A small and quick getaway to "The Island of Wood" – Madeira!
- Shaun Yeo
- Jul 21
- 2 min read
I've been meaning to visit for as long as I can remember, although this is actually my second time here, my first visit was when I was just one year old! I've invested heavily in my new rebreather, along with the training and accessories for it, so I wanted to do something much more affordable this summer compared to my usual dive trips.
Madeira is an important part of Gibraltar's WWII history. Many of our grandparents were evacuated from Gibraltar and sent to various places, including Madeira. I thought it was only fitting to pay my respects by visiting the memorial in Funchal while I was on the island.
Diving here is mainly done in two parts of the island. Just a few minutes away by boat is a Marine Reserve, where we can dive with large meros (groupers). They are protected here, as well as in a few marine parks in Spain, where I've previously dived with them too.
Besides the groupers, there was the usual array of fish that I've also seen in the Canary Islands. It was nice to see some species native to this region that I had photographed in Tenerife a few years ago and later saw featured in a marine life guidebook for these areas!
I also dived on a purposely sunk retired naval ship. Again, it was very similar to the wrecks I've previously explored off Portugal's Algarve coast, where four retired naval ships have also been intentionally sunk.
During my short stay, I made sure to do some sightseeing, visiting the town centre and historic buildings in the capital, Funchal. I also visited the summit of the island's third-highest peak (by minibus—no hiking on this trip!), before exploring natural trails, charming towns, and beautiful gardens in several locations. The traditional houses of Santana were another highlight.
There were still a few places on the island that I didn't get to visit, but in just three days, I think I managed to see and do quite a lot!
Below is a small video I've put together, of my dive trip in Madeira:
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