Author

Rui Mendes

PADI OWSI · Dive Master · Marine Photographer

Caniço, Madeira

Caniço-based PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor with 12 years guiding in Madeira waters — primarily Garajau Marine Reserve, Caniçal east-coast walls, and the Cabo Girão wreck sites. Rui's photography from the 2018 Corveta Afonso Cerqueira sinking project documented the reef's first three years and is referenced on PADI's Madeira destination pages. He writes every dive-site review himself after a recent dive — no second-hand operator copy.

Credentials

✓PADI OWSI #486xxx (Open Water Scuba Instructor)
✓SSI Dive Control Specialist
✓Nitrox + Wreck Specialty instructor ratings
✓12+ years guiding in Madeira sites
✓1,200+ logged dives, of which 800+ in Madeira

How I research dive sites + operators

Quarterly check-dives at Garajau, Caniçal walls, and the Corveta wreck. Annual Porto Santo crossing for Madeirense + Cordeca. Operator audits run twice yearly: I dive with each major centre on a regular fee-paying client trip, never disclosed in advance, then write up gear quality, briefing depth, in-water professionalism, and ratio compliance. Reviews are unpaid and unbiased. We never accept hosted dives without disclosing them.

I write about

Garajau Marine Reserve + dusky groupersVolcanic walls + cave/tunnel divingCorveta Afonso Cerqueira + wreck penetration prerequisitesMedical clearance (DMSC/RSTC) plain-English explanationWetsuit selection by month (16-26°C range)Underwater photography — championship-level sitesDiscover Scuba (DSD) honest expectations vs Open Water Course

Editorial independence: Rui Mendes is paid by Diving Madeira, not by the dive centres or wreck-tour operators reviewed on this site. Operator audits are conducted as fee-paying client trips — never disclosed in advance to the operator. See our editorial policy.