Tarrafal's diving is defined by reef and wall sites explored exclusively by boat, with depths that suit intermediate divers well. The species list is built around eels, with Honeycomb Moray and Black Moray recorded across every site and Purplemouth Moray and Viper Moray appearing regularly. Pufferfish, Scrawled Filefish, Snake Eel, and Turkish Wrasse round out a dense resident cast. Flying Gurnard and both Common Octopus and White-spotted Octopus reward divers who search the substrate carefully.
Monthly water temperature across Tarrafal's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperature stays warm throughout the year, dipping only slightly in the cooler months of February and March before climbing to its peak in late summer and early autumn. Conditions are most favourable from April through November, when calmer seas and better visibility support the most rewarding dives. The site excerpt for Leuchtturm notes that visibility can vary, so divers should factor in conditions when planning deeper wall dives.
25 operators
11 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Tarrafal ranges from about 23°C in February to 27°C in September, 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 Tarrafal; in the coldest months (about 23°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 12 sites in Tarrafal (12 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Tarrafal has a strong showing of eels: Honeycomb Moray, Black Moray, Purplemouth Moray, and Viper Moray have all been observed across the sites. Alongside them, Pufferfish, Scrawled Filefish, Snake Eel, and Turkish Wrasse are very common. Divers who look carefully on the seabed may also find Flying Gurnard, Common Octopus, and White-spotted Octopus.
The sites in Tarrafal are rated at intermediate level, as seen at Leuchtturm where reef and wall dives reach moderate depths. Beginners who are still building experience would benefit from diving with a guide familiar with the sites. Those with a few logged dives and comfort at depth will find the conditions well within reach.
All diving in Tarrafal is done by boat; there are no recorded shore-entry sites in the area. This means divers will need to arrange boat access to reach the reef and wall sites. It is worth confirming logistics locally, as no dive operators are currently listed in the Tarrafal data.
Tarrafal's sites are reef and wall dives, as illustrated by Leuchtturm, which features a compact underwater landscape with both reef structure and a wall dropping to moderate depth. This combination gives divers a varied experience, from exploring the reef top to following the wall face downward. The site mix makes Tarrafal a focused destination rather than a varied multi-environment one.
