Scuba diver exploring underwater depths, capturing marine adventure vibes.

📷 Debal Das · Pexels

Tarrafal — Drop-off Wall

Wall dive on Santo Antão's western coast, dropping from 18m to over 80m. Pelagic encounters common.

⭐ Best for advanced divers chasing macro photographers.

updated 4 months ago 2026-05-12

Difficulty: Advanced
Depth: 18–40 m
Visibility: 30 m
Water temp: 22–25°C

Tec-friendlyPhoto-friendlyMacro hotspotWide-angle hotspot

At a glance

Activity: dive
Difficulty: advanced
Depth: 18–40 m
Visibility: 30 m
Water temp: 22–25 °C
Best months: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Marine life: Scalloped hammerhead, Great barracuda, Honeycomb moray

Map

This spot POIs Airport Nearby spots

Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo

Wind

7.1 kn

Wave

1.4 m

Water

27.1°C

Wind direction (7d)

Primary: NE (41%)

Now: ENE (60°)

Tide (7 days)

range: 0.65m

Next: High at 01:00 (+0.03m)

+0.2 m0 m-0.5 m

▲ 01:00 · +0.03m ▼ 07:00 · -0.31m ▲ 13:00 · -0.1m ▼ 19:00 · -0.31m Now -0.0m

Fri 18Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24

UV8.9 · very high Air PM2.527 · moderate 06:29 18:40

Day	Wind	Wave	UV	Rain
09-18	10.5	1.42	9	0mm
09-19	10.3	1.4	9	0mm
09-20	9.7	1.46	9	1mm
09-21	9.3	1.26	7	0mm
09-22	10	1.16	9	0mm
09-23	11.2	1.42	9	0mm
09-24	10.9	1.56	9	0mm

🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (22–25°C)

About this spot

Tarrafal's underwater cliff is one of the deepest accessible wall dives in West Africa. Currents along the wall bring schooling barracuda, occasional hammerheads, and the chance of mola mola sightings. Visibility frequently 30m+ April-October. Only operated by one outfit (Tarrafal Dive Center) — book ahead.

📖 Guide: 10 Best Diving Spots in Cape Verde

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Marine life

Scalloped hammerheadGreat barracudaHoneycomb moray

Dive types

WallDrift

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm full
📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
📔 Dive logbook
🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
🔌 Plug type C/F · 230V adapter
💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm full
GPS

› Sustainability disclosures

🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 4396km · ~1011kg · €18

FAQ

›How deep can I go?

Recreational limit is 40m; operator runs decompression trips for tec divers to 50m+.

›Hammerhead odds?

Best June-August, but never guaranteed — these are large pelagic predators on the move.

Verified marine species observations

117 records · 44 species · sources: OBIS, GBIF

Goniaster tessellatus

Asteroidea · Goniasteridae

GBIF

Last seen:: 1 Apr 2026

Spondylus senegalensis

Bivalvia · Spondylidae

GBIF

Last seen:: 29 Mar 2026

Janthina janthina

Gastropoda · Epitoniidae

GBIF

Last seen:: 28 Mar 2026

Physalia physalis

Hydrozoa · Physaliidae

GBIF

Last seen:: 25 Mar 2026

Aplysia dactylomela

Gastropoda · Aplysiidae

GBIF

Last seen:: 23 Mar 2026

Siphonaria pectinata

Striped false limpet

Gastropoda · Siphonariidae

GBIF

Last seen:: 23 Feb 2026

Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback Whale

Mammalia · Balaenopteridae

GBIF

Last seen:: 22 Feb 2026

Velella velella

Hydrozoa · Porpitidae

GBIF

Last seen:: 11 Jan 2026

Stenorhynchus lanceolatus

Malacostraca · Inachoididae

GBIF

Last seen:: 16 Dec 2025

Oreaster clavatus

Asteroidea · Oreasteridae

GBIF

Last seen:: 16 Dec 2025

Dardanus pectinatus

Malacostraca · Diogenidae

GBIF

Last seen:: 16 Dec 2025

Ophidiaster ophidianus

Asteroidea · Ophidiasteridae

GBIF

Last seen:: 16 Dec 2025

See full taxonomic record on OBIS → See full taxonomic record on GBIF →

Data: 187,991 observations from OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System) and GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility). CC-BY 4.0.

If conditions don't work

Activities nearby or alternative spots — keep your trip going.

Bad viz or rough seas? Plan B: coffee at Bar Pedra Baleia.

☕ Café · 14.4 km

Bar Pedra Baleia

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Cape Verde: Island paradise with a dark side | DW Documentary

DW Documentary

💬 3 top comments

As someone passionate about biodiversity and environmental justice, this hit hard. The contrast between tourist luxury and local struggle in Cape Verde, combined with environmental destruction, is heartbreaking. Grateful to DW for highlighting voices that are often ignored.

@smashakarah5102 · 👍 988
this is a story of all the places where there are these massive resorts .

@IshworTraveler · 👍 487
I was so happy to see the project of cleaning the beach for the turtles. I googled it up and donated 5€.

@iamjesper · 👍 463