Porto Santo Wrecks & Reefs – Madeira – Desertas & Porto Santo
Site Overview
Porto Santo offers the Afonso Cerqueira cable-layer wreck at 30-45 m for technical divers, the Pedra do Sol rocky reef with lobsters, and Ilhéu de Cima walls, plus seagrass meadows with rays and cuttlefish. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Portuguese marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery and rich marine life. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Portuguese marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery and rich marine life. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Portuguese marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery and rich marine life. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Portuguese marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery and rich marine life. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Portuguese marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery and rich marine life. The site rewards careful planning, good buoyancy and a respect for Portuguese marine-protection rules, and remains a favourite among Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery and rich marine life.
Dive Briefing
"Boat to the site and descend to the wreck or reef, planning deco for the deeper sections, then ascend with staged stops. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable. Follow your guide closely, monitor your thermal comfort and complete a safety stop before exiting at the designated point to keep the dive safe and enjoyable."
Signature Marine Life
Dusky Grouper
Epinephelus marginatus
Best: Year-round
Conger Eel
Conger conger
Best: Year-round
Ray
Myliobatidae
Best: Year-round
Pipefish
Syngnathus acus
Best: Year-round
Cuttlefish
Sepia officinalis
Best: Year-round
Safety & Hazards
- Decompression requirement
- Moderate currents
- Depth management
- Surface swell
- Boat traffic
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
For advanced and technical divers after wrecks and reefs off Porto Santo. It suits deco-certified photographers. It suits confident Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich marine life over tropical abundance and who plan their trips around the best seasonal windows. It suits confident Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich marine life over tropical abundance and who plan their trips around the best seasonal windows. It suits confident Atlantic divers who value dramatic scenery, wrecks and rich marine life over tropical abundance and who plan their trips around the best seasonal windows.
For Non-Divers
Non-divers can enjoy boat trips, coastal walks and local cuisine while divers explore the site.
Quick Stats
Dive Logistics
- Porto Santo Dive
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle, macro