Boa Vista Island – Dive Spots Description for website

Diving in Boa Vista Islands is a unique experience! The underwater world of this “one Country, ten destinations” place is known worldwide, not only be the location of the archipelago and the influences of Atlantic Ocean currents and the tropical waters but also for the variety of underwater environments and the unique diversity of marine life. Cape Verde is a wonderland for divers of all levels. The warm sea temperatures and the lack of a real rainy season.

Here the shallow dives progress to deeper waters from the long and sandy beaches and large pelagic species can be found all year round.

Rays and schools of colorful fish swim around the old shipwrecks and reefs. Turtles and nurse sharks rest in caves. The Cape yellowtail fish swim between the diverse sorts of coral. And during some seasons there are also swimming large species of animals such as dolphins and whales.

With the alternation of shipwrecks, rock formations, corals, caves and rock walls the underwater has a diver quite a lot to offer. The warm sea temperatures and the lack of a real rainy season make this Island a perfect destination for a Diving Holiday

With a variety of temperatures ranging from 20 – 27°C, both a 5mm and 7mm wetsuit may be appropriate depending on the season. Diving is possible all year round, but the best season lies from April to November.

Between colorful volcanic walls, cathedral-like caves and well-preserved wrecks, Boa Vista delights for divers with a variety interests. You are sure to be amazed not only by the interesting environments but also by the wide variety of marine life from humpback whales to the flying gurnard.

 

SHARK POINT NORTH

Máx. Depth
17-20m
Type
Coral Reef
Topography
Advanced Divers
Marine fauna and flora
-

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, pillar coral, Brain coral, Overhang coral, encrusting stinging coral.
Black Durgon, rock beauty, yellowtail snapper, stingray, spotted eagle ray, surgeon fish, spotted eel morey, gray eelmorey, squirrel fish

SHARK POINT SOUTH

Máx. Depth
17-20m
Type
Coral Reef
Topography
Advanced Divers
Marine fauna and flora
-

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, pillar coral,brain coral,

Overhang coral, encrusting stinging coral.

Black Durgon, rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fish, lobsters, turtles.

SCREENSAVER NORTH

Máx. Depth
15m
Type
Coral Reef
Topography
Beginner and Advanced
Marine fauna and flora
-
Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, l,brain coral,
Overhang coral, encrusting stinging coral.
Black Durgon, trumpet, rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, nudibranquis, flounders, blue tang, spotted morey, squirrel fish, butterfly, parrots, lobsters

SCREENSAVER SOUTH

Máx. Depth
15m
Type
Coral Reef , Rock formation
Topography
Beginner
Marine fauna and flora
-
Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, pillar coral,brain coral,
Cavernous coral, encrusting stinging coral.
Black Durgon, trumpet, parrots rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fish

WALL ROCKS

Máx. Depth
18m
Type
Cora Reef , Swim through
Topography
beginner and Advanced
Marine fauna and flora
-

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, brain coral, coral, encrusting stinging coral. Black Durgon,trumpet, parrots,  rock beauty, angel , parrots, lobsters, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, squirrel fish

MARINE CLUB REEF

Máx. Depth
7-12m
Type
Cora Reef
Topography
Beginers
Marine fauna and flora
-

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, brain coral,
cavernous coral, encrusting stinging coral, common sea fan, deepwater gorgonia,sea anemone
Black Durgon, trumpet, rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fishCoral reef, reef squeed,coralshrimp,arrow crab, fairy basslet, spotted drum,
Porcupine fish, queen angelfish, french angelfish, butterfly fish,bluehead wrasse.

POSSONA DEEP

Máx. Depth
28m
Type
Cora Reef
Topography
Advanced Divers
Marine fauna and flora
-

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, pillar coral,brain coral,cavernous coral, encrusting stinging coral. Black Durgon, trumpet, rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fish Coral reef

Possona Hole

Máx. Depth
18-22m
Type
Cora Reef
Topography
Advanced Divers
Marine fauna and flora
-

Coral Reef , Advanced Divers

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, pillar coral,brain coral,

Cavernous coral, encrusting stinging coral.

Black Durgon, trumpet, rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fish Coral reef

Bodega De Juan

Máx. Depth
15m
Type
Coral Reef
Topography
Advanced Divers
Marine fauna and flora
-
Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, pillar coral, brain coral, Cavernous coral, encrusting stinging coral.
Black Durgon, trumpet, parrotsrock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fish

NORTH ROCKS

Máx. Depth
It’s one of the favorite dive site of many divers at just 18 meters deep. North of Sal Rei is a small platform. Surrounded by a maze of rock formations you can admire a diverse marine life here. From diverse moray eels to sea eel. Colorful coral is quite magnificent.
Type
Strong current often
Topography
Advanced divers
Marine fauna and flora
-

Advanced divers. Strong current often.

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, brain coral.

Cavernous coral, encrusting stinging coral.

Black Durgon, rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fish

BODEGA TEBAR

Máx. Depth
12-14m
Type
Reef dive
Topography
Beginners – students
Marine fauna and flora
-

Black Durgon, trumpet, parrots rock beauty, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, green morey, squirrel fish, huge puffer fishs, flounders

THE CHANNEL

Máx. Depth
This dive site is from 10 meters to 14 meters and is located northeast of Sal Rei. As the name of this place suggests, the dive goes through a kind of tunnel or canal, where you can admire the rich marine life. It is very possible that you can also see a stingray and nurse shark. Good sea conditions are needed to make the most of this dive.
Type
Reef dive
Topography
Advanced , strong current often
Marine fauna and flora
-

Elkhorn coral, scroll coral, pillar coral,brain coral, cavernous coral, encrusting stinging coral. sponge,common sea fan,deepwater gorgonia,sea anemone

Black Durgon, rock beauty, trumpets, yellowtail snapper,stingray, spotted eagle ray, blue tang, spotted morey, squirrel fishCoral reef, reef  queed,coralshrimp,arrow crab, fairy basslet, spotted drum,

Porcupine fish, queen angelfish, french angelfish, butterfly fish,bluehead wrasse.

SNORKELING REEF

Máx. Depth
2-5m
Type
Shallow Reef
Topography
Snorkeling
Marine fauna and flora
-
Excelente for introdives, snorkeling and students

TAGLIARTE WRECK

Máx. Depth
12m
Type
Ship wreck
Topography
Beginners. Good for photography too.
Marine fauna and flora
-
A perfect dive spot for the novice diver, this place is used mostly by student divers. At a depth of 10 meters this old fishing boat which is haunted by many fish. Part of the wreck is broken off and lies scattered about the seabed. Apart from the many fish you will also find many small marine animals such as nudibranch, crabs and fire worms.

ANCORA REEF

Máx. Depth
9-15m
Type
Reef dive
Topography
Beginners
Marine fauna and flora
-
Common see nurse sharks, turtles, black Durgon, rock beauty, trumpets, yellowtail snapper,stingray, sting rays, surgeons, spotted morey, squirrel fish. Squeed, coralshrimp, arrow crab, fairy basslet, spotted drum.
Porcupine fish, angelfish, butterfly fish,bluehead wrasse.

ZANSWRECK

Máx. Depth
8-9m
Type
Ship Wreck
Topography
Begginers
Marine fauna and flora
-
Common see nurse sharks, turtles, black Durgon, rock beauty, trumpets, yellowtail snapper,stingray, sting rays, surgeons, spotted morey, squirrel fish. squeed, coralshrimp, arrow crab, fairy basslet, spotted drum,
Porcupine fish, angelfish, butterfly fish, bluehead wrasse.

SHARK BOW

Máx. Depth
At a depth of 22 meters is the top of the reef. An opening in the reef at 25 meters depth brings you to a beautiful space where there are possible sand tiger sharks and large rays. In the reef and surrounding caves are sleeping large nurse sharks, turtles are swimming, large schools of sergeant marjors and tooth and perches. Perhaps you are also lucky to see a seriola (amberjack) swim by.
Type
Reef dive
Topography
Advanced Divers
Marine fauna and flora
-
Common see, turtles, black Durgon, rock beauty, trumpets, yellowtail snapper, stingray, surgeons, spotted morey, squirrel fish. squeed, coral shrimp, arrow crab, fairy basslet, spotted drum, Porcupine fish, angelfish, butterfly fish blue head wrasse.

ATLÂNTIDA

Máx. Depth
10-40m
Type
Reef dive
Topography
Good for Beginners & DSDs
Marine fauna and flora
-
From 10 meters deep is the Atlantida reef diving spot for divers of all levels. You will find amongst others lobsters, scorpion fish and moray eels that are hiding here in small caves.
Big schools of Cape yellowtail fish (yellowtail snappers), schools of sergeant majors and sea bream swimming over the reef and the steep reef.
Experienced divers can descend further to 30 meters, where sometimes nurse sharks are resting.

ATLANTIDA SHALLOW

Máx. Depth
12-18m
Type
Reef dive
Topography
Good for Beginners & DSDs
Marine fauna and flora
-
Common see, black Durgon, rock beauty, trumpets, yellowtail snapper, stingray ,surgeons, spotted morey, squirrel fish. squeed, coral shrimp, arrow crab, fairy basslet, spotted drum, Porcupine fish, angelfish, butterfly fish blue head wrasse.

ATLANTIDA DEEP

Máx. Depth
18-30m
Type
Rock formation + corals
Topography
Advanced. Drift, tunnels, cannions, small caverns
Marine fauna and flora
-
Drift, tunnels, cannions, small caverns.
Common see, black Durgon, rock beauty, trumpets, stingray ,surgeons, spotted morey, squirrel fish, coral shrimp, arrow crab, fairy basslet , spotted drum, Porcupine fish, angelfish, butterfly fish blue head wrasse, jack fish, nurse sharks, turtles.

BODEGA DE TCHOKO

Máx. Depth
14m
Type
Rock formation + corals
Topography
Begginers
Marine fauna and flora
-
This dive site has a maximum depth of 14 meters and is a good place for both new and experienced divers. Ideal for a dive. From the sand you have a good view of the fish swimming by such as bream or large troughs. The reef with the rocks is even more interesting, as they provide shelter for moray eels, octopus, snails and other micro life.

BODEGA DE FRAN

Máx. Depth
14m
Type
Rock formation + corals
Topography
Begginers
Marine fauna and flora
-
Near the northern tip of Sal Rei is the Bodega de Fran. At 14 meters depth at the bottom you will find large rocks and where there are often turtles, crabs and lobsters hide. On the sides of the rocks there is a beautiful big canyon. Here you will probably see pipefish (cornet fish) and various attracting fish (trigger fish) swimming. This dive site is very diverse and accessible for all levels.