Part of our complete guide: Activities and tours on Madeira
The main thing: Garajau
The Garajau marine reserve off Caniço is why people dive here. Protected since the 1980s, with the result that the fish have lost their flight distance: dusky groupers the size of a bathtub come within a metre. That is not a lucky day, that is the rule.
What is on offer
| Option | from | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Try dive (pool + sea, no certificate) | €42 | 2.5–3 h |
| First sea dive, Caniçal | €68 | 2 h |
| Snorkelling in the eco-park or from a boat | €19 | 2 h |
| Diving with sharks and rays, Porto Moniz aquarium | €135 | 3 h |
| Guided dive for certified divers | approx. €45–60 | 2–3 h |
The try dive almost always starts in a dive centre’s pool before going to sea — the best first experience, because you practise breathing in shallow water before the bottom drops away.
The dive at the Porto Moniz aquarium is an oddity: nurse sharks and rays in the tanks of an old fort, rated 4.9. Not a wilderness experience, but weather-proof — which makes it the best option for a storm day in the north.
What to watch for
- Water temperature: 18 °C (February/March) to 24 °C (September). The 5 mm suit is in the price.
- Fitness to dive: self-declaration is standard; heart, lung or ear problems mean a doctor’s certificate.
- Do not dive on your departure day — 24 hours before flying, more after repeat dives.
- Minimum age usually 10 (try dive) or 12 (certified).
- North coast only in calm seas; in winter it is often cancelled and moved south.
- Certified divers: bring your card, and a logbook does no harm.
Book it or do it yourself?
Diving needs a centre, so book. But if you only want to look into the water, mask and snorkel get you a long way at Garajau: the reserve starts right at the pebble beach, and the big fish are not only at 20 metres.
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Next: Snorkelling and kayaking · Whale and dolphin watching · Surf lessons
