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Scuba Diving in Sal, Cape Verde

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Destination guide

Scuba diving in Sal, Cape Verde

Sal is Cape Verde’s gateway island (SID airport is on it) with six listed dive sites. Buracona, the “Blue Eye”, is a collapsed lava tube with a roughly 22 m submerged tunnel to the Atlantic; the wrecks of Santa Maria and the caverns off Palmeira are also listed. Our climatology shows the sharpest season in the catalog: June to September score 50–75% of sampled days favorable, December to April under 20% — historical patterns, not a forecast.

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Seasonal patterns

Best months, historically in Sal, Cape Verde

Typical conditions by month across dive sites in Sal, Cape Verde— historical patterns, not a forecast.

  1. Jan4%24°C
  2. Feb11%23°C
  3. Mar2%22°C
  4. Apr18%23°C
  5. May19%24°C
  6. Jun50%24°C
  7. Jul70%26°C
  8. Aug75%27°C
  9. Sep59%28°C
  10. Oct38%28°C
  11. Nov24%27°C
  12. Dec15%25°C

From 6 sites’ typical conditions · historical typicals, not a forecast

Best time to dive Sal, Cape Verde: full month-by-month data →

Where divers start in Sal, Cape Verde

Best dive sites in Sal, Cape Verde

Showing 1–6 of 6

Plan a dive in Sal, Cape Verde

Compare nearby sites

Sal has 6 public dive sites in the PickADive catalog. Start with the map when coastline, nearby alternatives, and travel distance matter.

Explore sites on the map

Match depth and difficulty

Difficulty labels vary by site. Depth details vary by site. Use those signals as a starting point, then confirm the plan against training, equipment, and current local guidance.

Check conditions close to the dive

PickADive can help with research and comparison, but it does not certify that a dive is safe today. Weather, current, visibility, entry, boat traffic, and local rules can change quickly.

How condition context works

Common questions about diving in Sal, Cape Verde

When is the best time to dive Sal?

Our climatology across Sal’s six sites shows the strongest seasonal contrast in the PickADive catalog: June through September score 50–75% of sampled days in the favorable band, water peaks near 27.8 °C in October, and December through April fall below 20% — January and March near zero — with November at 24%, as winter wind and swell dominate. Historical patterns, not a forecast.

How do you get to Sal, and can you dive other islands from it?

Fly into Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID) on Sal itself. Santa Maria in the south and Palmeira in the north-west are the dive bases named by operator listings. A ferry links Sal with Boa Vista in about three hours several times a week, with winter sailings sometimes disrupted by weather.

Are sea turtles protected in Cape Verde?

Yes — all sea turtle species are legally protected nationally, and loggerheads nest on Sal’s beaches under ranger programmes. Give nesting beaches and animals space in and out of the water, and follow any local guidance on lights and access at night.

Can PickADive tell me if conditions are safe today in Sal?

No. PickADive helps with destination research and site comparison in Sal, but it does not certify that a dive is safe today. Site pages show forecast-derived condition outlooks and historical seasonality — planning aids computed from measured data, never a judgment that a particular dive is advisable. Check current conditions, training limits, equipment, local rules, and operator guidance before diving.

Getting to Sal, Cape Verde

Fly into Amílcar Cabral International Airport (SID). Divers base themselves in Santa Maria (south) and Palmeira (north-west).

The airport is on Sal itself. Inter-island ferry Sal ↔ Boa Vista about 3 h, several sailings a week; winter disruptions possible.

Logistics change — confirm schedules and permit rules with the operator you book with.