Cape Verde · SNORKELING TRIPS IN SAL
Good snorkeling trips in Sal fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 7 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
Set out from Cabo Verde Diving Aquarium or the Melia Tortuga center for a two-hour guided snorkeling trip. Guides such as Adi, Daniel, and Wesley help with equipment, safety, and spotting turtles, rays, moray eels, reef fish, and a shallow wreck when sea conditions allow.
“Very well organised. Great health and safety. Saw beautiful fish and ship wreck was amazing! We would do that again next time we visit.”
Join Nando Tours for a two-hour boat snorkeling trip from Santa Maria, Sal. Local guide Nando leads you to the Caldeirinha shipwreck, coral reefs, and the underwater Christ statue, with turtles promised as part of the experience. Equipment, boat transport, safety briefing, and multilingual guiding are included.
“Trip was overall good. We showed up half an hour early, just on time would have been sufficient though. Provided equipment looked good, though we just borrowed the fins (brought our own goggles and snorkel). Neoprene -suites were not offered, my kids could have used one though. First stop for snorkeling took us over a reef and the shipwreck. About 1 hour of snorkeling, but no really amazing fish to be seen (saw more or less the same when just starting from the beach somewhere). My kid stopped early, as he was getting cold. The boat was always close by, so no issue with that. Second stop at the Jesus…”
From Santa Maria, you take a short boat ride to a reef 3 to 8 meters deep and the shallow Calderinhia wreck. An instructor stays with you for about 45 minutes in the water, pointing out fish, rays, turtles, moray eels, and the wreck’s old boiler. Equipment is included, but bring water and snacks.
“Found the company very professional. Good safety brief before the start of the activity. Equipment provided. It’s only a short boat ride out to the location for snorkelling. We saw plenty of fish! I could have stayed snorkelling all day, fab activity!”
Join Taruga Sal Tours for a 90-minute snorkeling trip around Santa Maria Bay. Your guide explains safety and equipment use before you visit reefs and a shallow shipwreck where soldierfish, snappers, parrotfish, trumpetfish, rays, turtles, and moray eels may appear. Alexandre is one guide praised for his friendly, reassuring manner.
“Foi tudo muito bom. A simpatia do Alexandre foi contagiante. Senti-me sempre muito à vontade com a experiência que ele demonstrou. Como ponto menos positivo o facto dos óculos de mergulho não vedarem bem”
At 2:00 pm, Atlantic Star takes you by Zodiac into Santa Maria Bay for an easy surface snorkeling session with mask, snorkel, and fins. A professional guide helps you prepare, then leads you to spots where you might see tropical fish and sea turtles. Hotel pickup may be available, and groups are limited to eight.
“Great trip pick you up and drop you back to the hotel. Need to be a strong swimmer. But the instructors very helpful and knowledgeable and always there to help.”
From Santa Maria, you take a short boat ride to a shipwreck and an underwater Christ statue. Nando Tours provides a wetsuit, mask, fins, life jacket, photos, and videos, with a certified local guide helping beginners in English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, or French. The water session lasts about two hours.
“nous avons bien aimé les spots sur lesquels nous avons été déposé pour la plongée 3 spots au total. ce qui pourrait être amélioré, la liste est longue : - l'organisation générale - la ponctualité 45min 1h de retard au départ. - prise en charge a l'hôtel annulé car le taxi n'est jamais venu et nous sommes donc allé a pied a l'activité... - le matériel est très vétusté, non entretenue, encore plein de sable de la veille ce qui rend les plastique cassant ce qui est arrivé à mon masque... - aucunes communication avant/pendant/après activités. - dépose dans l'eau parfois très dangereuses, il ne faut vraiment pas avoir peur…”
Meet Nando at Santa Maria Pier for a two-hour guided snorkeling trip around Bolama Wreck, Dunas Bikini, and Farol. You receive equipment, a wetsuit, vest, safety briefing, and boat transport when conditions allow. Look for rays, turtles, eels, tropical fish, and coral in the clear waters of Santa Maria Bay.
“Nice quick Snorkeling trip. Saw fish, turtles and a wreck”
Pick an island, a boat or a kitchen.
