Ilheu da Forja
Also known as: Ilhéu da Forja
A shore-entry volcanic islet off Funchal's São Martinho coast, cut by canyons, sold widely as a WWI shipwreck no naval record ties to it.
Last updated September 2026
The dive
A short walk from the rocks of São Martinho drops divers straight onto a volcanic islet cut through by canyons, off Funchal's own coastline. A single catalogue listing puts the average depth at 10 metres and the deepest point at 20, with no other source independently confirming either figure. The same listings report groupers, barracuda and mackerel working the terrain, and flag the site as a good spot to watch for sharks, though none names a species or gives a sighting frequency. Snorkelling is also listed here alongside the dive, and the shore entry means no boat and no schedule.
What makes it special
Every catalogue entry for this site tells the same story: a WWI-torpedoed steamship, its boilers and engine room open to exploration. No wreck registry, sinking report or historical account backs it up. Madeira's real, documented WWI naval history, the Battle of Funchal on 3 and 16 December 1916, sank four ships in the harbour itself, nowhere near this outlying islet, and an independent diver's own survey of the island's wrecks does not mention this site at all. Ilheu da Forja is not among Madeira's documented wrecks. What the evidence actually supports is a canyon dive that picked up a wreck's reputation somewhere along the way, without a wreck to go with it.
Know before you go
Reach it on foot from the São Martinho shoreline; boat access is also possible. Current runs mild, and visibility in the 10 to 20 metre range is normal for this side of the island, though higher figures circulate. Easy shore access draws weekend crowds, so a weekday visit is the quieter option. Open Atlantic swell and surge push against this shore entry, part of the exposure along Madeira's south coast; watch the swell rhythm before committing to entry or exit, and hold a fixed point if it builds. The same catalogue listing that gives this site's depth also puts summer bottom temperature at 17°C, cooler than Madeira's usual summer range and closer to a winter figure; no second source confirms it. The shallow, average depth suits an Open Water diver; the site is certified to Advanced Open Water for its reported 20 metre maximum.
Why Dive Ilheu da Forja
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Shore-entry volcanic islet
Canyon terrain reached on foot from Funchal's São Martinho coast
- WWI wreck claim unconfirmed
Widely listed as a torpedoed steamship; no naval record or wreck survey names a ship here
- Weekend crowds
Easy shore access draws crowds; a weekday visit is quieter
Depth & Profile
Location
32.6355°N, 16.9299°W
Conditions & difficulty
A separately compiled profile flags this window for warmer water and calmer seas, a touch wider than the area's usual summer framing.
The reported 10m average depth suits an Open Water diver. Certification is graded to Advanced Open Water for the reported 20m maximum, from a single, uncorroborated catalogue source.
Summary
Catalogue listings and the shallow, average depth both read as easy and beginner-friendly; that description fits the average, not the site's reported 20m maximum.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Surface and boat traffic: Easy shore access draws weekend crowds.Plan an early or weekday visit.
- Current: Open Atlantic swell and surge push against this shore entry, part of the exposure along Madeira's south coast.Watch the swell rhythm before committing to entry or exit, and hold a fixed point if it builds.
Rules and permits
- Conduct: no touching, no taking anything, no disturbing wildlife.
Diving with scuba or a scooter to watch marine mammals or turtles is prohibited, unless for authorised science or filming; a chance meeting is not.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there really a World War I shipwreck at Ilheu da Forja?▾
The same torpedoed-steamship story appears on several dive-site directories, but it traces to one shared account, not to separate, independent tellings, with divers said to explore its boilers and engine room. No wreck registry, sinking report or historical account names a specific ship at this location, and Madeira's well-documented WWI naval action, the Battle of Funchal on 3 and 16 December 1916, sank its four ships in Funchal's harbour itself, not at this outlying islet. An independent diver's own survey of the island's wrecks does not mention this site either. Until a registry or survey names an actual ship here, the wreck stays a story the directories repeat, not a fact the site has earned.
What permit or protected-area rules cover Ilheu da Forja?▾
None specific to this site. The islet is one of several Madeira coastal islets under the general Parque Natural da Madeira designation, distinct from the Garajau Partial Nature Reserve on the island's other side, which has its own diving-specific rules and fees that do not apply here.
Why is the water at Ilheu da Forja colder than Madeira's usual summer temperature?▾
One catalogue source puts this site's summer bottom temperature at 17°C, about the same as Madeira's typical winter reading and several degrees below the island's usual summer range. No second source confirms the figure, so treat it as the more cautious planning number, not yet a settled fact: pack for the colder end until an independent reading confirms it.
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