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Afonso Cerqueira Wreck Dive in Madeira
+13
2 h 30 min
Free cancellation if canceled at least 24 hours before the start of the experience.
Description
Experience one of Madeira’s most impressive dive sites with a descent to the Afonso Cerqueira, a former Portuguese Navy warship intentionally sunk off the island’s southern coast in 2018. Later transformed into an artificial reef and protected marine area, the wreck has become a reference point for divers visiting the Atlantic.
Measuring approximately 85 metres in length, the vessel remains in excellent condition and was specifically prepared for recreational diving. During the immersion, divers can observe both the exterior structure and selected interior sections, including corridors, the engine room, the bridge and other accessible compartments.
Marine life has gradually taken over the wreck, creating a thriving underwater habitat where schools of fish, moray eels and other Atlantic species gather among the metal structures. The site gained additional international recognition after hosting the European Underwater Photography Championship in 2022.
The average dive depth ranges between 15 and 20 metres. The activity includes a boat trip from Funchal, air tank, weight system and a professional dive guide with a maximum ratio of six divers per group.
As the outline of the ship slowly emerges beneath the surface, the atmosphere becomes almost cinematic — silent corridors, filtered sunlight and the feeling of drifting through a place suspended beneath the Atlantic.
What should you know before you go?
- Approximate duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
- Open Water certification or equivalent is required
- At least 6 logged dives are required
- If you have not dived within the last 12 months, a refresher dive must be booked
- Average depth: between 15 and 20 metres
- Minimum age: 10 years old
- Meeting point: Azul Diving Center Madeira
- Address: Hotel Penha França Mar, Rua Carvalho Araújo, Funchal, Portugal
- Please arrive 15 minutes before departure
- No pick-up service included
- No drop-off service included
- Suitable for cruise passengers
What to bring?
- Physical or digital diving certification
- Swimwear
- Towel
Together let's take care of the environment and turn the future into a better destination. For a regenerative tourism.
