfers.
• Location of the aquarium... Rua do Forte de Sao João Baptista 7A, Porto Moniz.

If Madeira is the surprise of the Atlantic, the Garajau Nature Reserve is the jewel of Funchal and the best place for a diving excursion.

Located in the south of the island, it has numerous dive sites and an abundant and varied marine life, including tuna, barracudas, anemones and, of course, rays, which are characteristic of the Portuguese marine fauna.

The most popular dive sites are at Mamas, Galo or Lazareto, but for the most experienced divers the central point is T-Reef, a protected site with caves and pinnacles of up to thirty metres.

Due to the clarity of the water, the visibility is excellent and the marine fauna is complemented by a large colony of lobsters, as well as the view of one of the most beautiful beaches in Madeira.

The Garajau Nature Reserve is recommended by locals if you are looking for a diving activity in Funchal, although visitors are generally advised to have some prior knowledge.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences start at 50 euros per person and include the assistance of an instructor.
• Duration of excursion... The tour lasts approximately three hours between instruction and the actual dive.
• Location of the Reserve... Caniço, Garajau Beach.
• How to get there... As these tours generally do not include a transfer to Garajau, you can get there by car taking the VR1 route in twenty minutes or by intercity bus 114.

A few kilometres from Funchal, on the south coast of Madeira, Madalena do Mar offers diving excursions to thirty metres deep and artificial reefs with incredible views.

About 200 metres off the coast it is possible to see the Bom Rei, a hundred metre long sand boat that was sunk by a storm in 1996.

Sunk at a depth of thirty metres, the boat is now an artificial reef that can be visited during diving excursions and is a refuge for many marine species.

Like the Madeira Aquarium, Madalena do Mar is accessible from Funchal with round-trip excursions.

Madalena do Mar is one of the best options for diving in the paradisiacal open waters of Madeira and also an excellent opportunity to tour the interior of a boat sitting on the seabed.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences start at 70 euros per person and include the assistance of an instructor and transfer to and from Funchal at an extra cost.
• Duration of the excursion... The tour lasts approximately four hours between instruction and the actual dive.

Not usually included among the best tours in Funchal, but a visit to the island of Porto Santo, located about forty kilometres from Madeira, is an excellent plan, especially if you want to find the best dive sites for scuba diving.

In Porto Santo there are points with up to forty metres of depth and artificial reefs to explore. Currently there are two ships that were sunk to create artificial reefs, the Madeirense and the Corveta General Pereira d'Eca.

It is possible to access them with the assistance of an instructor even if you are not an expert diver. The island also offers a wide range of tourist attractions beyond diving, such as a visit to Christopher Columbus' house in Vila Baleira.

To get to Porto Santo you can choose to take one of the cruises from Madeira or you can even fly in from Lisbon or Porto.

Some tourist service providers in Funchal offer tours with transfers to Porto Santo with the cost of transport to be paid by the visitor.

Interesting details

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences start at 90 euros per person and include the assistance of an instructor. The cruise from Madeira to Porto Santo starts at 58 euros.
• Duration of the excursion... The tour lasts approximately four hours between the instruction and the actual dive. Two artificial reefs can be visited.

Ponta de São Lourenço is one of the most beautiful areas of Madeira Island and is home to the Natural Reserve of the same name, where it is possible to go on one of the most complete diving excursions on the island.

There you will be taken by boat to the best spots for diving and snorkelling accompanied by an instructor.

This tour will not only allow you to dive among some of the most exotic species of the island, such as the parrot fish, but also to see the cliffs of Baia D'Abra, which offers one of the most beautiful sunsets in Madeira. The price of the excursion includes the instructor's accompaniment and the snorkelling and diving equipment.

The Ponta de São Lourenço Nature Reserve is also known for protecting the island's land where the varietals that produce Madeira's most famous wine are found.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences cost around 50 euros per person and include the assistance of an instructor.
• Duration of excursion... The tour lasts approximately two and a half hours between instruction and the actual dive.

The Desert Islands are located southwest of Madeira and are a group of desert archipelagos with no population but a protected area that includes a large colony of sea lions, whales, sperm whales and dolphins.

It is possible to book excursions to these islands and experience diving in one of the most inhospitable places surrounding Madeira.

Fifty kilometres separate Madeira from the Desertas Islands and the only way to get there is by boat or small boats. This type of excursion is recommended for experienced divers, especially because of the large amount of rocks on the site, although the swell is not as strong.

A diving excursion to the Desert Islands offers a great chance to see dolphins and sperm whales at close range in one of the most secluded of Europe's Atlantic islands.

It may be a bit of a cumbersome tour if your stay on the island is short, but if you have a week in Madeira it's one of the activities you can't miss, along with the safaris and jeep tours departing from Funchal.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences cost around 90 euros per person and include the assistance of an instructor and transfer to the Deserted Islands area.
• Duration of the excursion... The tour lasts approximately four hours between instruction and the actual dive.

If you are a certified diver, this type of excursion may be ideal for you. Machico beach is not only one of the largest beaches in Madeira, but it is also home to a wide biodiversity of species, as well as one of the most beautiful seabeds in the area and crystal clear water to enjoy.

A free diving excursion in Machico can allow you to explore the site at your own pace, without the pressures of a group or the control of an instructor.

To qualify for this tour you will need to prove that you are a certified diver. If you are not, don't worry: you can opt for other options at nearby sites but with the assistance of an instructor.

Machico, given its proximity to Funchal, is a perfect place to spend the day, with great bars and restaurants and steep alleys from which it is possible to see the city skyline in a panoramic view.

It can be reached by car in half an hour's drive on the VR1 route or by intercity bus 103, which takes just over an hour.

Interesting details

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences start at 85 euros per person and include equipment.
• Duration of excursion... The tour lasts approximately two hours.
• How to get to Machico... By car in half an hour from Funchal on the VR1 route or by intercity bus 103 which takes just over an hour. Also by combining bus lines 56 and 138.

To the right of the Madeira Aquarium, in Porto Moniz, it is possible to access a basic introduction to scuba diving. If you are a beginner and don't dare to dive in open water you can start your experience with these diving excursions in natural pools and with sightings of small species.

These excursions include the assistance of an instructor who will help you to use the equipment safely at shallow depths. It is the ideal option for those who want to enter the world of diving without having to dive in open water.

Once you have completed your training, you will be able to obtain the certificate of recognition as a diver.

This excursion in Porto Moniz is also a good opportunity to visit the Madeira Aquarium, one of the largest in Portugal, and one of the places in Madeira where it is possible to see dolphins.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences start at 45 euros per person and include equipment. It does not include open water dives, only natural pools.
• Duration of the excursion... The tour lasts approximately three hours.
• Location of the Aquarium... Rua do Forte de Sao João Baptista 7A, Porto Moniz.

Since 2018 off the coast of Madeira the 85-metre long corvette Afonso Cerqueira has been sunk fulfilling one last mission: that of forming an artificial reef for a wide variety of marine life.

Today it is possible to explore this ship with diving excursions, to see its engine room and the large saloon that served as a cafeteria for the ship's crew.

These excursions usually include the transfer to the ship, the diving equipment and the weighing system, although in order to access the corvette it is necessary to have a diving certificate, as it is located at a depth of more than thirty metres and local laws require it.

Diving excursions on this ship are one of the great challenges for certified divers who come to Madeira and one of the most fun adventures is to see a war wreck that lies intact forming an artificial reef a few kilometres off the coast of Madeira.

Details of interest

• Price of the excursion... These diving experiences start at 52 euros per person and include equipment, transfer and open water dive.
• Duration of tour... The tour lasts approximately three hours.
• Location of the Aquarium... Two kilometres off the south coast of Funchal, Madeira.

If this is your first time diving you must understand that as it is a risky activity it is necessary to be accompanied by an instructor and have the necessary safety elements to enjoy the experience.

All tourist service providers have professionals who will teach you how to use the equipment and who will accompany you during the dive, but it is also important that you are responsible during the activity.

In any case, there are excursions with different levels of depth and complexity and the instructors themselves will tell you how deep you can go. Are you ready for a diving experience in Funchal?