Top 10 Scuba Diving Trips in Madeira

1.Funchal: Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 715 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $53Our pick

Start at Madeira Divepoint inside the Pestana Carlton hotel. A PADI instructor explains the equipment and safety basics, then coaches you in a pool before the optional ocean session at the center’s private reef. Small groups of up to six, multilingual staff, and close support make this a friendly first scuba experience.

“Very well organised. Help provided as needed. Equipment clean and modern. Saw loads of fish and many types- very colourful. Strongly recommended.”

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2.Funchal: Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 494 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $53

At Azul Diving Madeira, you learn scuba skills in English, practice in a swimming pool, then spend up to 45 minutes at a private reef in Funchal’s Protected Area. Instructors such as Rafa, Esmeralda, Roberto, and Jessie guide beginners to a maximum depth of 12 meters, with possible sightings of octopuses, rays, seahorses, and colorful fish.

“Full professional approach. All equipment and personnel seemed to be waiting for me. Trainer Theo, great thanks for showing me the ocean’s wild life with no stress at all.”

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3.Scuba Diving Experience in Madeira

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $50Top rated

Meet Azul Diving Madeira in Funchal for a classroom briefing, pool practice, and one supervised sea dive lasting up to 45 or 50 minutes. Instructors including Rafa, Esme, Guadalupe, Theo, and Scotch help beginners reach a maximum depth of 12 meters. Equipment and a recognition certificate are included.

“Amazing experience, nice and friendly staff and very easy to understand. First time diving and couldn't fault anything. Managed to stay 40 minutes underwater, so cool.”

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4.Diving in the Madeira Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 215 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $163

Join Abílio, Manuel, or Michael for a guided scuba session at Madeira Aquarium in Porto Moniz. You need no prior experience. The 2.5-hour outing includes instruction, equipment, a swim in Cachalote natural pools, an aquarium tour, and time in the 6-meter tank with sharks, rays, morays, and local fish.

“This diving experience was the highlight of our trip. The diving instructor was really nice. We didn't have any diving experience before but that didn't matter. It was amazing to dive with the fish and sharks. I would totally recommend!”

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5.Porto Moniz: Diving with Sharks and Rays in Madeira Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 192 reviews · 3 hours · from $159

Join instructor Abílio at Madeira Aquarium for a three-hour first-time scuba experience with sharks, rays, and mantas. You will learn in a natural ocean pool, tour the aquarium and technical zone, then enter the main tank with all equipment provided. Groups are limited to four people.

“The overall experience was great from start to finish. Abilio is a friendly and easy going instructor with a great sense of humour. He made everyone in the group feel comfortable and safe during the dive. He provided an informative tour of the aquarium and sea life in Madeira and explained how they operate and so on. Highly recommend doing this 👍”

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6.Funchal: Certified Scuba Diving, Guided Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 34 reviews · 2 hours · from $33Best value

Join a certified-only scuba outing from the Carlton Hotel in Funchal. After a 30-minute safety briefing, you spend about an hour underwater in the Eco Park Funchal with a guide and no more than three participants. Expect relaxed shore access, schools of fish, possible octopus and barracuda sightings, and optional gear, torch, and underwater camera rental.

“Baptême de plongée, l’instructrice a pris le temps de nous expliquer et de nous mettre en confiance. Le matériel est super. Nous avons énormément apprécié l’activité. Je recommande”

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7.Funchal: Advanced Scuba Diving Afonso Cerqueira Wreck

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 22 reviews · 2 hours · from $64

Meet the English-speaking team at Azul Diving Center Madeira for a boat trip to the Afonso Cerqueira wreck near Cabo Girão. Certified Open Water divers with at least six logged dives and recent practice can reach the ship at up to 30 meters, explore the engine room and cafeteria, and add a serious wreck site to their logbook. Equipment rental is extra.

“The best dive centre we have visited. The staff are extremely helpful and considerate. The dives were great but about 10 mins short. It would be great to have more air and get that extra few mins. However, by far the best PADI dive centre we have visited. Tq Oreo and Vladimir Ged and Jack”

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8.Madeira, Ponta São Lourenço: Scuba Diving for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 21 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $53

Start with a short scuba lesson and shallow-pool practice at Azul Diving Center, then spend about 45 minutes in the sea at a private reef near Ponta São Lourenço. Instructors including Nico, Doro, and Jesi keep beginners calm while you look for octopuses, rays, morays, and colorful fish. English instruction and small groups are provided.

“Ein ganz tolles „erstes Mal „ beim Tauchen. Jesi hat mich liebevoll an die Materie herangeführt und während des Tauchgangs sorgsam über mich gewacht. Ich fühlte mich sicher und konnte ein tolles Erlebnis in einer natürlichen Höhlw genießen. Empfehle ich definitiv weiter.”

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9.Funchal: DPV- Scooter Dive Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · 2 hours · from $69

You’ll use a battery-powered DPV on a guided shore-based scuba outing beside Madeira Divepoint in Funchal. The two-hour session includes a safety briefing, scooter instruction, tank, weights, guide, and insurance. Bring certification, swimwear, and a towel. Full equipment and a dive computer cost extra.

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10.Funchal: Wreck dive F488 Frigate – certified divers

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · 2.5 hours · from $50

You’ll reach the Corveta Afonso de Cerqueira by boat from Funchal in about 10 minutes, then explore an 80-meter former navy frigate prepared as an artificial reef. The small group is limited to six, with a briefing, guide, tank, weights, and insurance included. Bring certification, a dive computer, swimwear, towel, and a torch if you have one.

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