The Calheta and West Coast sits along Madeira's Atlantic-facing shore, the sunniest part of the island, and offers a varied mix of reef, wall, cave, and wreck diving across sites that suit beginners and advanced divers alike. Visibility is strong, frequently exceeding twenty-five metres, and water temperatures climb warmest from late summer through autumn. The site list includes the Bowbell, a well-preserved wreck resting at depth off Calheta, and the Afonso Cerqueira, an eighty-five-metre corvette intentionally sunk as an artificial reef. As the coastline extends westward, encounters with rays and pelagic species become more likely. Most sites are reached by boat, though shore entry is available at several locations.
Monthly water temperature across Calheta and West Coast's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures sit at their coolest in late winter and spring, when a thin wetsuit remains advisable. They rise through summer and peak in late summer and early autumn, making those months the most comfortable for longer dives. Diving is possible year-round, with operators using shore-based access by four-wheel-drive when Atlantic swells make boat launches difficult.
9 operators
Funchal, Madeira
Porto Moniz, Madeira
Camara de Lobos, Madeira
Funchal, Madeira
Water temperature around Calheta and West Coast ranges from about 19°C in February to 24°C in August, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 24°C) a 3mm full suit is comfortable in Calheta and West Coast; in the coldest months (about 19°C) step up to a 5mm suit.
Fin maps 8 sites in Calheta and West Coast (8 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
1 more site to explore
Across Calheta and West Coast's dive sites, June, July, August, September and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
