Tarrafal de Monte Trigo offers a compact but varied set of dive sites along the western coast of Santo Antão, all reached by boat. Walls, drop-offs, pinnacles, reef plateaux and a technically demanding wreck give divers plenty of range. Beginners have sheltered walls and shallow reefs to explore, while intermediate and advanced divers can target deeper walls and drift sites. The Dusky Grouper is a reliable presence, and the Nurse Shark and Honeycomb Moray add character to many dives.
Monthly water temperature across Tarrafal de Monte Trigo'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, nudging higher from late summer into autumn. The cooler months from January to March remain comfortable for diving, so conditions support year-round activity. Exposed western sites can carry current, making drift dives at spots like Ponta d'Tum and Pináculo Tv particularly current-dependent.
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Cape Verde
2 more sites to explore
Water temperature around Tarrafal de Monte Trigo ranges from about 23°C in February to 28°C in September, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 28°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Tarrafal de Monte Trigo; in the coldest months (about 23°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 13 sites in Tarrafal de Monte Trigo (11 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots).
The Dusky Grouper is the most consistently observed species across sites. Nurse Shark and Honeycomb Moray are regularly encountered, as are Goldentail Moray, Arrow Crab and Cleaner Shrimp. Pelagic visitors including Whale Shark and Orca have also been observed, though less frequently.
Several sites are well suited to beginners. Parede do Tarrafal offers a shallow wall profile, Plateaux do Curralinho is a gentle reef drift, and Central Station combines reef and cave features at accessible depths. More experienced divers can progress to deeper walls, drift dives and the technical wreck Strap-on S80.
Every site in the area is reached by boat. There are no shore-entry dives listed. This means all diving is dependent on boat operations, and prospective visitors should arrange access accordingly before arriving.
The site mix covers walls, drop-offs, pinnacles, reef plateaux, caves and a wreck. Drift diving is a feature at several spots, including Ponta d'Tum and Ponta de Peça. The wreck Strap-on S80 sits at considerable depth, placing most of its structure in technical diving range.
