CABO SANTA MARIA - Boa Vista

The Cabo Santa Maria wreck on Boa Vista isn't one for the faint of heart, or indeed, one for strapping on a tank. This isn't a dive site in the traditional sense, and frankly, we’d tell anyone looking for a deep wreck penetration to look elsewhere. Instead, the real beauty here is how the ocean has slowly, relentlessly, reclaimed this old cargo ship. It ran aground back in '68, and fifty-odd years of Atlantic waves have done a proper job of tearing it apart. What you get now is this incredible skeletal remains, right there on the beach, a photographer's dream at sunset. Walk along the sand and watch the waves crash through its ribs. You can see big shoals of fish darting in and out of the lower sections, even from above the waterline. It’s a testament to nature's power, a rusting monument to the sea. We love visiting at low tide; you can get right up to the mangled hull, feel the salt spray, and really appreciate the scale of it. It’s a powerful, stark reminder of the ocean's raw force, and a unique way to connect with Cape Verde's wild coastline.

Location
Boa Vista, Cape Verde, Indian Ocean & East Africa
Coordinates
16.200000, -22.900000
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
0m

Wreck History - CABO SANTA MARIA

Year Sunk
1968
Vessel Type
cargo ship
Cause
grounding

The haunting skeleton of the Cabo Santa Maria is arguably the most famous landmark on the Cape Verdean island of Boa Vista. On September 1, 1968, this Spanish cargo ship was en route to South America, reportedly carrying gifts and vehicles from the Spanish dictator Franco. Navigating the treacherous waters off the coast, the vessel ran hard aground on the remote beach that would later be known as Praia de Atalanta.

The crew was rescued without loss of life, but the ship was immovable. A massive salvage operation began, with locals working for nearly a year to unload the valuable cargo from the stranded vessel. Once stripped of anything useful, the hull was abandoned to the relentless power of the Atlantic. It is not a dive site, as it lies directly on the beach at a depth of zero meters.

Over half a century of salt and surf has eroded the ship, leaving behind a dramatic, rusting skeleton half-buried in the sand. It is a spectacular and photogenic monument to the power of the sea, drawing visitors from around the world who come to witness its slow, beautiful decay against the backdrop of the isolated coastline.

Marine Protected Area: Reserva Natural Ponta do Sol

Nearby Dive Sites in Boa Vista

Nearest Dive Centres to CABO SANTA MARIA