Cidade Velha Diving - Santiago
The team at Cidade Velha Diving are, hands down, our favourite pick for diving Santiago. They’re the only PADI outfit in the historic town of Cidade Velha, which gives them a real home-court advantage. You'll want to dive with them if you’re keen on exploring the area’s unique volcanic topography and some decent wrecks, all while experiencing a proper local vibe. What we love about them is their genuine enthusiasm for showing you Santiago’s underwater world, which is often overlooked by divers flocking to Sal or Boa Vista. They’ve got a knack for finding the good stuff. We’ve had dives there where we’ve finned through archways carved by ancient lava flows, watching schools of bigeye barracuda shimmer in the shafts of light. Their local knowledge is key, helping you avoid the stronger currents that can sometimes sweep through. We'd suggest asking them about the wrecks if you like a bit of history with your dive; they know those sites intimately, pointing out details you’d definitely miss otherwise. It’s an honest, unpretentious dive operation, perfect for those who value authenticity over resort glitz.
- Location
- Santiago, Cape Verde, Indian Ocean & East Africa
- Coordinates
- 14.914067, -23.602947
- Phone
- +238 911 26 27
- [email protected]
- Website
- http://www.cidadevelhadiving.com
- Certification Agencies
- ["PADI"]
- Courses
- PADI Dive Center [padi:30247]
- Address
- Rua Direita de Sao Sebastaiao 13, 7629 Cidade Velha, No State, Cape Verde
Dive Sites Near Cidade Velha Diving
Cidade Velha Diving provides access to 11 dive sites in Santiago.
- Atlanticus Diving - House Reef - 13m (reef)
- COUNTY OF CARMARTHEN - 2m (wreck)
- Divecenter Santiago & King Bay (reef)
- EUGENIO TAVARES - 5m (wreck)
- Franciscus
- Leuchtturm
- MIRA-TERRA - 10m (wreck)
- Plateau - 10-25m (reef)
- Tuna Point
- Velha - 5-20m (reef)
- Vogelwand
Marine Life in Santiago
Home to 43 recorded species including 35 reef fish, 4 whales & dolphins, 3 hard corals, 1 other.
Notable Marine Life
- Gray's Cutthroat (Synaphobranchus kaupii) - Reef Fish
- Bastard soldierfish (Myripristis jacobus) - Reef Fish
- Remora (Remora remora) - Reef Fish
- Springer (Mugil cephalus) - Reef Fish
- Mustard hill coral (Porites astreoides) - Hard Corals
- Balao (Hemiramphus balao) - Reef Fish
- Broom-tail File (Aluterus scriptus) - Reef Fish
- Channel Flounder (Syacium micrurum) - Reef Fish
- White Seabream (Diplodus sargus) - Reef Fish
- loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)