Seasonal
When to dive Madeira
Madeira diving runs year-round - water never freezes, the Atlantic Gulf Stream keeps temperatures mild even in February. But the conditions you'll get vary significantly by season. Here's the honest breakdown.
By Diving Madeira editorial · Updated 2026-04-25
Month-by-month conditions
| Month | Water (°C) | Visibility | Wetsuit | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 17–18 | 15–20m | 5/4 or 7mm | Cold + occasional swell closures |
| Feb | 16–18 | 15–20m | 7mm semi-dry | Coldest. Quietest. |
| Mar | 17–19 | 20–25m | 5/4 mm | Improving |
| Apr | 18–20 | 20–30m | 5mm | Shoulder - good balance |
| May | 19–21 | 25–35m | 5mm | Visibility climbing |
| Jun | 20–22 | 25–40m | 5mm or 3/2 | Peak season starts |
| Jul | 22–24 | 30–40m | 3/2 + hood optional | Peak. Busy. |
| Aug | 23–25 | 30–40m | 3/2 or shorty | Peak. Busiest. |
| Sep | 23–25 | 30–40m+ | 3/2 or shorty | Peak holds. Best month for many. |
| Oct | 22–24 | 25–35m | 5mm | Quieter shoulder. Excellent. |
| Nov | 20–22 | 20–30m | 5mm | Quieter. Bookable. |
| Dec | 18–20 | 15–25m | 5/4 or 7mm | Christmas crowd; cold-er |
Visibility figures are typical south-coast (Garajau / Caniçal). Porto Santo regularly adds 10-20m to those numbers in summer (40-60m on excellent days).
Wetsuit thickness - don't underestimate
The Atlantic doesn't feel as cold as the temperature suggests until you've been in the water for 30+ minutes. The mistake first-timers make: pack a 3mm shorty for July based on the 24°C surface temperature; do a deep Corveta dive with 30 minutes' bottom time at 22°C; come up shivering, can't do the second dive.
- Summer (Jul-Sep): 3/2mm full suit minimum. Some divers prefer 5mm. Shorty only for shallow short dives. Hood optional but useful.
- Shoulder (Apr-Jun, Oct-Nov): 5mm full suit standard. Hood recommended for multi-dive days.
- Winter (Dec-Mar): 7mm semi-dry or 5/4mm with hood + gloves. Some operators rent drysuits - ask in advance.
All centres rent wetsuits. Quality varies - Manta and Madeira Divepoint replace gear on regular cycles; budget centres less so. If you have your own suit, bring it.
Best months by trip type
- Best for first-time divers (DSD or OW): May, June, September, October. Warm enough to be comfortable + not so busy you can't get a 1-on-1 instructor.
- Best for wreck diving: June through October. Visibility on the Corveta + Bowbelle is best in summer; Porto Santo's Madeirense rewards the September-October weather window.
- Best for photography: September. Peak visibility, less crowded than peak July-August, water temperature still allows long bottom times.
- Best for budget + quiet: November and February. Operators have capacity. Walk-in DSD bookings work. Most operators offer winter discounts (~10%).
- Avoid if possible: the third week of August - it's the absolute peak of European summer holidays. Boats full, prices peak, instructor ratios stretched.