Porto Moniz: Diving with Sharks and Rays in Madeira Aquarium

Swimming with sharks, rays, and mantas inside Madeira Aquarium is the unusual part of this Porto Moniz outing. You learn basic scuba skills, then enter the main tank with an instructor close by. I like the small groups of up to four and the way the natural lava-pool practice gives first-timers time to settle in.

I also like the behind-the-scenes look at the aquarium’s technical zone, where you see how the water is filtered and how the animals are cared for. The main consideration is that this is a controlled aquarium session, not a full open-water scuba trip, and the tank may feel small to experienced divers.

Key points to know

• Meet Abílio Sousa: He leads many sessions and is praised for his calm, patient teaching and easy English.
• Enter the main aquarium tank: You can see sharks, rays, mantas, and other fish at close range.
• Practice in natural lava pools first: This is especially useful if you have never used scuba equipment.
• See the technical zone: The tour explains filtration and the practical work behind the exhibits.
• Bring swimwear and a towel: Food and drinks are not included.
• Plan around the safety rules: You must be at least 10, cannot fly on the day of the session, and cannot take part if pregnant, ill with a cold, or medically restricted from scuba activities.

Meeting sharks in Porto Moniz

Porto Moniz is best known for its volcanic swimming pools, but this activity gives you a different way to see Madeira’s sea life. Instead of waiting for a lucky sighting offshore, you enter the main aquarium tank with sharks, rays, mantas, and other fish already in view.

That makes this a strong choice if you want the feeling of scuba without committing to a certification course. You still learn how to use the equipment, control your breathing, and move underwater, but the setting is supervised and contained.

The aquarium is not enormous. One participant described the tank as a little small, which is fair. You will not get the open horizon, changing depth, or wild conditions of an ocean scuba trip. You do get something the sea often refuses to provide: a clear, close look at animals that can be difficult to spot in open water.

The controlled setting also helps nervous beginners. You are not being asked to swim out into unfamiliar water or manage a complicated boat trip. Your instructor remains with you, and the whole session is limited to four participants.

A calm start with Abílio

The instructor can make or break a first scuba experience. Here, Abílio Sousa receives especially strong praise for his calm manner, humor, clear explanations, and ability to adjust the pace.

That matters if you feel nervous. One young participant arrived unsure about taking part, but Abílio broke the process into small steps and helped him continue. Another family, including a grandmother and a child, found the session comfortable and well managed.

You should still expect to listen carefully and follow instructions. Scuba equipment is not complicated once it is explained, but you need to understand breathing, balance, and basic underwater signals before entering the aquarium tank.

Instruction is available in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French. Abílio’s English is described as very clear, which helps if you are learning in a language that is not your own.

The aquarium tour comes first

The three-hour schedule begins at Aquário da Madeira with a guided visit through the aquarium. This gives you a useful introduction before you put on the equipment.

You learn about the fish and crustaceans found around Madeira, then get a better sense of the animals you may see from inside the tank. That context adds something to the underwater session. You are not simply looking at moving shapes through the glass. You have already heard what lives in the local waters and what to watch for.

The tour is also helpful for companions who are not taking part. A partner or family member can watch from the public viewing area, and the aquarium setting makes it possible to follow much of the action from outside the tank. One parent was able to stay near a child during entry and then take pictures and video from the main viewing area.

The aquarium visit is not just filler before the exciting part. It gives you time to get comfortable with the place, meet the instructor, and understand the animals before your own session begins.

Behind the glass and into the technical zone

A special part of the visit takes place away from the public exhibits. You tour the aquarium’s technical zone and receive an explanation of how the water is filtered and how the facility supports the animals.

This is the kind of practical detail I appreciate. Aquariums can look simple from the visitor side, but keeping large tanks healthy requires constant work. Seeing the systems behind the exhibits helps you understand what happens before the water reaches the main tank.

The technical-zone visit also gives the activity more substance than a standard aquarium entry. You are learning about the operation of the facility, not only looking at sea life. If you enjoy seeing how places work behind the scenes, this part may be one of the quiet highlights.

The amount of time spent in this area is not specified, so the exact balance between the tour, instruction, pool practice, and tank session can vary. The full activity lasts about three hours.

Learning in Madeira’s natural lava pools

Before the aquarium tank, you receive an introduction to scuba equipment in a natural swimming pool. These are Madeira’s volcanic lava pools, the same kind of setting that makes Porto Moniz famous.

This warm-up is particularly valuable for beginners. You can get used to the mask, breathing equipment, and movement in the water before entering the main tank. You also have a chance to find your balance and learn what it feels like to control your body with the equipment on.

Several beginners found this step reassuring. One person described gaining confidence in the sea pools before entering the aquarium. Another said the instructor allowed plenty of time and never made the session feel rushed.

The lava pools are still natural seawater, so this is not the same as practicing in a shallow indoor pool. Conditions can feel different from the main tank, and you should follow the instructor’s guidance closely. The point is not to master every scuba skill. It is to give you a safe introduction and help you decide when you are ready to continue.

If you already have scuba experience, the instructor may be able to move through this stage more quickly. The session is designed mainly for people without certification, but experienced participants can still benefit from checking the equipment and refreshing their comfort in the water.

The main tank session

Once you are ready, you enter the aquarium’s main tank with the instructor. This is the central reason to book the activity.

The animals you may see include sharks, rays, mantas, and a wide variety of fish. Because the tank is controlled, you can focus on watching the animals instead of worrying about current, boat traffic, or changing visibility.

You might be close enough to see details that are hard to notice from the public side of the glass. One participant was even able to touch two fish during the session. That should not be treated as a promise, since animal behavior cannot be controlled, but it shows how close the encounter can feel.

The instructor remains with you throughout the underwater portion. The teaching style is gentle but focused, with regular checks to make sure you are comfortable. That is important for first-time participants, who may need a little time to adjust to breathing underwater.

You should not expect a long technical scuba excursion. This is an introductory experience in a relatively small aquarium tank. The value comes from access and instruction, not from distance covered or depth reached.

What the $159 price gets you

At $159 per person, this is not a cheap aquarium visit. The price makes more sense when you add up what is included: a guided aquarium tour, the technical-zone visit, a pre-water briefing, an introduction in the natural pools, scuba equipment, and the main tank session.

You are also paying for a small group. With no more than four participants, the instructor can give more attention to each person than on a large group activity. That is especially important if one person is confident and another needs extra time.

For a first scuba experience, I consider the price reasonable if getting close to sharks and rays is a major goal of your Madeira trip. You would pay less for ordinary aquarium entry, but you would not receive the instruction, equipment, pool practice, or tank access.

The value is weaker if you already scuba regularly and want a long open-water session. Experienced divers may find the tank limited in size and the format fairly short. For beginners, families, and people who want a memorable single session without certification, the package offers more.

The activity does not include food or drinks. Porto Moniz has places to eat, but plan those separately and do not assume a meal is part of the three-hour booking.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it first to adults and children aged 10 or older who want to try scuba in a supervised setting. It also suits families because one person can take part while others watch from the aquarium viewing area.

It is a good fit if you are nervous but curious. The natural-pool practice gives you an off-ramp before the main tank. You can become comfortable with the equipment gradually, rather than being pushed straight into the most intimidating part.

It also works well as a special occasion. One participant booked it as a birthday present, while others described it as a first scuba milestone. The close animal encounter gives the activity a stronger memory factor than a standard aquarium visit.

I would be more cautious about recommending it to experienced scuba enthusiasts looking for a serious underwater workout. You may prefer a larger open-water outing with more space and varied conditions. This session is about confidence, access, and animal viewing.

Practical planning before you arrive

Show your voucher to staff at Aquário da Madeira, the starting point in Porto Moniz. Bring swimwear, a towel, and suitable beachwear. Wear something you can change in and out of comfortably, since the activity includes both natural-pool practice and aquarium swimming.

Do not schedule a flight for the same day. This is a safety rule connected to scuba activity, so leave a suitable gap in your travel plans.

You cannot take part if you are pregnant, have a cold, or have a medical restriction that prevents sports such as scuba. The minimum age is 10, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

The session lasts three hours, but the exact starting time depends on availability. You can cancel up to 24 hours beforehand for a full refund, and a reserve-now, pay-later option is available if you want to keep your schedule flexible.

The high rating of 4.9 from 192 ratings fits the strongest feature of this activity: patient instruction. The animal encounter is memorable, but the teaching is what makes it accessible to someone who has never used scuba equipment.

Is this Porto Moniz activity worth booking?

Book it if you want a first scuba experience with sharks, rays, and mantas, and you value patient instruction over a long technical session. Abílio’s calm approach, the four-person limit, and the natural-pool warm-up make it friendly to nervous beginners.

Skip it if your goal is a full ocean scuba trip or if you dislike being in a relatively small tank. Also plan carefully around the no-flying rule and the health restrictions.

For most first-timers aged 10 and above, the combination of aquarium access, behind-the-scenes information, lava-pool practice, and a supervised main-tank session makes this one of Porto Moniz’s more distinctive activities.

FAQ

How long does the Madeira Aquarium scuba experience last?

The activity lasts three hours, including the aquarium tour, technical-zone visit, briefing, natural-pool introduction, and main tank session.

Do I need scuba certification?

No. The experience is designed to introduce you to scuba equipment and does not require certification.

What animals might I see?

You may see sharks, rays, mantas, and other fish in the aquarium’s main tank.

Is scuba equipment provided?

Yes. The equipment needed for the tank session is included.

How many people are in each group?

The activity is limited to four participants.

What languages does the instructor speak?

Instruction is available in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French.

What is the minimum age?

Participants must be at least 10 years old. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, and beachwear. Food and drinks are not included.

Can I fly on the day of the activity?

No. For safety reasons, you should not travel by plane on the day of the scuba session.