Praia sits on Santiago, the most diverse island in the Cape Verde archipelago, and its dive sites span a wide range of terrain and skill levels. The Atlantic here offers volcanic reefs, walls, wrecks, caves, and drift dives, with depths running from very shallow to well beyond recreational limits. Water temperatures stay warm throughout the year, rising from the low-to-mid twenties in the cooler months to the upper twenties by autumn, and visibility is generally best from April to November. Marine life includes green sea turtles, nurse sharks, mako sharks, moray species, octopus, parrotfish, and nudibranchs, alongside gorgonians and endemic Macaronesian species.
Monthly water temperature across Praia's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures sit in the low-to-mid twenties during the first half of the year and climb toward the upper twenties between September and November before easing back. Visibility and sea conditions are most stable from April through November, making that period preferable for boat trips to more exposed sites such as Baía do Inferno.
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Water temperature around Praia ranges from about 23°C in February to 27°C in October, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 27°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Praia; in the coldest months (about 23°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 8 sites in Praia (7 scuba diving sites and 3 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
4 more sites to explore
