The Maldives, Raja Ampat, Palau or Las Jardines de la Reina in Cuba – most divers and watersport enthusiasts are well-acquainted with the world’s most famous dive destinations. But all of these are relatively far-flung places for divers from around the European continent. On the one hand, us underwater photographers love the exotic flora and fauna that can be found in these destinations. On the other hand, we all want to travel shorter distances, while also enjoying warmer water and air temperatures, and witnessing the beauty of a new underwater world. After years of travelling and scouring the seas for dive destinations, I have found a place that seems to have it all.

I’m talking about an island that has a special place in my heart: Madeira. Located in the Atlantic Ocean southwest of Portugal and northwest of the Canary Islands, the Portuguese island can be reached easily by mainland Europe. When I first visited the island, I was mesmerised by its lush topside nature, but it was below the surface, that I fell in love.

Not only did I encounter a diverse ecosystem here with an abundance of marine life, I also found crystal-clear water with excellent visibility – a much-welcomed plus for underwater photographers, as well as volcanic rock formations, tunnels and caves that all present great photo opportunities. Marine life is abundant here; you can encounter colourful fish, many crustaceans, sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and much more.

The population of Madeira is around 260.000 but the Island hosts more than 2 million tourists annually. Stunning scenery, year-round mild climate, hiking, canyoning, surfing, and whale watching along with wine and amazing cuisine are some of the reasons why the island is such a popular tourist destination. However, for us scuba divers, the island has also a lot to offer. Due to the island’s mild climate, the water temperature sits at a comfortable 18°C to 25°C depending on the season. This means that diving centres never really close and visitors can dive year-round, while numerous different dive sites around the archipelago cater for all levels of divers, from beginners to experts.

In 2022, the CMAS (the Confédération Mondiale des Activités Subaquatiques or the World Underwater Federation in English) organised the European Championship of Underwater Photography and Video in Madeira and in 2021 hosted the World Championship on the neighbouring island of Porto Santo. Before and during these events, I visited the islands many times to inspect all the dive sites.

I was amazed to see the diversity of marine life you can find when diving. Picture small skeleton shrimps on nearly every dive, anemones in red, pink, and green hues, shrimps, and an abundance of fish. Some of my favourite dive sites around Madeira are Baixa da Cruz, Baixa das Moreias, Tres Marias, Galo, and Pitanga, but my absolute favourites are Afonso Cerqueira Wreck and Garajau.