When is the best time to dive Madeira?

The best months to dive Madeira are June, July, August, September, October, when conditions are most favorable.

What certification do I need to dive Madeira?

Madeira requires a minimum certification of Open Water. Currents are typically moderate and the maximum depth reaches 40 m.

How much does it cost to dive Madeira?

A 2-tank dive at Madeira averages around $65 USD. The destination is in our mid range tier.

What will I see diving Madeira?

Madeira is known for octopus, grouper, moray eel, tuna, with 12–30 m visibility and 18–24°C water temperatures.

Why does Madeira score 55.0/100 on OkToDive?

Madeira earns a 55.0/100 Score based on 12 weighted categories including marine life, coral health, visibility, operator quality, and value. Backed by 380 operator reviews.

Madeira Diving — Portugal's Atlantic Island Gem

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World Class

Intermediate

Madeira

PortugalMediterranean

55.0

SCORE

32.6669°N

-16.9241°E

Madeira's Garajau marine reserve has been protected since 1986, creating a haven for massive groupers and occasional manta ray sightings. The volcanic topography provides caves, walls, and dramatic drop-offs, while the Atlantic location brings pelagic visitors that the Mediterranean rarely sees. Critically endangered monk seal sightings are possible.

Portugal's Atlantic Volcanic Dive Island

Visibility12–30 m

Temperature18–24°C

Max Depth40 m

Currentmoderate

2-Tank Dive$65

Best MonthsJune, July, August, September

CertificationOpen WaterIntermediate

Score Breakdown

Click any score to see a detailed breakdown

Marine Life

40.0

Species diversity, megafauna encounters, reef fish abundance, macro life, and endemic species.

Species Diversity

Megafauna Encounters

Reef Fish Abundance

Macro Life

Endemic Species

Marine Life Diversity

40.0

Coral & Reef Health

27.0

Visibility & Conditions

76.0

Dive Site Variety

43.0

Water Temperature

55.0

Depth & Access

62.0

Operator Quality

73.0

Topside Experience

63.0

Getting There

68.0

Value & Cost

62.0

Crowding

57.0

Social Proof

57.0

Key Species

octopus grouper moray eel tuna

Dive Types

wreckpelagic

Traveling with Non-Divers?

Your non-diving travel companions will find plenty to enjoy topside while you're underwater. Here are some activities to consider.

Activities for Non-Divers

levada walks (irrigation channel hikes)Pico do Arieiro/Ruivo peak hikeMonte toboggan sledge rideFunchal Old Town diningMadeira wine tasting

Nearby Cultural Sites

Funchal Cathedral
Monte Palace Tropical Garden
CR7 Museum (Cristiano Ronaldo)

Non-Diver Partner Score

9/10

Excellent for non-divers — they'll love it here.

Family FriendlyYes

Restaurants & Nightlifevibrant

Safety & Emergency

Dive Insurance

Dive insurance is essential. Standard travel insurance often excludes scuba diving. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) for comprehensive dive accident coverage.

Learn More at DAN.org

Hyperbaric Chamber10 km — Portuguese Navy Hyperbaric Chamber, Funchal

Nearest Hospital5 km

Good hospital in Funchal; chamber available; flights to Lisbon (1.5 hrs) for advanced care

Skill LevelIntermediate

Current Strengthmoderate

Top Operators

Manta Diving Madeira

PADI

4.8

220 reviewsNITROX

Atalaia Diving Center

PADI

4.7

160 reviewsNITROX

Compare This Dive Site

Current conditions

10/10Excellent

Waves0.86 m

Swell0.8 m

Wind5.6 km/h

Air14.2°C

Overcast

9d ago

Honest reality check

What your dive shop won't tell you

The minimum certification printed on a brochure is the legal floor, not the honest recommendation. Here's what we actually think you should bring to this site.

Recommended logged dives

60+

Below this we'd send you somewhere easier first.

Recommended certification

Advanced Open Water

“Intermediate minimum — deep profiles and variable viz.”

What will challenge you

→Moderate currents. Expect to drift — this is not a skill-builder site for a first trip after certification.
→Recreational limit of 40 m is reachable here (max depth 40 m). Gas planning and NDL tracking matter.
→Cooler than most tropical sites — 18°C minimum. A 5 mm wetsuit is the floor for longer dives.
→Wreck penetration requires Wreck specialty training at minimum, and often decompression planning. Don't improvise inside.
→Variable visibility
→Deep profiles

What will surprise you

→Thermoclines can drop water temp by 6°C between the surface and depth. Your wetsuit choice should match the minimum, not the average.
→Madeira has more marine life variety than most divers expect
→Local operators know spots the guidebooks miss

Time of day

When to dive it

Every dive shop gives you this briefing at 7am. We just wrote it down. Tidal dependency: slight. Optimal window: First light to 11am for best visibility..

Morning

Viz
high
Current
moderate
Crowd
light

reef exploration
photography

Best light and calmest conditions before afternoon wind picks up.

Afternoon

Viz
moderate
Current
moderate
Crowd
moderate

drift diving
second tank

Wind chop can reduce viz. Still diveable but morning is better.

Month-by-month

Dive forecast

Realistic conditions by month. Viz ranges are what you should actually expect, not best-case marketing numbers. Confidence % is the share of days that match this profile historically.

Month	Viz (m)	Temp (°C)	Current	Sea	Rain	Confidence	Highlights
Jan	12–21	18	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Feb	12–21	18	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Mar	12–21	18	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	wreck visibility good, peak season crowds
Apr	12–21	18	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
May	25–30	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	wreck visibility good
Jun	25–30	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	wreck visibility good
Jul	25–30	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	wreck visibility good
Aug	25–30	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	wreck visibility good
Sep	25–30	24	Mod	Calm	Dry	70%	wreck visibility good
Oct	12–21	18	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Nov	12–21	18	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	wreck visibility good
Dec	12–21	18	Mod	Mod	Light	70%	wreck visibility good

Shoot here

Photography brief

Subjects are only half the shot. A perfect macro site is useless in a three-knot drift, and a wide-angle dream is useless at 35 m with a murky ceiling. These are the conditions, not the hype.

Macro subjects33

Wide angle53

Viz stability58

Hover friendliness70

Natural light53

Recommended kit

→Dedicated video light for dark wreck interiors; don't rely on strobes alone

Level up here

What this site will teach you

The dives that made you a better diver are the ones that made you uncomfortable for the right reasons. Here's what this site will quietly train you for.

Deep diving comfort
advanced
Regular dives past 30m build confidence at depth.

What it costsEstimates — calibration pending

7-day trip, per person

Rough ranges anchored to existing regional data — not booking quotes. Land-based trip, standard breakdown.

Budget

$1,600–$2,400

Hostels, shore diving, cheap eats

Flights (RT from US): $590–$720
Accommodation / day: $50–$100
Diving / day: $60–$70
Food / day: $25–$50
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Mid-range

$2,600–$3,950

3-star hotels, standard boat ops, mix of restaurants

Flights (RT from US): $810–$990
Accommodation / day: $120–$220
Diving / day: $70–$80
Food / day: $55–$100
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Splurge

$4,600–$7,750

Top resorts or liveaboards, premium operators

Flights (RT from US): $1,350–$1,650
Accommodation / day: $260–$500
Diving / day: $80–$110
Food / day: $120–$240
Transfers + misc: $50–$150

Flights priced round-trip from a major US hub. Figures are per person on a shared room. Solo travelers add ~30% to accommodation.

Pair with

Build a trip around it

Most divers fly across the world for one destination and don't realise another worth-it site is 90 minutes away. Here are the honest pairings.

Best dive types here

Madeira Diving — Portugal