Staying in Praia?
Most travellers fly into Praia and dive with us on day trips. Diving from Praia guide — hiace, taxi, timing and prices.
Scuba Diving on Santiago Island, Cape Verde
Santiago is Cape Verde's largest island — home to Praia (the capital and airport) and Cidade Velha (our PADI dive centre on the south coast). If you're looking for diving on Santiago, you're in the right place.
PADICertified dive centre
200+Five-star Google reviews
EN · ES · PTCourses & guided dives
Diving Santiago with Cidade Velha Diving
We're a PADI dive centre in the UNESCO village of Cidade Velha — not in Sal or Boa Vista, but on Santiago where Cape Verde's history and everyday life meet the Atlantic. Shore dives from black-sand beaches, boat trips along the coast, night dives, Discover Scuba and full PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster. Underwater you'll find dense Atlantic fish life — large schools, tuna, barracuda, groupers and moray eels — plus volcanic rock, coral patches, historic anchors and, sometimes, a manta.
Plan your Santiago dive trip
Where to sleep
Guesthouses in Cidade Velha walking distance from us, or hotels in Praia. Recommended stays in Cidade Velha.
How a dive day works
Typical schedule for certified divers — 2 dives, boat, briefing and surface interval. See the full day.
Getting around
Hiace, taxi and tips for Santiago Island transport. Praia → Cidade Velha guide.
PADI courses on Santiago
Open Water (€390), Advanced (€300), Rescue Diver (€350) and specialties — taught in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Full price list.
Why Santiago — not only Sal
Sal is built around resort diving and sees far more mass tourism. Santiago — and Cidade Velha in particular — still feels much more virgin underwater: same ocean, fewer crowds, a living fishing village and sites that are not worn out by daily charter traffic. Many divers combine Santiago with other islands — we help you plan realistic logistics from Praia.
Quick answers
Where is the best diving on Santiago?
Our sites are along the Cidade Velha coast and by boat — volcanic rock, dense fish life (schools, tuna, barracuda, groupers), historic anchors and coral patches. Sometimes a manta. We know the local conditions year-round.
How do I get from Praia airport to the dive centre?
Taxi from the airport: around €30 (~25 min). From a hotel in Praia: around €25 or less, or hiace to Cidade Velha (~€1–1.50). We can share trusted taxi contacts on WhatsApp.
Is Santiago good for learning to dive?
Yes — calm shore entries for training, warm water and small groups. Our Open Water course is popular with visitors staying in Praia.
What languages do you teach in?
English, Spanish and Portuguese — most of our team is fully bilingual.
Ready to dive Santiago?
Message us your dates, certification level and where you're staying — we'll suggest the best plan.