São Tomé and Príncipe sits in the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean, and its diving is shaped by volcanic geology that produces walls, reefs, and rock formations dropping to moderate depths. The sites in our database range from beginner-friendly reefs at Santana to intermediate wall dives at Ilhéu das Rolas, which sits directly on the equator. Water stays warm through most of the year, cooling slightly between June and August. Marine life recorded here includes lined seahorses, whale sharks, Atlantic goliath groupers, eagle rays, green sea turtles, and common octopus, among others.
Monthly water temperature across Sao Tome and Principe's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water temperatures are warmest from November through March and dip to their lowest between July and August, when a light wetsuit is worth considering. Visibility can reach thirty metres at sites such as Ilhéu das Rolas, though conditions vary and the wet season can reduce clarity. Diving is possible year-round, with calmer seas and stronger visibility generally reported in the dry months.
3 operators
Water temperature around Sao Tome and Principe ranges from about 24°C in June to 28°C in January, 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 Sao Tome and Principe; in the coldest months (about 24°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 3 sites in Sao Tome and Principe (3 scuba diving sites and 1 snorkelling spots, with some suited to both).
2 more sites to explore
