Porto Novo

Porto Novo, on Cape Verde's Santo Antão island, offers rugged Atlantic coast diving with volcanic topography. The region hosts a mix of wall drops, volcanic caves, and lava tubes with generally clear, cool waters and modest visibility that improves with the shallower reef system around Tarrafal and nearby sites. Expect species typical of Cabo Verde waters, including reef fish, moray eels, and occasional larger pelagics. Access is via regional roads and boat runs from Tarrafal, with dive centers and shore options limited but growing in popularity among local operators. The terrain and conditions suit beach and boat dives for recreational divers, with some sites offering shallow mixed-gas opportunities for experienced divers.