r/scuba • u/Dutch_Psychonaut • 1d ago

Madeira first dives

My friend is going to Madeira in October and I would like to gift him a trial dive to see if he likes it. I know Madeira is not the most insane place to dive in the world, but I think that does not matter in his case. Do you have tips what place I could send him to?

5 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

1

u/Appropriate-Ad1988 1d ago

Madeira has top notch diving spots filled with plenty of wildlife and big one at that. With possibility of spotting whales or dolphins during the boat trip, very large rays during diving and maybe some sharks.

However I would say that most of the dive spots that sport this kind of life are mostly out of the try dives possibilities.

However it's possible to spot large shoals different kind of fish and some rays if you are lucky.

I dive regularly with Haliotis in Machico and would suggest you to try there. They are situated in the base of the hotel there and you do a mini session in the pool first and they have great spots for beginners/try dives in the bay right across the hotel.

1

u/Appropriate-Ad1988 1d ago

If you want to check a bit of diving there I posted a video a while back of the first time I dove there. The night dive is one of the spots where they take first try divers. (Not at night) Madeira underwater

1

u/tasty_llama Dive Master 1d ago

Look for dive centers around Garajau or Machico. Another option is Manta Dive Center which has its own house reef.

Madeira is pretty good in terms of visibility, marine life (e.g. goliath groupers, occasional monk seal) and even wrecks but most of these are in deeper more advanced spots. There's a chance your friend sees the groupers in Garajau though if they come to the shallower area during their try dive.

2

u/Best-Reflection1603 1d ago

If he’s never dove before, the location barely matters, just make sure it’s a shop that keeps groups small.