Country

Diving in Portugal

12 dive destinations in Portugal, up to 1,980 km apart. Water temperature across them runs 13–25 °C. All 12 are in season in Jun–Oct. 113 named dive sites have their own pages.

Berlengas & Peniche · photo Tiago Thedim

Destinations: 12
Dive sites: 113
Water: 13–25°C
Most in season: Jun–Oct

RegionAtlantic

How do they compare?

Conditions at each dive destination in Portugal
#	Destination	Best months	Water	Visibility	Depth	Level	Access	Sites
1	Azores — Flores & CorvoAbout a dozen dusky groupers at once in Corvo's voluntary reserve	Jun–Sep	16–23°C	—	12–40 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat, Shore	7
2	Berlengas & PenichePink granite caves and tunnels in cold Atlantic swell off Peniche	Jun–Sep	14–20°C	8–25 m	8–30 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	15
3	Azores — São Jorge & GraciosaPelagic schools on Rosais Reef and resident groupers in Pesqueiro Alto's caves	Jun–Sep	16–23°C	—	5–25 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	5
4	Cascais & Cabo RasoAtlantic reef, gorges and a sea cave a train ride from Lisbon	Year-round	15–20°C	—	6–30 m	Beginnersites from beginner to intermediate	Day boat	7
5	Azores — TerceiraCenturies of lost anchors and an 1878 steamer wreck in Angra bay	Jun–Sep	15–25°C	—	3–25 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Shore, Day boat	7
6	Azores — Pico & FaialOpen-water mobula ray carousels at Princess Alice Bank each summer	Jun–Sep	16–25°C	15–30 m	18–40 m	Advanced	Day boat	3
7	Sesimbra & the ArrábidaThe River Gurara wreck and gorgonian rock south of Lisbon	Aug–Oct	13–18°C	1–15 m	8–65 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Shore, Day boat	11
8	Azores — São MiguelThe WWII Liberty ship Dori in 21m, minutes off Ponta Delgada	Jun–Sep	16–25°C	5–25 m	4–35 m	Intermediatesites from intermediate to advanced	Shore, Day boat	11
9	Algarve — Ocean RevivalFour Portuguese Navy ships scuttled together on one sand plain	Jun–Sep	15–23°C	1–10 m	15–32 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat	13
10	Azores — Santa MariaMobula rays over the Baixa do Ambrósio seamount each summer	Jul–Sep	17–25°C	20–40 m	5–40 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Day boat, Shore	11
11	Porto SantoTwo scuttled ships and rocky reefs around the islets, 2 m to 30 m	Jul–Oct	17–23°C	5–30 m	2–30 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Shore, Day boat	12
12	MadeiraBoulder swim-throughs at Garajau, monk seals and mantas off the Desertas	Jun–Sep	19–24°C	5–25 m	5–35 m	Intermediatesites from beginner to advanced	Shore, Day boat	11

When is the best time to dive Portugal?

The most destinations are rated good or prime at the same time in Jun–Oct: 12 of 12. Each row is one destination's own season rating.

Season rating by month for each dive destination in Portugal
Destination	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
1Azores — Flores & Corvo	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair
2Berlengas & Peniche	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Off-season
3Azores — São Jorge & Graciosa	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair
4Cascais & Cabo Raso	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good	Good
5Azores — Terceira	Good	Good	Fair	Fair	Fair	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Good	Good
6Azores — Pico & Faial	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Off-season
7Sesimbra & the Arrábida	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair
8Azores — São Miguel	Fair	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair
9Algarve	Off-season	Off-season	Fair	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Off-season
10Azores — Santa Maria	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Off-season	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Off-season	Off-season
11Porto Santo	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair
12Madeira	Fair	Fair	Fair	Good	Good	Prime	Prime	Prime	Prime	Good	Fair	Fair
Good or prime	2	2	1	4	9	12	12	12	12	12	4	2

Which destinations combine into one trip?

Destinations that fit within 200 km of each other end to end and share at least one month rated good or prime. Distances are straight lines between destinations, not travel routes.

113 km end to end

In season together: May–Oct