Madeira Diving Center
Madeira Diving Center
4.5
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Full view
About
Bem-vindo! Herzlich Willkommen bei uns auf Madeira! 1980 eröffneten wir die erste Tauchbasis auf Madeira und nun tauchen wir schon seit 37 Jahren und mittlerweile in der 2. Generation auf Madeira. Das Tauchen ist unsere absolute Leidenschaft und wir freuen uns, euch unsere wunderbare Unterwasserwelt zu zeigen! Alice und Felix Waschkewitz
Canico, Portugal
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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Madeira Diving Center
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
79 reviews
Excellent
63
Very good
5
Average
7
Poor
2
Terrible
2
Jan Hendrik Janssen
12 contributions
Sep 2020 • Solo
It was my first time on Madeira and started on Saturday afternoon, just a couple of hours after landing.
Alice showed me around, Felix helped me out with the weights and tanks and of we went for the check dive. It was the first of many dives I did.
Many dive sites for every level of diving. Diversity of life, shore dives, boat dives, wreck dive...you name it, it is here.
Very professional and very friendly staff with the guest in mind. Trying to go to as many different spots as possible depending of course on weather, current and other guests. Rental equipment, only by the looks, in perfect condition as I use my own equipment I didn't test the rentals.
In the water Felix, Jessica and Sofia always did their outmost best to find the small highlights like seahorses and frogfish, I would have never found on my own. Out of the water, friendly and smiling and really giving you a great time. Tips on restaurants and always in for a laugh.
Had an amazing time and I will be back for sure. Thank you all for making my holiday a great experience.
Jan
Alice showed me around, Felix helped me out with the weights and tanks and of we went for the check dive. It was the first of many dives I did.
Many dive sites for every level of diving. Diversity of life, shore dives, boat dives, wreck dive...you name it, it is here.
Very professional and very friendly staff with the guest in mind. Trying to go to as many different spots as possible depending of course on weather, current and other guests. Rental equipment, only by the looks, in perfect condition as I use my own equipment I didn't test the rentals.
In the water Felix, Jessica and Sofia always did their outmost best to find the small highlights like seahorses and frogfish, I would have never found on my own. Out of the water, friendly and smiling and really giving you a great time. Tips on restaurants and always in for a laugh.
Had an amazing time and I will be back for sure. Thank you all for making my holiday a great experience.
Jan
Written September 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Philip
14 contributions
Oct 2022 • Family
Excellent safe fun diving adventure.
Although our 10 year old son (PADI open diver) had previously done 6 open water dives we anted to make sure he was safe)
We were immediately reassured as the instructors ensured he could use the equipment
His first dive was to test his skills. Even though it was a test dive he saw amazing fish,crabs and starfish.
The instructor recognised he had been taught well (orange shark Malta)
Sofia spent her own time after the second dive showing how he could improve.
He soon felt comfortable with the instructors and other divers
Definitely recommend this centre
Although our 10 year old son (PADI open diver) had previously done 6 open water dives we anted to make sure he was safe)
We were immediately reassured as the instructors ensured he could use the equipment
His first dive was to test his skills. Even though it was a test dive he saw amazing fish,crabs and starfish.
The instructor recognised he had been taught well (orange shark Malta)
Sofia spent her own time after the second dive showing how he could improve.
He soon felt comfortable with the instructors and other divers
Definitely recommend this centre
Written October 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David W
41 contributions
Jul 2022 • Solo
Well organised and friendly welcome. Good quality hire kit and located close to dive sites. The guide Sofia was excellent and made sure we saw plenty of fish.
Written July 4, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
trapeze2018
Nuku'alofa, Tonga1 contribution
Aug 2018 • Solo
if you are into diving,
visit this base.
There you can find german, english, french, spanish and of course portuguese tounge.
Nevertheless if you are young or old, expert or novice, all guides
have competence and skill to manage you through the blue.
I will recommend the boat tour,
in which you will encounter a bigger fish diversity. I even saw a big manta ray appearing out of nowhere. Also night diving is very nice thing..do you dare to jump into the void?
visit this base.
There you can find german, english, french, spanish and of course portuguese tounge.
Nevertheless if you are young or old, expert or novice, all guides
have competence and skill to manage you through the blue.
I will recommend the boat tour,
in which you will encounter a bigger fish diversity. I even saw a big manta ray appearing out of nowhere. Also night diving is very nice thing..do you dare to jump into the void?
Written August 28, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello,
Thank you so much for you feedback and we are glad that you recommend us.
Hope to welcome you sometime soon.
All the best
Written April 3, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Margaux B
Colombes, France2 contributions
Jun 2021 • Friends
Very bad experience, unpleasant instructor, not motivated, not nice. Nothing to make you confortable. If you want to go to garajau's reserve, you have to do 1st one dive in front of the center where there is strictly nothing to see. To go to the reserve, we tell you it's 12euros for the boat but at the end it's 12€ to carry your equiment by van less than 5mn from there and go from the shore. I had problems with my bcd the 2nd day (very old BCD) and the instructor made me feel that it was my fault.
I booked for 2 dives the same day but nobody called me to tell me the reserve wasn't possible. I had to figure it myself when I got there and had to come back from far to do it another day.
Nobody check any of my diving licenses.
Well my worse experience of diving, and when I wrote to the owner, I got no answer so I'm letting a review which is not my favourite way to do things but as nobody ever answered...
It's very disappointing to see that in this hard period of covid with very little tourism, some people are not even motivated to do there job and make there best for the satisfaction of their clients.
I didn't see any groupper and didn't even wanted to go for another dive as the experience was to inspleasant.
I booked for 2 dives the same day but nobody called me to tell me the reserve wasn't possible. I had to figure it myself when I got there and had to come back from far to do it another day.
Nobody check any of my diving licenses.
Well my worse experience of diving, and when I wrote to the owner, I got no answer so I'm letting a review which is not my favourite way to do things but as nobody ever answered...
It's very disappointing to see that in this hard period of covid with very little tourism, some people are not even motivated to do there job and make there best for the satisfaction of their clients.
I didn't see any groupper and didn't even wanted to go for another dive as the experience was to inspleasant.
Written July 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LadyDodge
London, UK8 contributions
Jun 2021
This was the worst diving experience I have had in 20 years of diving.
I felt unsafe physically and psychologically throughout. The staff laughed at me behind my back as I struggled to put on the too-small wetsuit, which made me feel demoralised and upset before the dive had even started. The dive master was rude and unfriendly and didn't do any kind of safety briefing despite me not having dived for a couple of years. They didn't even check with PADI that I was qualified. I had to ask for help with the equipment and was made to feel stupid for not remembering everything perfectly. I felt anxious and unsafe throughout the dive and I actually couldn't wait for it to end.
The staff ignored me and clearly bad-mouthed me to each other after the dive, despite me being obviously shaken. I burst into tears as soon as I walked away from that place and it gave me major anxiety about doing an activity that I've loved for years. It's taken me a long time to overcome the negative impact of this experience on my self confidence, it really ruined my holiday.
This outfit is cheap for a reason. I strongly recommend you pay a little more and go somewhere that they treat their customers with respect and empathy.
I felt unsafe physically and psychologically throughout. The staff laughed at me behind my back as I struggled to put on the too-small wetsuit, which made me feel demoralised and upset before the dive had even started. The dive master was rude and unfriendly and didn't do any kind of safety briefing despite me not having dived for a couple of years. They didn't even check with PADI that I was qualified. I had to ask for help with the equipment and was made to feel stupid for not remembering everything perfectly. I felt anxious and unsafe throughout the dive and I actually couldn't wait for it to end.
The staff ignored me and clearly bad-mouthed me to each other after the dive, despite me being obviously shaken. I burst into tears as soon as I walked away from that place and it gave me major anxiety about doing an activity that I've loved for years. It's taken me a long time to overcome the negative impact of this experience on my self confidence, it really ruined my holiday.
This outfit is cheap for a reason. I strongly recommend you pay a little more and go somewhere that they treat their customers with respect and empathy.
Written May 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Matthias B
Antwerp, Belgium4 contributions
Dec 2021 • Solo
I enjoyed my 4 dives here. Especially de ones in Garajau Marine Park. There I’ve met their friends, the big groupers :) It’s a shame it were only 4 dives, would’ve liked to have done more, but no more time left.
Sofia and Carlota took good care of me. It has been more then a year since I’ve dived, so it was a bit rusty in my side.
They gave good briefings, they gave a lot of information about the marine life helped me to get in and out where it was difficult with the rocks etc, they made sure I was comfortable all the time 👍
You could tell they both like their jobs. Even tough I was alone, there was a nice and relax atmosphere in the dive center 👍
The equipment was good as well.
I would recommend diving with Madeira diving center 👍
Special thanks to Sofia an Carlota. All the best!
Sofia and Carlota took good care of me. It has been more then a year since I’ve dived, so it was a bit rusty in my side.
They gave good briefings, they gave a lot of information about the marine life helped me to get in and out where it was difficult with the rocks etc, they made sure I was comfortable all the time 👍
You could tell they both like their jobs. Even tough I was alone, there was a nice and relax atmosphere in the dive center 👍
The equipment was good as well.
I would recommend diving with Madeira diving center 👍
Special thanks to Sofia an Carlota. All the best!
Written December 9, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Karol P
1 contribution
Jul 2019
After 15 years on the land we redo scuba diving course by Madeira Diving Center by Anna and Felix. We have got very friendly uncomplicated service and professional support from the whole team (especially Tom got a big portion of us :-) ). We were excited from closed reefs and underwater life what made our "return under water" much more interesting. The team around Felix and Anna impressed even my sons, which could "try" the salt water in ABC and they plan to do the whole Open Water Scuba Diver course next year. I'm counting days, when we will return to Madeira (in October), knowing that we will have a great service ans smooth operation from the team.
Big thank you from Karol and family
Big thank you from Karol and family
Written September 8, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laura P
7 contributions
Aug 2019
They offer lots of options overall and seem to be very flexible. I did my first test dive there with instructor Anne, who literally took me by the hand and made me feel safe under water. She was very patient and knew 100% what she's doing. Had an answer to every question and had a good feeling for my needs. Would definitely dive again with her!
Written September 5, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bianca M
9 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
We did a dive at the housereef. The communication with the owner was very good and they were friendly. Unfortunately we were treated like stupid beginners and the guide rushed us through the dive. We didn't like this unprofessional behaviour and the talking behind our back which we have overheard. For sure the dive would have been enjoyable if we had another guide. The divespot was okay.
Written May 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I am in Madeira week beginning 28th May this year and am looking to fit in a couple of dives. I am a UK training PADI Rescue Diver with 126 dives logged, but I have not been SCUBA diving for around 4 years. Are there some dives that I would be able to go on? If so, what will you need for diving apart from my qualification, log book and insurance, and can I book on line?
Many thanks
Martin
Written March 12, 2018
Hello Martin!
You have asked me as reviewer; I am unfortunately not the owner of the diving school.
But to say, it‘s a great place, and they are very nice and helpful. Please write them directly via their webpage.
And enjoy diving at Madeira!
All the best!
Sash
Written March 15, 2018
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