Madeira
Madeira is a picturesque island in the Atlantic Ocean off the west coast of Africa with a warm climate that allows year-round diving. The island is relatively small, 35 x 13 miles, with most hotels and dive organisations based on the south coast at the capital Funchal, Canico, near the Gurajau marine reserve, and Machico, towards the eastern end of the island. The island is very rocky which means that there are good shore diving sites but few sandy beaches.
Strictly speaking, Madeira is the name of the archipelago of 7 islands of which only 2, Madiera Island and Porto Santo, are occupied. Porto Santo is much less developed than Madeira and offers the chance to get away to peace and quiet but also has a number of good dive sites as well as a sandy beach 5 miles long.
THE DIVING
Most diving on Madeira takes place on the south east coats between Funchal and Canical with dive shops at Funchal, Canico and Machico as well as on Porto Santo . Visibility is normally good but can be reduced significantly following winter storms. The rocky nature of the coastline means that many sites can be dived from the shore while others are only a few minutes away by boat. Care should be taken to check on currents before entering the water.
Canico/Roca Mar. A dive club is based at the Hotel Roca Mar in Canico and offers access to shore diving down to 28 metres from the hotel. The rocky coastline here offers the possibility of entering a cave and boasts a wide variety of sealife including arrow head crabs, pipe fish, moray eels, cuttle fish, grouper and shrimps.
Monastery Reef. Monastery Reef, a 300m long reef with depths of 17m - 36m, is a short boat ride from Canico.
Garajau Marine Reserve. The single marine reserve is at Garajau, near Canico on the southern tip of the island. Diveable from the shore or by boat, one of the major attractions of this site is the possibility of meeting one of the large, tame groupers that live here and are attracted by divers' bubbles. Away from the shore, large shoals of fish can be seen and there is the possibility of sighting a manta ray.
Machico. Shore diving is possible in this area at the eastern side of Machico Bay. Further offshore, Baixa da Cruz boasts a reef from 4 - 38 metres planted with black coral.
Canical. Canical at the east of the island offers shore diving with numerous colourful anenomes, urchins and star fish. There are many caves in this area with conger and moray eels and the chance to see rays.
Ponta de Sao. In the summertime, visibility can reach 50 metres at sites around the eastern tip of the island.
Shipwrecks. There are a number of shipwrecks around Madeira, both natural and artificial, including the Bowbelle, infamously remembered as being involved in the accident in which the Marchioness pleasure boat sank in the Thames in 1989 with the loss of 51 lives. Following the accident the boat was sold to a Madeiran company and renamed the Bom Rei. During routine dredging operations, the Bom Rei sank in 32 metres of water about 45 minutes by boat from Funchal and now forms one of the most popular dive sites on the island. As well as viewing the wreck, sealife is also in evidence with groupers and eels making the site their home.
Porto Santo. There is one dive operator on Porto Santo offering trips to more than 20 sites around the island with depths ranging from 15-20 metres to more than 50 metres for advanced courses and divers. Visibility is normally above 20 metres and often as much as 30 metres. Sites include a 70 m long purposely sunk transport ship close to the dive centre.
NON-DIVING ACTIVITIES
Non-diving partners will find lots to do in Madeira. Most watersports are catered for on the island but there are no sandy beaches unless you travel to Porto Santo. The island has much to offer for the sight - seer and hiking along the irrigation ditches that criss - cross the island is a popular activity.
The slippery cobblestones of Funchal's steeply sloping streets make possible a distinctive method of transport, Carros de Cesto, wicker toboggans powered by gravity and controlled (loosely) by local white - suited drivers. The hair - raising ride from Monte to Funchal town centre is not for the faint - hearted.
Funchal itself has an attractive waterfront with a bustling marina and a lively nightlife. There are many high quality restaurants and the Old Town is well worth a visit.
CLIMATE
Daily maximum land temperatures vary from 18 degrees C in the winter to 24 degrees in the summer with sea temperatures between 17 - 23 degrees C. This makes all year round diving possible although the winters can be rainy with 6 - 7 days of rain per month between October - December.
HOW TO GET THERE
There are frequent scheduled and charter flights from UK to Madeira.
Porto Santo is less than 2 hours sailing from Madeira and there are also daily flights from Funchal. It is also possible to fly to Porto Santo from Lisbon.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
A full passport is required but there is no need for a visa for visitors from UK.
MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS
No special vaccinations are normally needed but check for any changes before departure.
WHERE TO STAY
Madeira has a range of hotels and other accommodation available but it can be on the expensive side compared to popular European resorts.
Single bedroom self catering apartments in Funchal can be arranged for between 70 - 100 Euros per apartment per day. Hotels start from around 250 Euros per person per week.
Those happy to 'rough it' can save money by opting for tented accommodation. There are camp sites at Porto Moniz on the north coast and Montado de Pereiro, inland above Funchal, as well as on Porto Santo.
LANGUAGE
The offical language is Portugese but many people speak English.
CURRENCY
The Euro.
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Baleia Dive Center
Diving in Madeira by Tanzy Teuten
Diving in Madeira by Paul Meredith
Madeira Old Town
Funchal Marina
Funchal by night
Madeira: Piece of Cake
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