Desertas Islands (Ilhas Desertas)

Porto Santo Wrecks & Reefs

Porto Santo is famed for free-roaming vigna beef, while limpets and honey cake reflect the islands simpleAtlantic larder. Local ingredients and simple coastal preparation let the pure Portuguese flavours shine through in every seafood meal. Local ingredients and simple coastal preparation let the pure Portuguese flavours shine through in every seafood meal. Local ingredients and simple coastal preparation let the pure Portuguese flavours shine through in every seafood meal.

Pestana Porto Santo

Hotel Torre Praia

Quinta do Lorde

Belmond Reid’s Palace

The Desertas Islands are a pristine Madeiran marine reserve of sheer walls patrolled by huge dusky groupers, amberjack and the rare monk seal, reachable only by expedition. Nearby Porto Santo offers the Afonso Cerqueira cable-layer wreck, rocky reefs and extensive seagrass meadows with rays. This is the wild, remote side of Madeira diving. This region rewards careful planning and respects marine-protection rules, offering rewarding diving for a range of Atlantic experience levels. This region rewards careful planning and respects Portuguese marine-protection rules, offering rewarding diving for a range of Atlantic experience levels. This region rewards careful planning and respects Portuguese marine-protection rules, offering rewarding diving for a range of Atlantic experience levels.

Madeira – Desertas & Porto Santo

Base in Funchal or Porto Santo (PXO); Desertas trips are organised liveaboard or expedition boats, while Porto Santo is reached by ferry or short flight from Madeira.

Dive Sites in Madeira – Desertas & Porto Santo

Desertas Islands (Ilhas Desertas)

Porto Santo Wrecks & Reefs