Madeira/Canaries/Red Sea

[Dri18]

Hello everyone, I'm in Ireland here, trying to decide belatedly where to take my son (16) to do his open water certification over Easter. I'm a former Advanced PADI diver but haven't been for years, so while I plan on maybe a refresher course and a small number of dives I'm not going to be in there twice a day (I imagine he will be, once qualified!). Cannot find any info comparing these destinations, can anyone help?

Flights to Madeira are cheapest by quite a distance but accomodation is a lot more expensive than in Red Sea and budget is a consideration. Don't know which would have the more spectacular diving sites. (Caribbean was my former haunt and some footage I briefly viewed on Madeira looked pretty unimpressive in comparison but don't know if it was representative).

Anyone out there have any ideas on this? Much appreciated!

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

In short: Madeira waters will be pretty cold at Easter, Egypt will be a better destination for a newbie and for someone to refresh.
Egypt will have some nice reefs and more fish. Depending on where you will stay. Already any views? there is, indeed , south of Hurghada to Marsal Alam area. If flight permits, have a look at Dahab, a place a 16 yo (and youself) may enjoy even if not diving all the time.
Madeira is a bit more challenging, dive-wise, so imho not best for a beginner. if it is to be Madeira, then i would recommend Sentido Galomar and Manta Diving.