Cave diving in Cape Verde
Cape Verde is a perfect destination for the adventurous and curious spirit, and cave diving here means you can fulfil your desire for both thrills and new experiences.
Over the thousands of years since it was first laid down as molten rock, the lava from erupting volcanoes has cooled and formed itself into extraordinary structures and habitats in Cape Verde. You can explore the fascinating underwater environment and its inhabitants from both Boa Vista and Sal.
Top cave diving conditions
Cape Verde is where the cool Canaries current meets the warm water of the Gulf of Guinea, so you’ll find both cold-water and tropical fish.
Some are spectacular in their bright colours, some are big – think barracuda – and some with seriously silly names, like the false-eyed puffer.
Lobster live here along with many kinds of crab and mussels. Among the 150 species of small animals native to the area are the familiar starfish and sea urchin – though you might not yet have come across the sea cucumber, which turns itself inside-out when frightened.
The diving season is year-round, with flat seas and the best visibility during the peak season in summer – which in Cape Verde ends in December. Be ready for strong currents – after all, there’s nothing between these islands and Brazil.
Staff at the well-equipped diving schools on Boa Vista and Sal will advise you where to go and what to expect.
Buracona Caves and Regona, Sal
Land-based visitors flock to Buracona to experience the Olho Azul – where the sunlight shines through a hole in the rocks creating a blue-eye effect in the water.
Tres Grotes - Three Caves, Sal
Just 15 minutes by boat off the coast, this dive site is one of the most popular in the region and boasts three easily accessible underwater caves in a row, varying in size.