Madeira’s Island of Porto Santo and 18th Underwater Video and Photography World Championships
After four glorious days meandering around the island of Madeira, our next adventure started with a short flight from Funchal airport at 7.30 in the morning for a quick 40 minute flight to the small neighbouring Island of Porto Santo, some 46 miles from Funchal. On arrival, baggage was collected and loaded into two awaiting hired cars before heading for the four star Villa Baleira hotel, our home for the next four days. After quick check-in it was time to enjoy a hearty breakfast along side various teams taking part in the Underwater Video and Photograhpic Championships and all staying in the same hotel. It’s an interesting sport and initially knew very little about but was keen to find out more. Years ago when on holiday in Barbados I once signed up for a Padi diving course but never ventured past a couple of 20 feet dives to a local shipwreck – but then I have always enjoyed snorkeling!
Grabbing swimsuits and towels we headed to the marina where the Championships had its headquarters and teams were assembling for a de-brief meeting. Nearby boatsheds were already full of expensive looking video and photographic equipment where each country had been allocated large working spaces and store cupboards. Watching the teams at work inspecting equipment and preparing for their first dives was fascinating.
From the boatsheds we walked along the Marina wall to an awaiting motor boat hired to take officials and journalist to inspect the four areas selected by the committee for Championships. Each location had been marked with a red numbered buoy and bobbing up and down nearby allocated spots were two or three boats containing two or more teams all practicing recce dives prior to the start of the championships the next day. Competitors’ boats were adorned with the flags and contained at least five competitors plus various passengers usually friends and family members.
Mesmerised I watched the divers fall backwards into the water with equipment and oxygen cylinders strapped to their backs. While we waited for the divers to return, we could hear cheering and singing going on in the boats around us as we hovered nearby which added to the comradely atmosphere of the sport. We even took advantage of the lull in proceedings for a quick swim although I found the water a tad on the cold side!
Between the daily competitions, our small group found time to enjoy delicious fish lunches at various beachside restaurants including the Penaague famous for its fish menus and also dine out in the island’s popular hillside restaurant, the Teodorica where despite the chilly evening air, we ate al fresco a delicious dish of fresh tender meat cooked in squares and attached to Kabab stick.
Somehow I even managed to play a round of golf on the nearby famous Seve Ballesteros designed course with the Italian team captain, Gian Melchiori, a keen golfer himself, and who had apparently requested a round of golf while on the island which is how to got together when the organisers found out I was also a keen golfer, and asked me to join Gian meant teeing off at 8 in the morning in order finish in time for the start of the day’s first dive. As it turned out we we had an enjoyable, fun round of golf and afterwards were asked to pose for photographs for the local newspaper – see photos below.
On a couple of occasions we joined the Championships social programme, the first was a buffet dinner in the grounds of the hotel with a live band and lots of dancing – and unlimited Madeira wine! I’m not sure what time I rolled into bed but it was well before the band finally stopped playing. All I have to say it was the fun crowd that kept me up so late.
The final gala dinner was held on the last evening after the prize giving ceremony, and what a splendid affaire it was. Most dressed up for the occasion and we were regally entertained by singers and dancers throughout the evening which lasted into the wee hours of the morning – only drawback was our early morning flight back to London the next day … and reality of course… but at least I returned with lots of fond memories, new friends and a new interest in deep sea diving.