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 Rui Mendes, PADI OWSI · 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.