Astonishing underwater topography and splendid marine life including manta rays, huge groupers, several moray eel species, and many other creatures make diving at Madeira Island a truly magical experience. While there are nearly 20 dive sites surrounding this island, some are just a little more exciting than others. Here are three of the best to help you begin planning what might just be the vacation of a lifetime.
Madalena do Mar - Madeira Island Dive Sites
Here, the wreck of the Bom Rei has been transformed into a spectacular artificial reef where you'll find moray eels, many different types of wrasse, sea bream, big sea bass, groupers, and many other creatures living in harmony. This ship was once known as the Bowbelle, and is infamous for accidentally ramming a birthday party boat on the River Thames in London in 1989. During that tragic incident, several young people on the party boat lost their lives.
Later sold to Madeira, this 90 meter sand dredger split in two and was lost one day in 1996 during a heavy storm, taking her entire crew down with her. When finally found six months later, loved ones finally received closure. Today, this ship is an amazing site to visit, with its masses of pipes and its interior spaces, which still contain some life jackets and other artifacts. Maximum depth is 32 meters.
Reis Magos - Madeira Island Dive Sites
A favorite site for night diving, and plenty of fun during the day as well, Reis Magos can be easily accessed from shore. This site features a spectacular reef covered in colorful corals, anemones, and sponges, and is home to everything from fish in brilliant hues to secretive octopus that come out to hunt at night. You'll find all sorts of nudibranchs, lobsters, crabs, and shrimp here, along with magnificent sea stars. Watch for the parrotfish - during the day, you'll hear them munching on the reef, and at night, you'll see them suspended in their protective cocoons, protected from predators as they dream. Maximum depth here is just 18 meters.
Quinta do Lorde - Madeira Island Dive Sites
Featuring a spectacular rocky reef interspersed with patches of sand where garden eels sway along with the current as though hearing music that's just out of our earshot, Quinta do Lorde is an outstanding dive site for all to enjoy. Colorful anemones, soft corals, and sponges hold all sorts of surprises, from shrimp, to nudibranchs, and you'll be joined by a kaleidoscope of fish that look on curiously as you swim from one rock formation to the next. Maximum depth here is just 16 meters.
Topside, you'll find a 5 star hotel and a large marina, along with restaurants, bars, and a spa, small villages and friendly people, and many sites of historic and cultural significance. If you can, visit the Laurisilva Forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to a number of endemic species, and which is protected by law from agricultural use. Here, you can view beautiful waterfalls and look at the ocean from a perch high atop a pristine ridge. A spectacular place for a getaway, for divers and nondivers alike, Madeira is one place you'll never forget.