Madeira Island Dive Trip
Machico, Madeira
Atlantic diving, volcanic scenery, and a small-group week that feels good in and out of the water.
And we’ll see if this trip to Madeira feels like a good match.
DATES
17–25 August, 2026
DURATION
8 nights / 9 days
GROUP
Min. 3 / Max. 11
STATUS
Spots still open
DIVES
10 boat dives
INCLUDED
Transfers and gear
Madeira: Blue water, volcanic walls, protected wild waters
Madeira is one of those places that surprises people in the best way. The water is blue, the dive sites feel volcanic and full of character, and the whole island has a stronger Atlantic energy than most divers expect.
You come for the diving, of course, but it is the kind of place that makes the whole week feel good.
Volcanic scenery
This is diving shaped by the islands themselves, with walls, rock formations, and underwater landscapes that feel distinctly volcanic.
Protected marine life
Garajau is one of Madeira’s best-known dive areas, with protected waters, rich marine life, and the giant dusky groupers that so many divers remember.
Real variety in one trip
From Garajau to the Afonso Cerqueira wreck and the protected waters around Desertas, the diving here gives the week real range.
Madeira Diving Trip itinerary
17th – 25th August
The plan may shift a little depending on the weather, the sea, or the rhythm of the group, but this is the shape of the week.
Days 1 to 5 · Volcanic walls and marine giants
We land in Funchal and head to Machico, where the week starts to fall into island rhythm.
The first dives ease us into Madeira in the best possible way. In Garajau Marine Reserve, we find clear water, protected conditions, and the huge, friendly dusky groupers the island is known for.
The optional night dive reveals another side of Madeira, with hunting octopuses, tiny nocturnal life, and a very different kind of underwater atmosphere.
And between dives, there is still time to enjoy the island above the surface too, with the option of walking the Levadas and taking in Madeira’s mountain views.
Schedule:
Arrival & Briefing | 2 dives | 2 dives | 2 dives + optional night dive | Optional Levada hiking day
Days 6 to 9 · Wrecks, rare seals, and salty goodbyes
The second half of the week shifts gear.
We dive the Corveta Afonso Cerqueira, an 85 m navy wreck turned artificial reef, where barracudas patrol the structure and the whole dive feels more dramatic from the start.
Then comes one of the big highlights of the trip: Desertas Islands. These protected waters feel wilder, more remote, and more open-ocean, and they are also the last refuge of the Mediterranean monk seal.
On the final evening, we come back together for a traditional Espetada dinner, local wine, and the kind of conversations that only happen after a week like this.
Then it is time to say goodbye, with salt still in your hair and Atlantic memories to take home.
The highlights that take this trip further
Some dives stay with you because of what you see. Others because of how they feel once you are down there.
These are the ones that give this week in Madeira a little more range, a little more character, and the kind of moments people usually keep talking about afterwards.
Garajau Marine Reserve
Garajau is one of those dives that just feels good from the start.
The water is usually clear, the marine life is abundant, and the giant dusky groupers are a big part of why so many divers remember it. It is protected, easy to enjoy, and full of that calm, lively energy that makes a dive feel instantly worth it.
A real wow moment!
Garajau Marine Reserve
Garajau is one of those dives that just feels good from the start.
The water is usually clear, the marine life is abundant, and the giant dusky groupers are a big part of why so many divers remember it. It is protected, easy to enjoy, and full of that calm, lively energy that makes a dive feel instantly worth it.
A real wow moment!
NRP Afonso Cerqueira wreck
The Afonso Cerqueira changes the mood completely.
You drop in, the structure starts to appear below you, and everything feels quieter from that point on.
It is a dive with presence. More dramatic, more atmospheric, and one of those sites that gives the week a very different kind of memory.
Desertas Islands
Desertas feels wilder from the moment you head out.
The crossing is longer, the setting feels more remote, and the whole experience has a stronger open-ocean feel to it.
It is one of those extras that can make the trip feel even more special if conditions line up.
This is Madeira. Blue water, volcanic walls, good people, and the kind of Atlantic week that stays with you long after you get home.
Honestly, it is all there.
and let’s see whether this week is yours.
Who this trip is for:
This trip is for divers who want a good week in the water, but also care about the kind of group they are travelling with and how the whole trip feels once they get there.
If you are a certified diver
You do not need to be the most experienced diver in the group, but you should already feel comfortable underwater and happy joining a week built around boat diving.
You respect the ocean and the places you visit
This trip is for divers who care about marine life, move through the water with respect, and understand that being in a place like Madeira also means appreciating the island, the sea, and the people who live there.
You enjoy small group travel
This trip works best for divers who enjoy small group travel and like sharing the experience with good people. Coming on your own is completely normal too, and it usually works really well.
If you want more than just ticking off dives
If you enjoy the diving, of course, but also care about the pace of the trip, the people around you, and everything that happens in between, you will probably feel very at home here.
Probably not for you if …
You are looking for a luxury resort holiday, a big commercial group trip, or a week where everything feels rushed, impersonal, or overly packaged.
That is really the idea behind this trip. Good diving, a good group, and a week that feels easy in the best way.
If this sounds like your kind of diving trip, let’s talk
We start with a relaxed chat. No pressure, no sales pitch. We talk, answer your questions, and see if it fits for both sides. If it clicks and there’s space in the group, you’re in.
Total cost: €1,575 pp
€600 → Your registration fee.
€975 →The trip budget.
What you’re booking:
Not Included:
Spots are limited
This trip is intentionally small, and once the group is full, that is it.
If you’re already picturing yourself underwater there’s probably a reason.
Now’s the moment for a relaxed conversation.
Just a chat between people who love the
ocean.
A few words from people who have travelled with us
Because in the end, what people remember most is not only the diving, but also the group, the rhythm, and how the whole week feels once you are there.
How it works, step by step
Step 1 · Let’s have a quick chat
No pressure, no awkward sales call. Just a relaxed conversation to answer your questions, talk through the trip, and see if it feels like a good fit on both sides.
Step 2 · Save your spot
If it feels right and you want to join, you confirm your place with a €300 deposit before 28 April. That is the moment your spot is secured, as long as there is still space in the group.
Step 3 · Trip prep begins
Once your place is confirmed, we start getting everything ready. We help you with the practical side of the trip, answer the questions that always come up later, and make sure the week starts feeling easy long before you get to Madeira.
Step 4 · The group starts to come together
Before the trip, we open the group chat and start sharing the useful stuff. Flights, kit, timings, little updates, questions, random excitement, it all starts to come together there. So by the time the trip begins, people already know who they are travelling with.
Step 5 · Madeira, finally
Then the good part starts. You land, settle in, meet the group properly, and the week begins. From there, it is all about diving, good company, and enjoying Madeira without having to carry the whole trip on your shoulders.
Here’s what’s included (and what isn’t)
We like to keep this part simple. Before you decide anything, you should know exactly what is covered, what is not, and what kind of trip you are actually joining.
What it feels like to travel with The Ocean Explorers
This is more than just booking a trip.
We start with a relaxed chat, make sure the trip feels right, and from there we stay close to help everything come together properly.
Before the trip, during the week, and even afterwards, we are there for the practical side too. Flights, gear, insurance, questions, little doubts along the way, all of it.
So you can focus on what really matters: the diving, the people, and the whole experience.
The practical bits, kept simple and clear
Here’s the core info, straight up and easy to follow. Just the key details laid out clearly.
For this trip, we are staying at Residencial Família in Machico. It is simple, comfortable, and very easy for the kind of week we have planned, close to the beach, close to town, and a really good base to come back to after diving.
Single room (subject to availability). Supplement: 300 € (for the full trip).
Breakfast is included. Lunch and dinner are left open, so we have full flexibility.
Included:
Not Included:
We have included the transfers because it just makes the whole trip feel easier from the start.When you land in Madeira, that part is already sorted:
Included:
Not Included:
This is the heart of the trip, and it is all built to make the week feel easy, well organised, and full of good diving.
Dives included:
Dive upgrades:
* These extras are optional and paid directly to the local providers, simple, flexible, and on your terms.
Bringing your own gear?
A few things are not included in the trip and need to be sorted separately before departure:
* This is mandatory. It is there to protect you if something changes before the trip, and to give you a bit more peace of mind. If you are not sure which one to book, we can help point you in the right direction.
More than just dives, this is what people remember
These words are from people who have travelled with us.Because yes, the diving matters. But so do the people, the pace, the way the trip is organised, and how the whole week feels once you are there.
That is usually what stays with people most.
Breaking down how this trip works
Clear on the price, clear on what is included, and clear on what stays in your hands.
In this section, we explain how the trip is organised, what is already covered in the price, what you still need to arrange on your side, and where the optional extras come in. The idea is simple: no vague package language, no messy surprises later on, and no confusion about what you are actually paying for.
Still thinking about Madeira?
Blue water, volcanic dive sites, a small group, and a week built to be enjoyed properly, in and out of the water.
If this is starting to feel like your kind of trip, let’s talk. We’ll answer your questions, explain the next steps, and see whether it feels right on both sides.