AXPI-MENDI (POSSIBLY) - Boa Vista

The Axpi-Mendi, or what we *think* is the Axpi-Mendi, sits impossibly shallow, barely dipping its nose below the surface at just two metres. It’s less a dive and more a snorkel, but don’t let that put you off. This isn't some broken-up debris field; it’s a proper ship, a trawler, beached and battered, and we love it for its sheer accessibility. You’re exploring a wreck from the surface here, but it’s remarkably intact for something so exposed. The bow points skyward, half-submerged, with waves washing over the deck. You can peer into the wheelhouse, swim around the davits, and watch shoals of juvenile fish dart in and out of every crevice. We’ve spent hours here, just floating, feeling the push and pull of the ocean, listening to the creaks and groans of the hull. It’s less about big pelagics and more about the micro-ecosystem that has claimed this vessel – crabs scuttling, anemones swaying, and the sun dappling through the deck plates. Go at high tide for the best experience; it gets a bit too exposed otherwise. It’s an ideal spot for snorkelers, freedivers, or even just a unique afternoon activity if you're not up for a full dive, offering a really raw encounter with a shipwreck.

Location
Boa Vista, Cape Verde, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
16.202778, -22.694445
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
2m

Wreck History - AXPI-MENDI (POSSIBLY)

Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

This site, marked as a possible location of the Axpe Mendi, lies in the extreme shallows off Boa Vista. At a depth of only 2 meters, it is most likely part of the same extensive debris field from the Spanish cargo ship that grounded here in 1916. The immense power of the surf has scattered the vessel over a wide area, and this location represents just one piece of the puzzle. Its classification as a "Dangerous wreck" may indicate the presence of sharper, more unstable sections of wreckage or exposure to stronger surge compared to other parts of the site. For snorkelers and divers, it offers a different perspective on the wreck's slow disintegration and its transformation into a habitat for local marine life.

Marine Protected Area: RNI Ilhéu dos Pássaros

Nearby Dive Sites in Boa Vista

Nearest Dive Centres to AXPI-MENDI (POSSIBLY)