Diving and snorkelling in Madeira

Madeira’s volcanic seabed drops steeply into deep, clear water. There are no coral reefs, but rocky walls, caves and boulders full of fish, and some protected areas where marine life is especially rich.

The best areas

• Garajau Marine Nature Reserve, east of Funchal: the island’s most famous dive site, a protected stretch of coast where large dusky groupers are used to divers, along with rays, barracuda and shoals of fish.
• Caniço de Baixo and Reis Magos: easy shore entries, good for snorkelling and beginner dives.
• Machico and Caniçal: rocky reefs and caves near the eastern tip.
• Porto Santo: a former navy ship was sunk off the south coast as an artificial reef, now covered in life, plus clear water and sandy bottoms.
• The Desertas: remote, wild diving on full-day boat trips. See the Desertas Islands.

What you can see

Groupers, parrotfish, ornate wrasse, damselfish, moray eels, octopus, cuttlefish, stingrays and barracuda. In late summer, larger visitors such as mobula rays sometimes appear.

Seasons

• Water temperature: about 18 °C in late winter to 24 °C in late summer.
• Best time: June to October, for warm water, calm seas and good visibility.
• Winter: diving continues on calm days; bring a thicker wetsuit.

Snorkelling

You don’t need a boat for good snorkelling. Try the ladders at Caniço de Baixo and Reis Magos, the pebble beach at Garajau, and the natural pools at Seixal on calm days. Bring a mask and fins; many dive centres rent them.

Choosing a dive centre

Dive centres in Funchal, Caniço, Machico, Calheta and Porto Santo offer try-dives, courses and guided dives. Choose one with recognised certification, good equipment and small groups, and ask about the sites they use in current conditions.

Safety

Check the swell before diving or snorkelling; the north coast is often too rough. Don’t fly within 24 hours of diving.