Porto Novo offers a varied collection of boat-access reef dives alongside walls, drop-offs, caves, canyons, a wreck and even an artificial reef. Beginner-friendly shallow sites such as Critters Walk and Arenas sit alongside deeper advanced walls like Hanging Garden and Parede de Bitxon, so the area suits a broad range of divers. Snake Eel and Bigeye are encountered across much of the site list, while signature species including Frogfish and Honeycomb Moray reward patient observers. Green Turtle Diving Center operates locally.
Monthly water temperature across Porto Novo's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures remain warm throughout the year, dipping slightly in late winter before rising to their peak in autumn. May and October stand out in the best-months data, suggesting these shoulder periods offer a favourable balance of conditions. Currents vary by site, from mild at the shallower reefs to moderate at deeper walls and drift sites such as Ponta do Tubarão and Christine Plateaux.
1 operator
Porto Novo, Cape Verde
6 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Porto Novo ranges from about 22°C in March 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 Porto Novo; in the coldest months (about 22°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 18 sites in Porto Novo (18 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
Across Porto Novo's dive sites, May and October are most often reported as the best months to visit.
Snake Eel is observed across nearly all sites, making it the most reliably encountered species in Porto Novo. Bigeye, Round Fantail Stingray, Trumpetfish, Turkish Wrasse, Pufferfish and Bream are also commonly recorded. Patient divers may come across the area's signature species, the Frogfish and the Honeycomb Moray, as well as occasional sightings of Scorpionfish, Spiny Lobster and Black Moray.
Yes, a good portion of the sites in Porto Novo are rated for beginners. Critters Walk, Arenas, Sharkys, Christine Plateaux, Ponta do Tubarão, Molhe de Fora and Ponta do Pesqueiro Preto all fall into the beginner category. These sites are generally shallow, with mild currents, and are reached by boat, with Molhe de Fora being the one shore-entry option.
Porto Novo's site list spans a wide range of topographies. Shallower reefs such as Critters Walk and Sharkys suit those building experience, while Hanging Garden and Parede de Bitxon offer deep vertical walls for advanced divers. Atlantis Palace and Arenas introduce cave elements, Navio a Vapor provides a wreck, and Baixa do Boi and Ilhéu do Boi feature deep reef and pinnacle structures further offshore.
Almost all sites in Porto Novo require boat access, with Molhe de Fora being the sole shore-entry site. Green Turtle Diving Center is the local operator serving the area. Boat travel to sites varies, with some located close to shore and others, such as Atlantis Palace, considerably further out.
