Nautic Tourism in Cape Verde

Diving in Cape Verde is an opportunity to discover walls of volcanic rock covered in colorful and marvelous coral, and to come face-to-face with humpback whales on the same dive.

Diving with family has another value! Na nôs tera, nôs tudo ê família, in Cabo Verde wherever you go you will be received as family, which guarantees you the comfort, trust, and safety necessary for the practice of this activity. Nôs povo ta mostra nôs morabeza pa tud visitante ki ta passa na nôs ilha. Yes, the Cape Verdeans are warm, attentive, and very hospitable people, who gift their visitors with fascinating diving experiences.

• Sal Island: where you can swim with sharks, sea turtles, and tropical fish;
• Santiago Island: these warm and crystal clear waters offer the chance to dive with stingrays, octopuses, sharks, and turtles;
• Santo Antão Island: ideal for experienced divers as it has the deepest waters in Cape Verde where turtles and pelagic fish swim;
• Fogo Island: the only active volcano in the archipelago provides unique diving experiences through its submerged rock formations and a wide variety of tropical fish.

The crystal-clear waters of Cape Verde allow for observing a great variety of marine species. Manta rays, white sharks, tigers or hammerheads, lobsters or groupers are some of the animals that can be found while diving.

The islands of Sal and Boa Vista and Santa Maria Bay are some of the best locations in the archipelago for snorkeling as their waters are shallow and currents calm - essential conditions for exploring all the wonders that the underwater world has to offer in a peaceful and attentive manner.

Experienced divers can venture out to discover marine treasures without guidance by renting suitable equipment from designated locations.

For novice divers, the best way to go snorkeling is through a local operator who provides rental equipment along with safety instructions and guided tours to prime dive spots.

Some of the most sought-after surfing spots are located here, due to excellent wind and wave conditions, but only a few islands have the necessary conditions for its practice.

• Santa Maria: on the island of Sal, it is one of the most iconic locations for surfing due to surfable waves year-round that cater to both beginner and experienced surfers.
• Ponta Preta: this beach in Sal has world-class surfing. With strong, fast, and aggressive waves, it is only recommended for very experienced surfers.
• Punta Sino: on the island of Boa Vista, there are powerful waves suitable for experienced surfers.
• Mindelo: with constant waves and excellent conditions, surfing here is suitable for all levels of surfers.

It is extremely important when planning a trip to Cape Verde that attention be paid to existing conditions for surfing as they may vary depending on the time of year. Additionally, having support from local agencies and surf schools is a good option to avoid unnecessary risks.

Thanks to constant winds and Atlantic currents, Cabo Verde is also a popular destination for windsurfing and kitesurfing. So much so that in 2007 and 2022, the archipelago hosted one of the stages of the Windsurf World Cup organized by the World Windsurf Association.

Although various locations have ideal wind and water conditions for practicing windsurfing and kitesurfing, Sal Island and Boa Vista Island are considered top choices. These places also house some of the most popular windsurf and kitesurfing schools.

The best time for windsurfing and kitesurfing is generally from November to May, with the strongest wind conditions usually between January and April.

Stand-Up Paddle enthusiasts will find great conditions for practicing this sport in the Cape Verdean islands. Some of the best locations include:

Chaves Beach, on Boa Vista island: calm and warm waters make it perfect for paddleboarding. It's a highly sought-after spot by tourists, with several schools offering classes to visitors and equipment rentals.

Santa Maria Beach, on Sal island: being one of the most popular beaches in Cape Verde, this extensive beach with calm waters is highly sought after by paddleboarding lovers. There are also structures here that allow for equipment rentals and individual or group lessons for less experienced paddlers.

Baía das Gatas, on São Vicente island: a white sand beach with mountains cutting through the horizon makes Baía das Gatas the ideal stage for Stand-Up Paddle lovers.