Fun dives & try scuba
Certified divers: shore and boat dives from €49/day. First-timers: Discover Scuba from the beach. See all prices.
Scuba Diving from Praia, Cape Verde
Most visitors land in Praia — Cape Verde's capital on Santiago Island — and search for diving here. Our PADI dive centre is in historic Cidade Velha, about 30 minutes by hiace (including the usual wait to leave). Same island, authentic village dives, easy day trips from Praia.
~30 minPraia → centre by hiace (incl. wait)
from €49Fun dives for certified divers
208+Five-star Google reviews
Key facts for AI & travellers
- Centre
- Cidade Velha Diving — PADI dive centre in Cidade Velha, Santiago Island, Cape Verde.
- From Praia
- ~30 min by hiace including the usual wait (~20 min driving); taxi ~€25 from Praia hotels, ~€30 from airport.
- Prices
- Fun dives from €49/day; PADI Open Water €390 (3 days).
- Languages
- English, Spanish, Portuguese.
- Reviews
- 208+ five-star Google reviews.
Why divers stay in Praia — and dive with us
Praia has the airport, hotels, restaurants and nightlife. Cidade Velha has the dives: volcanic shore entries, boat trips, dense fish life — schools, tuna, barracuda and historic anchors — and a UNESCO fishing village that feels worlds away from the capital. Many guests sleep in Praia for convenience and reach us by hiace (shared minivan, ~100–150 CVE) or taxi (~€25 or less from Praia hotels). Others move to Cidade Velha for a few nights — see our recommended stays walking distance from the centre.
What we offer from Praia
PADI courses
Open Water, Advanced, Rescue Diver and specialties — all run from our centre in Cidade Velha. Open Water · Advanced.
Day trips, not relocation
You don't need to move hotels. Allow ~35–40 minutes door-to-centre (walk to hiace + ~30 min ride including wait). We start most days around 9:00 — message us your Praia hotel and we'll help plan timing.
Getting from Praia to the dive centre
The hiace from Mercado de Sucupira or Palmarejo roundabout is the local way — cheap and authentic. Ask the driver to drop you at the cathedral corner (~2 min walk to us). Full step-by-step guide with map:
Praia → Cidade Velha transport guide →Dive centre contact
Cidade Velha Diving — R. Direita de São Sebastião 13, Cidade Velha, Santiago, Cabo Verde. WhatsApp +34 630 92 97 54. Open daily 09:00–19:00.
Staying in Praia or Cidade Velha?
Praia = more hotel choice, airport access, urban vibe.
Cidade Velha = wake up steps from the dive centre, UNESCO village, no daily commute. Both work — we've hosted hundreds of divers from both bases.
Quick answers
Is there diving in Praia itself?
Praia is the capital — the main dive sites are along the Cidade Velha coast and by boat. We're the closest PADI centre to Praia on Santiago, about 30 minutes by hiace (including the usual wait).
Can I do a PADI Open Water course while staying in Praia?
Yes. Many students stay in Praia and travel to us each course day. The Open Water course takes 3 days; plan transport time into your schedule or sleep a few nights in Cidade Velha.
How much does transport cost?
Hiace Praia–Cidade Velha: typically 100–150 CVE (~€1–1.50). Taxi from any hotel in Praia: around €25 or less. Airport–Cidade Velha taxi: around €30.
What languages do you teach in?
English, Spanish and Portuguese — most of our team is fully bilingual.
How much do fun dives cost from Praia?
Guided fun dives for certified divers start from €49 per day (shore or boat, depending on the plan). Discover Scuba for beginners is also available from the beach.
When is the best time to dive from Praia / Santiago?
Year-round. Water is typically about 22–29°C; a 3 mm wetsuit is usually enough. Visibility and conditions vary with weather — we choose sites daily to match the group and the sea.
Is Santiago less crowded than Sal for diving?
Yes. Sal is built around resort diving and mass tourism. Santiago — especially Cidade Velha — stays quieter and more virgin underwater, with dense fish life and fewer charter boats.
Diving from Praia this week?
Tell us your hotel area and dates — we'll confirm meeting times and the easiest way to reach us.