Portugal Group Dive Trip | Scuba Center | Azores and Madeira
Scuba Center has been selling quality scuba diving and snorkeling equipment since 1973. You will find a wide selection of scuba and snorkeling equipment at both our Eagan, Minnesota and Minneapolis, Minnesota locations. Scuba Center Eagan
1571 Century Point
Eagan, Minnesota 55121
(651) 681-8434		 Scuba Center Minneapolis
5015 Penn Ave South
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55419
(612) 925-4818

Portugal: August 9-23, 2025
** Does not include international travel days **

The Flag of Portugal | Scuba Center Group Dive TripAhh… Portugal. Consistently voted one of the top destinations to visit in the world, Portugal and her archipelagos have so much to offer. We could never fit all of her wonders into one visit, but we’ve planned a trip that encompasses the best of both worlds - above and underwater. On this trip of a lifetime, you’ll experience some incredible, unique diving on the mainland, in Madeira, and in the Azores. You’ll also spend some time in Lisbon - a city rich with culture, history, and friendly locals. Sign up today! We expect this trip to fill fast!
 

Lisbon is the capital and largest city of Portugal | Scuba CenterDays 1-4: Lisbon: We will start our trip in Lisbon - an 800-year-old city known for its history, orange rooftops, and grilled sardines! Our hotel is centrally-located so you can easily explore this surprisingly-walkable city. On your first day, we’ll have a walking tour with an experienced guide who will show us parts of the historic Alfama neighborhood as well as parts of the Baixa neighborhood. This tour is a wonderful way to learn about the city and get your footing (literally) so that you’ll feel more comfortable exploring on your own if you so choose. Our second full day in Lisbon, divers will travel about 30 minutes south to Sesimbra for 2 dives. This is a free day for non divers (you are welcome to join the divers down to Sesimbra if you so choose).

For divers, this will be our first day of diving. This is a chance for you to get your feet wet and get the first taste of Portugal diving. Weather-permitting, we will dive a beautiful wreck with abundant life. Here, you can expect to see octopus, nudibranchs, many exciting fish species, and gorgeous flora and corals. Water temps are expected to be low to mid 60s. The dive shop is equipped with hot showers, spacious locker rooms, and has a good selection of rental gear.

After the day of diving, we’ll return to the city and get ready for our Fado dinner! Fado is a traditional Portuguese music typically consisting of one vocalist accompanied by several acoustic instruments. This music is meant to express longing and you’ll hear the meaning and emotion come through as the artists sing. This music is also traditionally paired with dinner so we’ll go to a traditional ‘Clube de Fado’ and enjoy an unforgettable sensory experience. Our last day in Lisbon is open for you to explore how you please.

Optional tour to Obidos… On our third day in Lisbon, there is an optional tour in Obidos - a medieval town known for its charm and ginjinha -Obidos’ famous cherry liqueur! Located roughly an hour north of Lisbon, this tour will give you the opportunity to walk the castle grounds paved with centuries-old stone and admire little artisan shops that line the streets! A favorite visit for royals, Obidos is full of charm and history and is a quintessential Portuguese experience.
 
São Miguel Island, the biggest island of the Azores archipelago. Your base camp will be Ponta Delgada, Azores' capital. Days 5-10: Azores: Our next stop on this trip will be São Miguel island - the biggest island of the Azores archipelago. Made up of 9 main islands, the Azores archipelago sits practically in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. In effect, the Azores are made up of an underwater mountain range. We’ll make home base in Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel. The first day is free for you to rest up, explore on your own, or take an optional west-side tour.

Optional west-side tour… The day begins with visiting the traditional pineapple plantation, a biological culture developed in greenhouses. Here, you’ll taste pineapple liqueur.The journey continues on the island’s west coast, where it is possible to enjoy the view over the newest and narrowest part of São Miguel and both coasts from the Pico de Carvão's viewpoint. Then, on the crater, we’ll view the striking Santiago lake, and stop in the picturesque Sete Cidades town where lunch will be served in a regional restaurant. After that, we will visit Caldeira Velha, a Protected Nature Reserve. Our last stop will be looking over the gorgeous Lagoa do Fogo.

"Dori", a ship that participated in the military Operation Overlord. She rests at about 20mts of depth on a sandy bottom and is one of the most popular dive spots in the Azores archipelago. | Scuba Center Dive TravelThe next 4 days in the Azores will be dedicated to diving. Diving in the Azores is your opportunity to experience the most pristine waters in the Atlantic. One possible dive site is called “Dori” - a shipwreck situated at roughly 65ft where several species have made home. You can expect to see morays, octopus, nudibranchs, barracudas, and amberjacks. Another possible site called “Arcos da Caloura,” sits at roughly 50ft and features a cave where you might find some resident groupers, nudibranchs, and small fish species such as; pufferfish, kingfish, plaice, salemas, and yellow damselfish. Weather-dependent, we will also plan to do at least one day of off-shore diving in an effort to see more of the large, migratory pelagic species -although it is certainly possible to spot these closer to shore as well.

On our last day in the Azores, we’ll do an East-side tour. First, we’ll visit the famous Queijadas da Vila factory where we’ll taste the traditional pastry. Followed by a demonstration in a picturesque lagoon, we’ll observe “Cozido à Portuguesa,” a traditional cooking method which takes place in the ground, and savor a delicious lunch. Next, we’ll stop at Pico do Ferro, a viewpoint over the crater that surrounds the Furnas valley and end our tour at a tea plantation where we’ll soak in more unmatched views and sip tea.
 

The island of Madeira has a very rugged terrain. | Scuba Center Portugal Dive TripDays 11-15: Madeira: Our last destination on this trip is the Madeira islands. Madeira island is covered in rugged terrain with valleys and mountains extending all the way up to Pico Ruivo sitting at 1,862 meters. Madeira is unlike any other island; with its lush vegetation, crystal blue waters, and incomparable views, she is sure to capture your heart! We’ll stay on the main island of Madeira in its capital city of Funchal. Our first day is, once again, free for you to rest up, explore on your own, or take an optional tour to Porto Moniz.

Optional Porto Moniz tour… Located in the extreme north of the Island of Madeira, Porto Moniz is a municipality that has some of the most beautiful views of the island. Between the imposing mountains and the ocean's calm surface, Porto Moniz's municipality also dazzles with the charm of its picturesque parishes, which overflow with rich customs. This whole region is deeply marked by the botanical diversity of the Laurissilva Forest which, from its height, confronts the imposing northern sea through its ridges, cliffs and coves. The sea, which has a strong presence all along the Madeiran coast, has a special influence on the municipality of Porto Moniz. Since the beginning of its construction, the inhabitants of Porto Moniz have depended on fishing, which is still an important factor in the local economy.

Visiting Madeira: One of the reasons why this trip is incredible is that you have plenty of diving time, but you will visit the island too. | Scuba Center Portugal Dive TripThe next two days will be dedicated to diving. While diving in Madeira, you’ll notice some of the same characteristic Portuguese species and colors as experienced on the mainland and in the Azores, but as you are now much further south, you’ll notice some differences as well. These warmer, crystalline waters have so much to offer including; anemones, black corals, groupers, morays, stingwrays, and -if you’re lucky- monk seals.On our last day in Madeira, we’ll do a ‘Levadas’ tour which takes us up into the mountains to learn about the irrigation channels (“levadas”) and experience some of the most breathtakingly-magical views of the entire trip. We’ll end our tour at a local bar where we’ll observe how the traditional ‘poncha’ is made and taste the refreshing drink as well!

While there is so much to do in Portugal, we feel that this trip will truly give you a good taste of what Portugal and Portugal diving have to offer. The only problem? You’ll certainly want to go back again and again.
Includes: Caloura Arches | Azores, São Miguel island 

  • 14 nights accommodation in 4-star hotels

  • Daily breakfast

  • 7 days of 2-tank diving

  • 1 walking tour in Lisbon

  • Fado dinner

  • 1 tour in the Azores

  • 1 tour in Madeira

  • All land transfers for pre-scheduled events

  • Taxes
Not included in the package:

  • Round trip air from Minneapolis

  • Diving equipment, Nitrox, dive courses

  • Meals and activities not listed above including optional tours

  • Incidental charges: Individual group members will be responsible for their own charges including but not limited to beverages and bar bill, telephone, internet usage, sightseeing, equipment rental of any sort, gratuities and any other items of a personal nature.
Please note the following:  

  • Scuba certification card required for each diver.

  • We recommend all divers purchase DAN membership.

  • A passport is required for travel.
Dates: August 9-23, 2025 The Caloura Arches are situated in a protected bay and we can observe shoals of fish and some resident Groupers. 
** Does not include international travel days. **
Trip Cost: (double occupancy)
Diver: $5095*  
Non Diver: $3995*  
Please note that pricing may fluctuate slightly based on current exchange rates.

*All rates quoted by Scuba Center include a 2% discount for cash/check payments.

Reservations / Deposit Information:

  • $2000 deposit is required at registration
Registration: An application for this trip must be completed by each traveler at the time of registration. You may pick up a trip application at either store or print out our Scuba Center Trip Application. Complete the application and fax, mail or drop off in person with a $2000 non-refundable deposit per person.
For more information, contact our Travel Department.

DAN Membership & Diving Insurance

 

Sample packing checklist