Funchal: Advanced Scuba Diving Afonso Cerqueira Wreck

The main event here is an 85-meter naval wreck resting off Madeira’s coast. The Afonso Cerqueira has become an artificial reef and part of an underwater national park, giving you a chance to swim beside a full-sized ship and enter selected areas such as the engine room and cafeteria.

I like the mix of open-water scenery and a clear purpose for the trip: you get boat time, a proper wreck for your logbook, and a chance to see marine life using the ship as shelter. I also like that the excursion includes the boat, tank, weights, and insurance for $64. The catch is that your own equipment and the €3 national park fee cost extra, and one report found the underwater time about 10 minutes shorter than expected.

Key points

• The Afonso Cerqueira is 85 meters long, so this feels like a real ship exploration rather than a quick look at scattered debris.
• The wreck lies as deep as 30 meters, making an Open Water certificate the minimum stated level.
• You can enter the engine room and cafeteria, as well as inspect the captain’s deck.
• The site is an artificial reef and underwater national park, with marine life using the wreck as a home.
• The $64 price includes the boat, a 12- or 15-liter tank at 200 bars, weights, and insurance, but not rental gear or the €3 park charge.
• You need six logged dives and a dive within the last 12 months, so this is not a first-time scuba experience.

Why the Afonso Cerqueira makes a good Madeira wreck trip

Madeira is famous for cliffs and ocean views, but its underwater attractions deserve their own place in your plans. The Afonso Cerqueira offers a more focused experience than a general coastal boat ride. You leave Funchal, head toward the open sea, and spend your underwater time examining a ship with recognizable spaces and structure.

That matters because a wreck gives you a natural route to follow. You are not simply hovering over a reef and hoping something interesting appears. You can swim along the hull, look toward the captain’s deck, and inspect the engine room and cafeteria, provided conditions and the guide’s instructions allow access.

The ship has also become an artificial reef. Its metal surfaces provide places for marine life to settle, hide, and feed. The details of what you see can vary, but the protected site gives you more than an empty hull. Bring patience. Small sea life may reward a slow look at railings, openings, and shaded corners.

The experience is aimed at certified scuba participants, not beginners. You must have at least six logged dives, a minimum Open Water qualification or equivalent, and a dive recorded within the last 12 months. Those rules are practical rather than fussy. A ship at this depth, with enclosed sections, demands comfort in the water and recent practice.

Leaving Azul Diving Center for Cabo Girao

Your meeting point is Azul Diving Center Madeira. There is no hotel pickup, so you need to make your own way to the center. From there, the boat carries you out from the coast toward the wreck area near Cabo Girao.

The boat ride is part of the appeal. You get the ocean breeze, a change of viewpoint from Madeira’s shore, and the feeling that this is a proper offshore excursion rather than a pool exercise with a short boat transfer. The supplied details describe the underwater stop as Cabo Girao and give a total water activity time of about two and a half hours, while the main activity duration is listed as two hours. That difference is worth checking when you book, especially if you are fitting this around another Madeira outing.

No food or drink is included. Plan accordingly, but do not bring alcohol or drugs. The stated language is English, and the center provides an instructor for the activity.

The boat transfer also means the sea can shape the day. The information provided does not promise a particular water condition, group size, or exact bottom time. Ask the center about the day’s schedule, access to the wreck’s interior, and expected time underwater before setting your plans in stone.

What you see on the 85-meter ship

The Afonso Cerqueira is large enough to give the excursion a sense of scale. Swimming beside the hull lets you understand the ship’s size in a way that photographs cannot. A wide wreck can also spread a group out, so follow the guide closely and keep track of your position.

The captain’s deck offers one of the clearest visual references. You can imagine how the ship once operated above the water, then see how the same structure now supports marine life below it. The cafeteria and engine room offer a different kind of interest. These are not just exterior shapes. They are recognizable working areas, with doors, passages, and machinery-related spaces that make the wreck feel more personal.

Entering a wreck always calls for discipline. Do not treat an open doorway as an invitation to explore alone. Your guide decides which areas are suitable, and you should stay within your training, air supply, and comfort level. The available information confirms access to the engine room and cafeteria, but it does not promise that every internal passage will be open on every visit.

At up to 30 meters, air use becomes an important practical point. Your comfort, depth, movement, and breathing rate all affect how long you can remain with the wreck. One highly positive assessment of the center still noted that the underwater session finished roughly 10 minutes earlier than hoped and suggested having more air for extra time. That is useful advice: ask how the tank size and planned profile affect your time on the site.

Marine life on a protected artificial reef

The ship now works as a shelter for Madeira’s marine life. As you move around the hull, look beyond the big structure. Fish and smaller creatures may gather around openings, shaded sections, and metal edges, though no particular species are guaranteed.

The artificial reef setting gives the wreck a second identity. You are seeing both a sunken ship and a living underwater habitat. The national park status adds protection to the site, and the €3 national park fee is not included in the tour price.

This is where a slow pace pays off. A fast circuit around an 85-meter hull may give you the outline, but a careful route can reveal more of the reef. Let the guide set the pace, since underwater visibility, current, and group safety matter more than checking off every room.

You should also expect the wreck to look different from one visit to the next. The supplied details do not state a guaranteed visibility level or a list of animals. That is not a weakness in the experience, but it is a reason to book for the combination of wreck structure and marine life rather than for one specific creature.

What the $64 price really covers

At $64 per person, the base price is reasonable for a certified scuba excursion because several necessary items are included. You get the boat ride to the site, a 12- or 15-liter air tank filled to 200 bars, a weight system, and insurance.

That package keeps the headline cost manageable, but you need to budget for the extras. Rental equipment is not included, and the shop can rent it directly. The €3 national park fee is also separate. Hotel pickup, food, and drink are not part of the price.

If you own a complete set of equipment, the price offers a straightforward way to reach the wreck without paying for gear you do not need. If you are renting everything, ask for the full equipment rate before you commit. The final amount can be higher than the advertised $64, but the included tank and weights still make the basic package useful.

I also value the included insurance, particularly for an offshore activity. It does not replace sensible preparation or your own travel coverage, but it is one less essential item to arrange separately.

The cancellation terms help if Madeira’s weather or your schedule becomes uncertain. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Keep in mind that availability and start times need to be checked for your date.

The staff and the tone of the center

The strongest praise for this experience focuses on the dive center’s staff. Specific names connected with the excursion include Oreo, Vladimir, Ged, and Jack. One particularly warm assessment called the center the best PADI facility that person had visited and highlighted how helpful and considerate the staff were.

Another account praised the guides as top-notch and singled out the friendly atmosphere from the first contact through the wreck visit. That kind of support matters when you are dealing with depth, equipment, and an unfamiliar ship. A calm guide can make the difference between spending your air on sightseeing and spending it on worry.

The staff’s role is especially important for the interior sections. You want clear instructions about where you may go, how to handle your equipment around metal structures, and how the group will move through the site. The information confirms an English-speaking instructor, so English-language guidance is available.

The positive feedback is not entirely uncritical. The note about losing around 10 minutes underwater is a fair reminder that even an excellent center may have a schedule shaped by air supply and safety limits. Treat that as a question to raise before departure, not as a reason to dismiss the trip.

Who should book this wreck excursion

This is best for a certified diver who wants to add a wreck to a Madeira holiday without signing up for a full-day program. The stated minimum is an Open Water certificate or equivalent, six logged dives, and a dive within the past year.

It suits you especially well if you like structured underwater sites. The Afonso Cerqueira gives you a ship to circle and selected rooms to inspect, rather than a vague reef area with no clear route. It also works for someone who enjoys combining a boat outing with a serious underwater objective.

You may want to choose another activity if you are uncertified, have not been in the water during the past year, or have fewer than six logged dives. You also need to be comfortable with a site that may reach 30 meters and with the possibility that your actual underwater time depends on air use and the guide’s plan.

This is not a casual sightseeing cruise for non-divers. The boat ride is pleasant, but the value is in using a scuba certification on a protected wreck.

A practical plan for your morning or afternoon

Allow time to reach Azul Diving Center Madeira because hotel pickup is not provided. Bring proof of your diving certification and be ready to show that you meet the recent-activity requirement if the center asks.

Wear or bring what you normally need for a certified scuba outing, but remember that rental equipment is arranged and paid for at the shop rather than included in the base price. The included tank is listed as either 12 or 15 liters at 200 bars, so confirm which size is planned for you.

At the center, allow time for equipment arrangements and instructions before boarding. The published duration is two hours, while the Cabo Girao portion is described as about two and a half hours. Confirm the meeting time and total schedule so you do not place a cliff visit, airport transfer, or dinner reservation too close to the return.

On the boat, use the journey to enjoy Madeira from the water, but save your energy for the wreck. Once below the surface, stay close to the guide, monitor your air, and move slowly around the hull and interior areas.

After the wreck visit, the boat returns to Azul Diving Center Madeira. No meal is supplied, so plan your food around the trip rather than expecting refreshments onboard.

My verdict on the Afonso Cerqueira

I would book this if I already had the required certification and recent experience. The combination is strong: an 85-meter ship, access to meaningful interior spaces, marine life around an artificial reef, boat time from Funchal, and a modest base price with tank and weights included.

I would not book it without first confirming equipment rental costs and the expected underwater schedule. The €3 park fee is minor, but full gear rental can change the total. I would also ask about the difference between the listed two-hour duration and the approximately two-and-a-half-hour Cabo Girao schedule.

The center’s staff receive the most consistent praise, with Oreo, Vladimir, Ged, and Jack named positively, while the only clear reservation concerns a slightly short underwater session. For a certified diver seeking a compact wreck outing in Madeira, that is a good balance of value and substance. Book it if the requirements fit you and you want a real ship, not just a quick look at the seabed.

FAQ

Where does the Afonso Cerqueira wreck excursion start?

It starts at Azul Diving Center Madeira.

How long does the experience last?

The activity is listed as two hours. The Cabo Girao scuba portion is also described as about two and a half hours, so confirm the exact schedule and total timing with the center.

How deep is the Afonso Cerqueira wreck?

The wreck can be reached at a maximum depth of 30 meters.

What certification do I need?

You need an Open Water diver certificate or equivalent at minimum.

Do I need recent scuba experience?

Yes. You must have at least six logged dives and must have been scuba diving within the last 12 months.

Is scuba equipment included?

No. Equipment is available to rent directly from the shop, but rental equipment is not included in the $64 price.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the boat ride, a 12- or 15-liter air tank at 200 bars, a weight system, and insurance.

Is the national park fee included?

No. The national park fee is €3 per person.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.