Key safety patterns by region:

• Mainland: swell and surge are the main drivers. If the forecast builds, expect cancelled boats or a shift to sheltered sites. Rocky entries can be slippery.
• Madeira and Porto Santo: excellent shore access, but time your exits for surge sets and avoid jumping in unfamiliar coves.
• Azores: long boat rides and open-ocean conditions. Stay close to your group, deploy an SMB early if you surface away from the boat, and be cautious with currents around drop-offs.

General best practices:

• Carry an SMB, whistle, and cutting device.
• Plan for thermoclines and cold stress on repetitive dives.
• If you feel unwell after diving, treat it as urgent and escalate quickly.

For emergencies, call 112.

• Let your dive operator handle local coordination whenever possible; they know the closest emergency pathways and chamber referral routes.
• Carry dive accident insurance that covers hyperbaric treatment, medical evacuation between islands, and trip interruption.
• In remote island settings, weather can delay transfers. This is another reason to dive conservatively and avoid pushing no-decompression limits day after day.

Portugal's best sites are in or near protected areas managed by national and regional authorities (ICNF on the mainland, regional bodies in the Azores and Madeira). Do your part:

• Follow marine-park zoning, mooring requirements, and any booking systems. Do not anchor on reef or seagrass.
• Maintain neutral buoyancy and avoid contact with rock, algae, and sessile life.
• Keep wildlife interactions passive. For whales and dolphins, use licensed tours and follow approach-distance rules.
• Reduce plastics, use reef-safe sunscreen, and rinse gear without contaminating storm drains near the coast.