Scuba Diving Holidays in Portugal
A guide to Scuba Diving in Portugal
Scuba Diving
Portugal offers a variety of scuba diving experiences, from training in 5 star diving centres, to exploring the marine life found in the waters of the Atlantic islands of the Azores.
The indoor diving centres located in the Algarve provide training from beginner to expert diving-instructor levels and there are some notable wrecks and reefs off the coast. For the brave, there is also the cave systems in the rough waters off the coast of Sagres.
The crystal clear warm waters of the Madeira islands, teeming with a wide variety of marine life including barracudas, dolphins and monk seals. Home to the Garajau nature reserve, various wrecks and with the protected Savage islands (Ilhas Selvagens) nearby. The temperatures in the Savage Islands exceed those in Madeira, Jacques-Yves Cousteau once said he found the Savage island waters to be the cleanest in the world.
Scuba Diving
And in the mid-Atlantic, the volcanic islands of the Azores, with stunning lava formations. Night diving is especially recommended here due to the large numbers of shrimps, nudibranchs, Alicia mirabilis anemonees, and, depending on the time of the year, also bioluminescent plankton (causing the so-called ocean glow) that light up the waters.
Below we provide some information about each of these regions with links to diving centres.
Looking For Brochures?
If you are interested in finding out more information about Scuba Diving packages, resorts, boats and Diving Centers within Portugal, you can order FREE BROCHURES directly from the suppliers.....(More)
Algarve
Scuba Diving in the Algarve
The Algarve is the most accessible of the diving regions of Portugal, providing both indoor diving centres and the opportunity to explore the waters of the Mediterranean.
Scuba Diving in the Algarve
Diving Courses
We provide a wide range of diving courses for individuals or groups looking for recognised PADI certification. From introductions to scuba diving, open water diving and childrens courses, to rescue diving and divemaster courses, we can train anyone from beginner to professional levels.....(More)
Osmosis Dive Centre
Osmosis Dive Centre provides the local and tourist community alike with the oportunity to learn to scuba dive, surf, snorkel and kayak along some of the most beautiful coasts lines europe has to offer. For those that are already divers we have 18 complete sets of gear available for rental purposes a dive boat that takes 6 in comfort and has a cabin for those colder days and a dive compressor that can fill tanks to 300 BAR for those that have rather larger lung capacity than normal. For novices we have a large 12 person class room kitted out with television, dvd, computer and all the books, charts and eqipment needed to learn to scuba dive.....(More)
Sagres Dive Centre
The Dive Centre in Sagres offers diving programs for both beginners and professionals, with night dives also available. The windswept shelf-like promontory contains bizarre rock landscapes with hidden canyons.....(More)
Sagres Dive Areas
The Dive Areas at the coastline of Sagres are maybe the most beautiful areas in Portugal. Here you can see a variety of fish shoals, cuttlefish, aquatic plants, grottoes, canyons and caves. Wreck diving (10-30 m depth) is part of the program. The wrecks in the10 m depth can be visited by beginners.....(More)
Marina Dive Time
Marina Dive Time are a dedicated, professional team of PADI Instructors with many years experience in the diving industry. They offer all types of diving activities, from complete beginner with the Discover Scuba Diving Experience, right through to Professional level courses. Marina Dive Time also offer excursions in the Algarve including the exploration of several fascinating wrecks, reefs teaming with marine life and for the not-so-fainthearted the Sagres cave systems!....(More)
Peniche
Scuba Diving in the Berlengas Islands
The Berlengas archipelago is a group of very small islands off the Portuguese coast near the city of Peniche. Berlenga Grande (or Ilha da Berlenga) is 1500 metres per 800 metres at 85 metres high. This small island contains several beaches and caves, its waters are very clean with barrier reefs and vibrant marine life.
Berlengas island - José Manuel
Diving Trips to Berlengas Marine Park
Diving Day consists in a trip to Marine Park, first dive, light meal included during surface break, second dive and trip back to coast (center).On special request, groups can make single dive-trips to the islands.Escorts are allowed on boat if there are free places, but divers are given preference. There is a complete scuba shop in the diving centers. Escorts and family of divers can use hotel resourses free of charge.Try dives and PADI courses available.....(More)
Azores
Scuba Diving in the mid-Atlantic
The nine volcanic islands that make up the Azores are located mid-way across the Atlantic and offer rich marine life and some incredible lava formations. The Azores are also among the world’s top ten places for Whale-Watching. In recent years over 20 different species of cetaceans have been sighted along the coasts of the islands.
Nudibranch
São Miguel Scuba Diving Centre
The ideal choice if you´re tired of big diving operators and want to dive in small groups (max 5 divers plus guide) with local biologists. Offering everything from snorkelling to scuba try outs, with departures made from Ponta Delgada Marina with full use of its facilities (bathrooms and warm showers) are standard.....(More)
Pico Sport
Pico Sport Lda. was founded by Frank Wirth in 1997 on the green Azorean island of Pico. From here excursions can be made into the canyons, caves and open flats of the mid-Atlantic ocean. Divers are almost certain to see some of the big fish of the Atlantic, including baracudas, huge sting rays and occassionally large Mantas. With vast numbers of nudibranchs and bioluminescent plankton, night diving is highly recommended. Pico Sport provide professional Whale and Dolphin watching tours....(More)
Madeira
Scuba Diving in Madeira
Lying 310km west from the coast of Morocco, the waters of Portugal´s Madeira islands are warmed by the Gulf current, resulting in average seawater temperatures of 22ºC in the summer and 18ºC in the winter. This provides crystal clear waters rich in morays, parrotfish, barracuda, monk seals, and vast numbers of shrimp and macro fauna.
Scuba Diving in Porto Santo
Baleia Diving Centre
Overlooking the beach of Machico bay & only a few steps away from the historic fishing village the hotel is set in beautiful scenery where the evergreen mountains contrast with the deep blue Atlantic. Machico was the first landmark when Madeira was discovered. There a various possibilities to explore Madeira’s underwater world, e.g. cave diving, wreck diving, boat trips, night dives. Due to its temperate climate and due to the influence of the gulf stream there exists a wide range of fishes including grouper, tuna, barracuda, moray eels, octopus and different types of rays. At certain times of the year it is possible to see dolphins and whales.....(More)
Galo Resort Diving
Located in the Calheta parish of western Madeira, the Galo Resort was chosen by readers of the journal "Diving" as their favourite diving base in 2002. This is the only diving base inside the Aquatic Nature Reserve where the fish are protected and therefore not only survive longer, but also have become more trusting. There is a reef measuring up to 34m in height quite near to the base, which forms a basin between itself and the shore. You can dive directly from the shore!.....(More)
Scuba Diving in Porto Santo
Porto Santo Sub
The Porto Santo Island situated in the Madeira Archipelago is a true diver's paradise. Porto Santo Sub is a PADI resort and TDI facility that provides our clients, both novice and experienced scuba divers, with the opportunity of experiencing the wonders of the seas of Porto Santo, with daily dive trips and a complete range of scuba courses from PADI and TDI, we strive to make the experience memorable, but above all safe.......(More)
Tubarão Madeira Mergulho
Tubarão Madeira Mergulho offer a variety of dives - exploring wrecks, night diving and cave diving. The dive spots, within the underwater 'Nature Reserve', are the cleanest in Madeira, offering a wide diversity of marine life. They are all easily accessible and only minutes away by boat. Two times a day we go out by boat. We have a weekly dive plan that can change sometimes, depending on the weather. So you can decide for your self, what spot you want to visit. There are so many interesting points to see that more than one dive will probably be necessary......(More)
Madeira Oceanos
Pedro Vasconcelos is the Divemaster for Madeira Oceano´s Diving Center and arranges dives for the islands of Madeira, Porto Santo, Desertas and Selvagens. With numerous dive sites for each island it is possible to explore the full range of Madeira´s sea life including the Garajua reserve as well as various wrecks, caves and the chance to see rare monk seals in their protected environment....(More)