Top 13 Scuba Diving Tours in Portugal

1.Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 715 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $53Our pick

Start at Madeira Divepoint inside the Pestana Carlton, where a PADI instructor such as Jorge, Rosa, or Vivien explains the equipment and basic skills. After pool practice, choose the ocean option for a guided visit to Funchal’s private reef, with small groups capped at six.

“As a beginner, I didn’t see anything that could be improved, very professional people! I didn’t enjoy that so much that i started my PADI course! It was amazing, I totally recommend it!”

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2.Scuba Diving Experience in Madeira

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 266 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $50Best value

At Azul Diving Madeira in Funchal, you learn basic scuba skills in a classroom and pool before entering the sea for up to 45 to 50 minutes at 12 meters. An instructor stays with you throughout. Guides including Rafa, Esme, Guadalupe, and Theo have helped beginners gain confidence.

“Amazing experience, nice and friendly staff and very easy to understand. First time diving and couldn't fault anything. Managed to stay 40 minutes underwater, so cool.”

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3.Diving in the Madeira Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 215 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $163

At Aquario da Madeira in Porto Moniz, Lava Diving Center guides beginners and experienced swimmers through equipment training, a natural-pool session, and a supervised scuba visit inside the 6-meter aquarium tank. Guides including Abílio and Manuel explain the marine life and keep groups small.

“Une expérience géniale. Toute la famille a adoré. Merci à Manuel pour sa gentillesse et son professionnalisme. C'était notre première plongée et Manuel est vraiment rassurant et à l'écoute. Je recommande vraiment cette activité.”

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4.Porto Moniz: Diving with Sharks and Rays in Madeira Aquarium

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 192 reviews · 3 hours · from $159

At Aquário da Madeira in Porto Moniz, you’ll learn basic scuba skills with instructor Abílio, practice in a natural ocean pool, then enter the main aquarium tank beside sharks, rays, and mantas. A guided aquarium and technical-zone visit is included. Groups are limited to four.

“Wow! What an experience. Abílio clearly loves his job and great with people. He happily changed our time from 2pm to 10am. Made us feel very relaxed and safe as we both had not done this before. Great knowledge about the fish. Im sure there are others that do this tour but we can’t imagine they would be as kind and funny as him. Completely recommend (even if frightened)”

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5.Guided Scuba Diving Trip for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 131 reviews · 3 hours · from $135

Meet Atlasdivertido in central Lagos, gear up, and take a short boat ride to the coast with instructors such as Nuno, Melanie, Gui, or Tee. You’ll spend about 35 minutes underwater, looking for octopus, cuttlefish, squid, anemones, sea stars, and fish.

“Our guide/teacher did an excellent job letting us know what to expect and was great to work with. Couldn’t have asked for a better introduction into the world of scuba diving. Great experience. Mark”

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6.Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 124 reviews · from $125

At Easydivers in Albufeira Marina, you’ll learn scuba basics, practice in a pool, then take a boat to the sea for a guided session as deep as 12 meters. Instructors speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Scoty is one instructor praised for helping nervous beginners relax.

“The dive was INCREDIBLE, all the staff were amazing and really made the experience 10x better, I dont want to misspell any names but I was on the 1:45pm dive on 16/05/25 and everyone was amazing and made me feel so comfortable. The dive itself was an amazing experience and 100% worth every pemny!!”

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7.Vila Franca Do Campo: Introduction to Scuba Diving Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 117 reviews · 3 hours · from $154

Start at Vila Franca do Campo Marina with a safety lesson, then take a 10-minute speedboat ride to the volcanic islet. Your instructor, such as Ivo, Ricardo, Rodrigo, or Veronika, provides equipment and close support for a 30-minute underwater session.

“Simply amazing! All the crew including Ricardo, Ivo, Yann, Tiago and Paulo were really cool, knowledgeable, and respectful to the local wildlife. This was our first time scuba diving, so a bit nervous, but after this experience can’t wait to do more. Would highly recommend it!”

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8.Try Scuba Diving in Arrabida Marine Reserve with photos

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 99 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $108

Meet at Porto Abrigo in Sesimbra for a small-group scuba lesson and boat trip in the Arrábida Marine Reserve. An SSI professional teaches you the basics before guiding you to a maximum depth of 10 meters. Equipment, snacks, drinks, and underwater photos are included.

“We had a great time with our guides who were extremely patient and helpful. All I’m waiting on is our underwater photos but besides that it was fantastic!!”

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9.Scuba Diving Albufeira-Double Dive Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 95 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $101

Join Easydivers Portugal for two guided boat outings from Albufeira Marina, each lasting up to about 55 minutes. Certified Open Water participants complete a medical form, receive tanks and weights, and can rent the remaining kit for €20. Guides Fernando and Matias lead the underwater work.

“Estábamos alojados en Ayamonte y buscábamos donde bucear. Los comentarios de los sitios de Huelva eran poco motivadores y para colmo el más “aparente” solo daba cursos. Muy amablemente me recomendó el Algarve para bucear. Fue todo un acierto al dar con Easydivers. Un centro de buceo de calidad, bien organizado con un personal muy agradable. El barco fenomenal, muy cómodo para saltar desde él con el paso de gigante. Pudimos ver en la primera inmersión pulpos, congrios, morena, sepia, cangrejos y hasta una raya...espectacular y todo ello sin pasar de los 12 metros. Si tengo que decir algo malo, la temperatura (15) y la visibilidad (5) pero claro, es…”

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10.Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 70 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $69

From Vila Franca do Campo, a professional guide takes certified participants by boat to a south-coast Atlantic site. You get a safety briefing, equipment support, storage, washing facilities, and about three hours for the full outing. Ricardo and a marine-biologist guide have helped make first-time guests feel at ease.

“Ricardo was very attentive. Took his tim with us made sure we where comfortable for our first time diving. Had rained in the morning so they gave us a discount because wasn’t 100% clear viewing under water. But saw plenty of sea life. Would go with them again. Great time and experience.”

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11.Scuba Diving Experience for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 54 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $54

Meet Madeira Divepoint at Hotel Carlton for a three-hour beginner scuba session with equipment, insurance, pool practice, and a sea visit for ages 10 and up. Instructor Miguel is praised for calm, patient help when first-time swimmers feel nervous.

“Super friendly and sincerely patient. Explained everything thoroughly and showed me an experience I had never had before! Saw so many fish and octopus and everything else!”

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12.Arrábida – Sesimbra: Eco-Friendly Beginner’s Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 52 reviews · 4 hours · from $111

Spend four hours learning basic scuba skills before taking a boat into the Professor Luiz Saldanha Marine Park. You will make one guided underwater descent, help collect plastic, receive insurance and a participation certificate, and gain free SSI Blue Oceans access. Portuguese, English, and Spanish support is available.

“Professional team, instructors and the staff very nice people, kind and welcome to help, the immersion was fantastic I enjoyed a lot. surely I will go back soon.”

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13.3 days Open Water Course | Scuba Diving

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 43 reviews · 3 days (approx.) · from $527

Spend three focused days learning scuba skills in Funchal with Azul Diving Madeira. You’ll study, practice in a pool, complete sea sessions, and work toward SSI certification to 18 meters. Instructors such as Lupii, Rafa, Tomas, Sara, and Nico are known for calm, personal coaching.

“We did our advanced PADI with Azul dive centre”

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