The Banana Islands lie off the Sierra Leone coast in the Atlantic Ocean and are considered the country's leading dive destination. All three sites on record are reached by boat and sit at shallow depths accessible to beginners. The islands' shape means that calm water can generally be found on one side regardless of conditions, and visibility here is among the best in West Africa. Wrecks and reefs are the main draw, with volcanic boulder formations creating habitat for Atlantic Goliath Grouper, multiple shark species including Lemon, Nurse, and Blacktip, Green Sea Turtle, Butterfly Ray, Torpedo Ray, and Smalltooth Sawfish. Banana Divers, based at Dalton's Guesthouse, is the operator serving these sites.
Monthly water temperature across Banana Islands's sites, from satellite sea-surface data corrected for depth. The band shows the site-to-site spread.
Water stays warm throughout the year, cooling slightly in February, March, and October, meaning most divers will be comfortable in a light wetsuit or less during the warmer months. Some wrecks carry strong currents and are reserved for more experienced divers, so discuss site conditions with Banana Divers before the day.
1 operator
Sierra Leone
Water temperature around Banana Islands ranges from about 26°C in February to 29°C in June, based on satellite sea-temperature data for its dive sites.
In the warm season (about 29°C) a rash guard or 3mm shorty is comfortable in Banana Islands; in the coldest months (about 26°C) step up to a 3mm full suit.
Fin maps 3 sites in Banana Islands (3 scuba diving sites).
2 more sites to explore
