Machico

Machico is an advanced dive site off the historic town of Machico on Madeira's northeastern coast — a dive in the more exposed, north-facing waters of the island where the Atlantic Ocean character is more pronounced and the marine life reflects the productive, colder water conditions of the windward coast. Machico is one of Madeira's oldest settlements, the site of the first Portuguese landing on the island in 1419, and the waters offshore contain the same volcanic reef formations that characterize all of Madeira's coastline but with the added drama of Atlantic exposure and the more diverse and pelagic-influenced marine community that comes with open-ocean conditions. Advanced sites on Madeira's north and east coast are subject to the northeast trade winds and Atlantic swell that make conditions more challenging and variable than the calm southern sites, and the dive at Machico requires the experience to handle stronger surge and current when they develop. The volcanic lava formations off Machico's coast create the dramatic topography typical of Madeiran diving: caves, walls, and arch formations providing structural complexity and shelter for the fish community. The Atlantic marine life here reflects the more exposed, productive character of the windward coast: larger grouper and amberjack are present in the deeper sections; schools of barracuda patrol the outer reef; and the productivity of the water column is reflected in the dense schools of bream and Atlantic wrasse working the reef surfaces. The advanced designation acknowledges both the depth potential and the variable conditions that require experience and appropriate planning when diving the more exposed sections of Madeira's magnificent volcanic coastline.