Top 15 Madeira Diving Tours

1.Garajau Nature Reserve Kayak and Snorkel Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 906 reviews · 3 hours · from $41Our pick

Paddle from Funchal toward Garajau Nature Reserve, then swim and snorkel among Madeira’s native marine life. The three-hour outing includes kayak and snorkel equipment, a guide in English, Spanish, or Portuguese, and a break at a pebble beach. Guides such as Marco, Hugo, and Luis have led trips, though your guide may vary.

“It was a great experience! The water was so clear and the snorkeling spot had a lot of colourful fishes. There also was enough time to explore and enjoy! Our guide gave us information about the fish we could observe. The kayaking was a nice workout and not too challenging. Thanks a lot!”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

2.Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners

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

Learn basic scuba skills with a PADI instructor, practise breathing and moving in a pool, then choose the ocean option to visit Madeira Divepoint’s private reef. Groups are limited to six, and instructors speak English, German, Portuguese, and Spanish. You may see colorful fish and, with luck, an octopus.

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

Check availability →Read our full verdict

3.Scuba Diving Experience in Madeira

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

At Azul’s Funchal center, start with a short theory lesson and pool practice, then head into the sea with an instructor beside you. The session lasts about 2.5 hours and includes equipment, one open-water outing to a maximum depth of 12 meters, and a recognition certificate. Instructors named by participants include Esme, Rafa and Guadalupe.

“Absolutely amazing experience! Never done anything like this before but Rafael (instructor) made it so relaxed . Would definitely do it agai. Highly recommended”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

4.Diving in the Madeira Aquarium

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

At Madeira Aquarium in Porto Moniz, you’ll get an introduction to the equipment, visit the aquarium’s technical area, try the nearby natural pools and enter a 6-meter tank with sharks, rays and morays. No prior scuba experience is required, and an instructor stays with you throughout. Guides including Abílio and Manuel have helped first-timers feel at ease.

“My mum and I had such a great time diving with our instructor. My mum was a little nervous and he could not have been more kind. It was really great to see the aquarium up close and personal and see all the amazing fish they have there. He made the experience fun and safe even though we were completely inexperienced divers. It's really worth doing - where else in the world can you do this?”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

5.Ponta de São Lourenço Snorkeling Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 199 reviews · 2 hours · from $41

From Marina da Quinta do Lorde, ride a speedboat to Baia d’Abra for guided snorkeling among fish and volcanic rock formations. Wetsuit, mask, snorkel and fins are included, along with a safety briefing. Crew members on past trips have included guides Jessie, Hernan, Nico and Esmé, and captains Tiago and Blad. The outing lasts two hours and depends on sea conditions.

“Very quick trip to get to the snorkel area. The guide did a good job of explaining everything to everyone in multiple languages. I am an experienced snorkeler & diver so I could appreciate that she was making sure everyone felt comfortable w their equipment & getting in the water. She also came around and pointed out a few different creatures. This was very different than the diving I’m used to in the keys but it was very beautiful and the water was crystal clear, visibility was excellent. I would return and do a dive trip with this company if I come back to Madeira!”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

6.Diving with Sharks and Rays in Madeira Aquarium

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

At Aquário da Madeira in Porto Moniz, you’ll get a three-hour introduction to scuba equipment, practise in a natural ocean pool, then enter the aquarium’s main tank with an instructor. The small group is limited to four, and no certification is needed. You’ll also tour the aquarium and its technical zone, where staff explain how the animals’ habitat is maintained.

“The guide abilio was amazing. Felt like a trip with old friends. He made the experience fun and easy for us. No worrying at all! And his girl Melanie was a pleasure to meet! (She's a fish)”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

7.Kayak and Snorkeling Tour in Underwater Nature Reserve Garajau

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 111 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $59

Kayak along Madeira’s rocky coast with Lokoloko Madeira, then snorkel in the Garajau Underwater Nature Reserve. Your guide supplies a life jacket and snorkeling gear, and may point out fish such as parrotfish and sea bream. Guides including Pedro, Hugo, and Luis have led trips, but sea conditions shape the route and whether kayaking can go ahead.

“Smooth pick up and admin. Kayak was fun and during snorkelling we saw lots of fish, including parrotfish. Our guide Bosco was super friendly and fun!”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

8.Caniço, Madeira: Marine Reserve Kayak & Snorkelling Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 104 reviews · 2 hours · from $57

Paddle along Caniço’s rugged coast with a local guide, then snorkel in the protected waters of Garajau Marine Reserve. The two-hour outing is limited to 10 people and includes a kayak, paddle, life jacket, and snorkel gear. Guides such as Ben and Marcos have helped guests with paddling tips and local details. Sea conditions can change the route.

“Nice and friendly guides, kayak was fun, expected to see a bit more variation in fish with regard to snorkeling but overall very fun experience”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

9.Snorkeling Adventure in Eco-Park / Shore or by Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 71 reviews · from $17Best value

At Funchal’s Marine Eco Park, choose self-guided snorkeling over the house reef or a guided boat trip in a protected marine reserve. Your two-hour visit includes gear, a short lesson and a safety briefing, with changing rooms and showers at the meeting point inside Pestana Carlton hotel.

“wonderful spot for snorkeling, so many different fishes and marine life! The support staff was super friendly and explained everything i needed for my 2-hour swim. definitely a must!!”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

10.Kayak & Snorkeling in Garajau Nature Reserve

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 68 reviews · from $34

Paddle from Funchal toward Ponta do Lazareto, then snorkel in the Garajau Nature Reserve with a guide and a group of up to 10. The 2.5-hour outing includes kayak and snorkel gear, safety support and coastal ecology insights. Expect to get wet, wear your swimsuit from the start and bring water shoes for the rocky shore.

“Absolutely fantastic. Our guide was nice, didnt talk much, but was always very keen on helping us with questions. The ride was super chill. Getting out turned out to be interesting, as the waves were suddenly a bit bigger then expected and made us flip over. You will need to be able to handle that situation, as the waves can be pretty cruel. Pro tip: You will definately need watershoes for the rocky landscape over there if you don't want to break your ankle. And I've learnt not to keep my sandals on. :) Maybe the description could also mention that for the ride one needs to be IN swimming…”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

11.3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $527

Learn the skills for an SSI Open Water certificate in a group capped at five, with pool training and three sea sessions near Funchal. Azul’s team includes instructors such as Lupii, Tomas and Sara. Expect a focused course, some evening study and an internationally recognized certification to 18 meters.

“We did our advanced PADI with Azul dive centre”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

12.Certified Scuba Diving, Guided Tour

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

Join a certified-scuba outing in Funchal’s marine protected area, with a guide and no more than two other participants. Expect a 30-minute safety briefing, gear-up time, and about an hour underwater from a shore entry. Equipment, camera, and torch rentals cost extra. The meeting point is inside the Carlton Hotel at sea level.

“Super activité, l’accompagnatrice a pris le temps avant car je n’avais pas plongé depuis longtemps, et a su me mettre à l’aise Les fonds marins étaient magnifiques, j’ai vu beaucoup de poissons”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

13.Advanced Scuba Diving Afonso Cerqueira Wreck

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

From Azul Diving Center Madeira, take a boat to the Afonso Cerqueira wreck near Cabo Girão. This certified-diver trip reaches a maximum depth of 30 meters and includes an air tank, weights, insurance, and time to explore the ship’s engine room, cafeteria, and captain’s deck. Equipment rental and a €3 national park fee cost 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”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

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

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

At Azul Diving Madeira, learn scuba basics, practise in a pool, then explore a private reef in Ponta de São Lourenço Protected Area with an instructor. The sea session lasts about 45 minutes and reaches no more than 12 metres. Instructors named by participants include Nico, Jesi, and Doro, though your guide may differ.

“Amazing experience, Nico the instructor was great at talking you through all the safety precautions and he explained clearly how to use the equipment which meant as a beginner I got the hang of it pretty quick once in the water, Nico took me on a scenic route around the ocean and we captured some really cool pics, will definitely be going again on the next visit, thanks Nico hope to see you again soon”

Check availability →Read our full verdict

15.KAYAK Rental or Guided tour with snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 20 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $29

Kayak or rent equipment for an unguided paddle off Funchal, with a chance to swim and snorkel along the way. Madeira Divepoint supplies the kayak, paddle, lifejacket and snorkel gear, and limits groups to six. Fabio and Roberto have guided sessions, though your guide may differ. Expect a short swim to reach the equipment, which waits at a mooring.

“Fabio and Roberto made sure everyone had an amazing time. Very fun activity and suitable for most. My friend Marwan Alhaddad also says he enjoyed.”

Check availability →Read our full verdict