LIVEABOARD DIVING IN Funchal

Funchal is the largest city, the municipal seat and the capital of Portugal's Autonomous Region of Madeira. The closest airport is in Madeira that is located in 20 km. It is an old city with ancient palaces and squares and modern hotels, which stretch along the coast. It is a popular diving destination. In the local crystal clear waters divers may observe such marine species like barracudas, crabs, trumpet fish, pipe fish, moray eels, cuttle fish, groupers, monkfish, dolphins, rays and even mantas. Among the best dive sites are the Pronto Wreck (the engine room with a riveted boiler is in good condition, depth 33m/108ft) and T-Riff (site with two pinnacles, depth 12-30m/39-98ft). Also, near Canico there is a popular area for diving known as Garajau Marine Reserve, with an abundance of fish and sites, including Pináculo, Mamas, Pico and Cape Garajau. One of the main attractions of this place is a possibility of meeting large, tame groupers that live here and are attracted by divers' bubbles. There are several diving schools, located mainly in Funchal and Caniço de Baixo, which provide courses and diving excursions for divers of all levels. This area is a paradise for underwater photography. Average water visibility is about 20m/65ft, currents are mostly mild, but sometimes can be strong.