Nature Festival: Scuba diving with a shark

Scuba diving with a shark and rays in Madeira? Yes!

Have you ever scuba dove? And have you ever done scuba diving in an aquarium?

I arrived in Madeira for my new Erasmus+ experience in the middle of September 2018 and straight at the beginning of October I got a chance to do this amazing activity.

Picture: Scuba diving with rays.

How did this idea appear?

As I knew there was a Nature Festival happening in Madeira (more about it in my previous article), I wanted to satisfy my curiosity and got to the Info point in Funchal to check what was needed to be done to be allowed to participate. I have already seen the programme of the festival online and I got very excited about giving a try to many activities which I have never done or even did not know what they were about.

As I got to the desk where the booking was processed, I realised that many of the activities had been already fully booked. For example paragliding which got all of my interest... I quickly glanced at a sheet with activities which were still left for booking. Making a decision was quite hard (I can never decide easily) because I was allowed (as everyone else) to choose just one activity for the next day. Scuba diving in an aquarium? It sounded ridiculous when I imagined a tiny aquarium. I had no idea that it could be happening in a huge one. I was said that when doing this, I could swim with some different species of fish. And so I agreed on choosing this activity for my participation in the Nature Festival.

Picture: I got my pot for the activity.

The day of the event

It was on 3rdOctober that I was sitting in the building of University of Madeira, trying to imagine the aquarium. I was so excited but at the same time so nervous. I seriously did not know what to expect. I even did not know who the other two people going there with me were.

Well, there was time to go towards CR7 Hotel where there was our meeting point. It was very easy to find it because there were many other people waiting (leaving from the same place but for different activities) and it was possible to see “Discover Madeira” and “Nature Festival” banners everywhere. Moreover, the process of welcoming participants was well organised. There were drivers prepared and ready for taking us to destinations of our activities.

Before we left Funchal, we were given a box full of typical snacks from Madeira. It was really nice, I would even say “cherry on the top” if I did not know what was coming next.

Let’s get ready!

A jeep took me and one Portuguese couple into Porto Moniz which is a town on the northern coastline of Madeira. Our driver led us to the reception of Madeira Aquarium, wished us to enjoy ourselves and left. So we had some time to explore a museum part and had a look at fish behind a huge wall made of glass: “Wow, this is the aquarium!”

In a while our instructor Abílio came. As following, we were given a  theoretical class about how to communicate, breathe and stabilise an ear pressure under water. Next, we were given wetsuits and another important equipment.

Picture: You will be provided with all equipment you will need.

Porto Moniz is well known especially for its nature swimming pools. So we moved there to receive our trial scuba dive. We went one by one, always accompanied by Abílio who was taping our nose to remind us stabilising the ear pressure, showing his hand to signalise where to swim or making a gesture of O.K. to know whether everything was going well. This is how under-water communication works.

Even though it was just training, I enjoyed it a lot. Despite of some short moments when I got a bit nervous because of the breathing, I had time to enjoy a life under a sea.

Swimming with rays, touching a shark

We were ready to take a dip in the aquarium. Again, as we were going one by one, the two of us had to wait outside. Did we get bored? Not at all! We were waiting behind the glass so we could watch our “colleague” in the aquarium.

Finally, it was my turn! I knew Abílio had done this thousand times but still, when watching all of the live rays, it increased some adrenaline in my body. Well, 3, 2, 1 and I am in! We were swimming into different parts of the aquarium which was much bigger then it seemed from outside. Abílio took me to a part where the glass was made in a special shape so people can experience watching a world through a fish eye.

Picture: Through a fish vision.

“Look, look!” signalised our instructor. “Let’s get closer but do not touch. It can bite!” We were swimming towards a fish which looked so differently that it made me feel uncomfortable and I used my “stop” signal to show that I really did not want to continue in getting anyhow closer to it.

“Swim faster and touch it!” said Abílio with his body language when we were close to a shark. I wanted to touch it a lot there, so I speeded up, extended my arm and touched its tail. When the shark felt the touch, it was him that speeded up and swam quickly away.

Love is in the air

This is a funny part of the whole event which left me, however, embarrassed. When getting outside of water, Abílio helped me to take off fins of my feet. He was really nice and since the very beginning of the event was full of joy and jokes. So at that moment (when kneeling to take off the fin), he made another joke: “Will you marry me?” And me, as a joke fan: “Yes, please! Really.” His shocked face made even my smiling face frozen. He thought for a while that I was serious. Moreover, as he was the one taking us back to Funchal by car (the Portuguese couple, me and one of his colleagues), he shared the whole story in the car again and again. But he made it seem that I really wanted to marry him after the aquarium swim, haha.

No wedding happened but I really fell in love with the place! I enjoyed the activity so much that I thought I could not start my Erasmus+ life in Madeira in a better way.

Picture: Memories forever!

Practical information

What to bring? If thinking of giving it a go, just bring a towel, swimsuit and some flip-flops. Something to eat would be also worth to bring because after this activity you will be really hungry.

How long does it take? It all takes for about 3 hours. Remember, there is the theoretical preparation, training in the nature pool and then scuba diving in the aquarium itself. Then, you should consider how much time you need to get to Porto Moniz (it takes more or less  90 minutes to get there from Funchal by car).

How much does it cost? As a part of the Nature Festival programme it was free of charge. However, if you want to do it apart of the festival, the price is 80 EUR per person. It is a lot of money but you will have this lovely experience forever.

When can I do it? They are open form Monday to Sunday, they open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. You should always book it in advance, as it is easier and you will make sure that they are ready to do this fabulous activity with you.

Where is it? As mentioned above, you can do the “mergulho” (scuba diving) in Madeira Aquarium in Porto Moniz (the northern coastline). The exact address is: Rua Forte de São João Batista, 9270-096 Porto Moniz.

Picture: Porto Moniz has got natural swimming pools where the training is provided.

So when will you do it? You are the one to put an answer in here. Whenever it will happen, have fun!

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