Divers have been going to the Baixa da Badajeira, off the eastern tip of Madeira, for years, mostly for the fish and the visibility. What many did not know was whose remains they were swimming over. Scattered across the reef are the anchor, boiler, engine, rudder and propeller of a 19th-century British steamer, the SS Newton.
After a research project by marine archaeologists, the site became the first underwater archaeological route in the Madeira archipelago. One of the researchers told Portuguese broadcaster RTP it is "probably the best dive in Madeira". This guide explains the ship's story, how the dive is laid out, and how to see it from Caniçal, the closest harbour to Ponta de São Lourenço.
The Newton was built in 1864: a steamship of about 76 metres in length and 9.5 metres in beam, capable of around nine knots. From 1874 it was registered in Liverpool to the Brazil & River Plate Steam Navigation Co., part of the Lamport & Holt group, carrying passengers and cargo between England and South America.
On 19 March 1881 the Newton left Salvador da Bahia, in Brazil, bound for London and Liverpool, with 31 crew and more than 1,200 tonnes of sugar and coffee. On 9 April it called at Madeira to take on coal and water, and sailed again at about 11:30 the same morning.
Three hours later, while turning north around the eastern end of Ponta de São Lourenço, the ship struck the shoal now known as the Baixa da Badajeira. It was 14:30. The Newton hit the reef amidships, stuck fast and eventually broke apart.
Nobody died. According to the British Board of Trade inquiry, held in Liverpool on 5 and 6 May 1881, the weather was good and fishing boats were nearby, so everyone on board was saved. The inquiry found that the master had acted carelessly but in good faith and suspended him from duty for six months.
For a long time, divers in Madeira argued about which ship lay on the Badajeira. Two British steamers had been lost at Ponta de São Lourenço in the 19th century: the Forerunner in 1854, a wreck that led to the construction of the lighthouse at the tip of the peninsula, and the Newton in 1881.
Researchers from CEAM (Centre for Modern and Contemporary Archaeology), working with CHAM (NOVA University Lisbon) and CINAV (the Portuguese Navy research centre), mapped the site with photogrammetry. The remains are spread over an area of about 80 metres across, at depths between 3 and 20 metres. The amount of material, including a single propeller and one huge boiler 7 metres long and 3 metres in diameter, pointed to a single ship.
The clue that settled it was a small one: the rim of an earthenware plate, decorated with a green anchor chain. A matching piece of tableware sold at auction carried the name and emblem of the Brazil & River Plate Steam Navigation Co., the Newton's owner. The researchers put their confidence at about 95%.
The work was part of Margullar, an EU Interreg project promoted by the Madeira Regional Secretariat for Tourism and Culture and ACIF-CCIM (the Funchal Chamber of Commerce), which aims to show that underwater cultural heritage can support sustainable tourism.
The archaeologists proposed a route that follows the story of the wreck from the point of impact to the deepest wreckage. The visit takes around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on the diver.
| Point on the route | Approx. depth |
|---|---|
| Top of the shoal, first anchor (point of impact) | 5 m |
| Engine, wedged in the slope of the shoal | 10 m |
| Second anchor and a winch, north side | 12 m |
| Boiler, on the slope | 12-15 m |
| Rudder | 17-19 m |
| Propeller, at the base of the shoal | 20 m |
The researchers describe it as "a safe dive". With a maximum depth of about 20 metres, it is within reach of certified Open Water divers diving with a guide, and the shallow top of the reef keeps much of the dive in bright water.
Even before anyone knew its name, the Badajeira was a favourite with divers for its biodiversity. Ponta de São Lourenço is a protected area (Special Area of Conservation PTMAD0003 under the EU Natura 2000 network), and the volcanic walls, arches and boulders around the peninsula are known for groupers, barracuda, amberjacks, moray eels, octopus and parrotfish. Visibility here is often excellent.
The Mediterranean monk seal, one of the rarest seals in the world, lives in the Madeira archipelago, mainly around the Desertas Islands, and is occasionally seen near Ponta de São Lourenço. Sightings are rare, so count one as a bonus, not a promise.
The Newton is now treated as underwater cultural heritage, studied and recorded so that its condition can be monitored in the future. In Portugal, underwater cultural heritage is protected by law, and objects from historical wrecks may only be recovered in licensed archaeological work. Take photos, keep your fins off the remains and leave everything where it lies, so the next divers can read the same story.
Scorpio Madeira Diving Center is based in Caniçal, the harbour closest to Ponta de São Lourenço. Its Double Dive by Boat (from 89 EUR) takes certified divers on two guided dives inside the protected area, with a scenic boat ride along the cliffs of the peninsula. The sites are chosen on the day according to sea conditions and the group's experience.
What to know before you book:
The SS Newton is a rare thing: a wreck you can dive in an hour at recreational depths, with a documented story from departure to inquiry. If it is on your Madeira list, ask the Scorpio team whether the Badajeira fits the plan for your dive day.
Contact Scorpio Madeira or book a Double Dive by Boat.
Sources: RTP Notícias, "Ao encontro do SS Newton. Primeira rota arqueológica subaquática da Madeira" (report by Carla Quirino, with researchers from CEAM, CHAM and CINAV), including the British Board of Trade inquiry of 5-6 May 1881; Margullar project (Interreg, ACIF-CCIM); Natura 2000 site PTMAD0003 Ponta de São Lourenço; Scorpio Madeira (activity details and prices).