With water temperatures between 22 and 27 °C, Cape Verde is very well suited to snorkelling.You will often see parrotfish, moray eels, rays, sea urchins, lobster and sea turtles. With a little luck you may also spot a queen triggerfish (Balistes vetula). Some spots with volcanic rock and coral offer varied underwater landscapes.
One important limitation, however, is the heavy swell along many stretches of coast at certain times of year.
When the water is clear and shallow, there is a great deal to see.
Our tip: combine snorkelling with a boat trip
There are boat trips on Sal and boat trips on Boa Vista: you spend a few hours out on the water, with stops along the way for swimming or snorkelling. It is a good alternative if you want to do more than just snorkel.
Where can you snorkel in Cape Verde?
In principle you can find spots to snorkel along the coast of every island.
What matters is that you take currents and swell into account. To avoid any danger, it is best to speak to local people: they know where conditions are good and where they are not, and they know the best snorkelling spots.
The best-known islands for snorkelling, with excellent spots, are Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago and São Vicente.
Snorkelling on Sal
Snorkelling on Sal is possible all year round. There are a number of organised snorkelling tours.
What is not recommended is simply snorkelling from the beach anywhere on Sal. The sandy seabed and the rough sea often make the water cloudy, which reduces visibility. Spots with a rocky seabed are the better choice.
There are two particularly popular snorkelling spots on the island: Murdeira Bay and Palmeira. If you have booked a snorkelling tour, you will be taken to one of these depending on the weather conditions. There you can see colourful fish and a fine coral reef while snorkelling.
You can of course reach Murdeira Bay independently from land. This is possible via one of the beaches north or south of the built-up area, about 10 minutes outside Santa Maria.
Another spot: the area east of the pier in Santa Maria – near Porto Antigo and the Papaia restaurant – is easy to reach. About 50 metres from the Papaia restaurant there is an underwater statue. Outside the village of Santa Maria you can watch local people snorkelling at Calheta Funda and Cadjatinha.
South of Pedra de Lume lies a shipwreck. You follow the unsurfaced coastal paths until the remains of the wreck finally become visible above the waterline. From there a demanding stretch continues over smooth rocks until you reach a small sandbank. Sturdy water shoes are therefore recommended. The effort is worth it: in this shallow stretch of sea there is a good chance of seeing the fins of shoals of harmless nurse sharks breaking the surface.
If you would rather go deeper, most of these spots can also be reached on a diving trip.
Snorkelling on Boa Vista
On Boa Vista the best time to snorkel is from April to November inclusive. Outside those months conditions are often not as good, and snorkelling tours usually cannot be booked because the sea around the island is too rough. That also makes the water too cloudy and visibility underwater too limited.
The best-known place to snorkel on Boa Vista is As Gatas bay. This spot in the north-east of the island is named after the “gatas” – the nurse shark. These friendly and harmless sharks swim there in summer and can certainly be watched while snorkelling. The nurse shark is regarded as a very calm species, not aggressive and in fact rather shy. It is still a genuine shark, though – and correspondingly spectacular when one glides past.
Snorkelling in Gatas bay is only possible at high tide. The bay is very shallow, around 1.5 metres deep. At low water you cannot snorkel there, because parts of the coral even rise above the surface. It is therefore advisable to visit As Gatas bay with a guide, or to find out beforehand so that you are there at the right time.
Fins are not needed
If you snorkel in As Gatas bay you do not need fins, because the water is very calm and shallow. Fins can also damage the fragile coral reef.
On an organised snorkelling tour to As Gatas bay, the group usually starts in Sal Rei or is picked up at the resort. From there it is about an hour by pickup truck to the bay. Once there you normally spend 45 minutes to an hour in the water before heading back to the vehicle. On the way back there is often a stop in the small village of Joao Galego for a drink and a snack.
Another popular spot is the reef off the small island of Djeu. If you book a tour to Djeu, you travel by boat to the reef and snorkel there for about an hour, depending on the weather. Here too, beautiful tropical fish swim along the coral reef.
This snorkelling trip is often combined with a visit to the island of Djeu. There you can see an old fort, among other things, and the guide will tell you something about the island’s history and the Portuguese. Afterwards there is usually about an hour of free time on the island – ideal for sunbathing, exploring the surroundings or, of course, more snorkelling.
Estoril Beach in Sal Rei is another good snorkelling spot on Boa Vista. With a little luck you may see turtles here as well as an enormous variety of tropical fish, around 100 species.
Snorkelling on São Vicente
On the east coast of the island, around 18 kilometres from Mindelo, lies the fishing village of Calhau, near Praia Grande. At the foot of the Viana volcano there is good snorkelling to be had. As the beach is made up of pebbles, water shoes or similar footwear are recommended.
Another fine snorkelling spot is São Pedro, about 10 kilometres south of Mindelo. This charming village with its colourful houses and a few restaurants lies in a bay with a long, attractive sandy beach. Snorkelling trips there are known for their rich marine life and the intense colour of the water. Sea turtles are seen very often, and you can frequently swim alongside them.
Laginha beach, close to the town centre, is an alternative for beginners and for a refreshing swim. You will see shoals of small fish.
Snorkelling on Santo Antão
Tarrafal de Monte Trigo on Santo Antão is a good spot is a good spot for snorkelling. It lies in the south-west of the island, tucked in between mountains and sea. The sheltered bay is very calm, particularly in summer.
Turtles lay their eggs in summer on the island’s longest black sand beach, and the bay also lies on a migration route for tuna, whales and dolphins. There is correspondingly plenty to discover in the water. Thanks to its sheltered position, the sea there is calm and clear almost all year round. Snorkelling tours are also offered from Tarrafal, taking you to spots further out.
Snorkelling on Santiago and Maio
• Tarrafal in the north of Santiago usually offers calm water with plenty of marine life. Visibility for snorkelling is very good, and the volcanic seabed creates a distinctive underwater landscape. There are organised snorkelling trips there too.
• Maio, often described as a “mini Boa Vista”, is well suited to quiet snorkelling trips away from the crowds. Deserted beaches and clear water create a wild, relaxed setting to explore.