CABO SANTA MARIA

Best months: Jul–Sep

Protected Area

Reserva Natural Ponta do Sol

Why dive here

CABO SANTA MARIA is a wreck dive in Boa Vista, Cape Verde. Water ranges 23-28°C, warmest August, September, October.

Best timeJul–Sep

WetsuitA 3mm shorty or thin full wetsuit

Water23-28°C · warmest August, September, October

CharacterWreck dive

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.

Safety Notes

Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.

Today05:2417:1511h 52m daylightGolden hour 16:46

CABO SANTA MARIA Wreck History

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.