Diving in Cape Verde. Where the journey is still real

Are you thinking about a diving trip and looking for something different. Something real. Something that has not yet been transformed by mass tourism?

Cape Verde is not a mass tourism destination. Luckily, it still is not. And that changes everything.

Here, mass tourism has not arrived yet. You still find a living, authentic, everyday village. You walk through the streets and greet people, and they greet you back. You sit and talk with locals. Sometimes someone invites you into their home for a snack. It does not matter if they do not speak your language perfectly, or you theirs. What matters is the intention. What matters is the encounter.

Cidade Velha is a small place, full of soul. Local people are still genuinely curious about those who arrive. There is a real desire to share their culture. There is no fatigue from saturated tourism. They are in a beautiful phase. A phase of genuine exchange and kindness towards those who come to discover their village.

Santiago Island is the most diverse island in Cape Verde. Mountains, green valleys, wild coastline and a landscape of volcanic origin coexist in one place. Nature in its rawest and most authentic expression.

If you have already dived in classic destinations such as the Maldives, Polynesia, the Red Sea or Indonesia, you will notice the difference from day one. Here, you do not come to consume a destination. You come to discover it.

The sea in Cape Verde remains truly pristine. On Santiago Island, there are no dive sites marked on tourist maps. Many of them have been discovered little by little. By diving. By listening to fishermen. By following stories passed down from fathers and grandfathers. Then we enter the water and find ancient anchors, volcanic formations, caves and untouched marine life.

It is not only about what you see underwater. It is about how you arrive at those places. The process matters.

Marine life is rich and diverse. Turtles. Groupers. Moray eels. Trumpetfish. Rays and mantas. Several types of sharks. In certain seasons, even whales. For those who love details, macro life full of nudibranchs and colorful sponges. All within a calm and lightly impacted environment.

This is not just another diving trip. It is a journey with heart. A place that moves something inside you. If you are looking for real authenticity, this place is for you.

And you do not need to organize anything on your own. We help you with everything so you can experience Cape Verde in the most local way possible. Accommodation in the village. Dives adapted to your level. Island tours. Transfers. Cultural experiences. Always prioritizing local services and a conscious, close way of traveling.

We have already organized many trips like this. Seeing people leave happy and deeply touched by the experience confirms something very clear. This type of journey is not for everyone. It is for those looking for something different.

This year, we take one step further. We launch yoga and diving retreats.

Tony, co founder of Cidade Velha Diving and a highly respected diving instructor, deeply loved both in the village of Cidade Velha and in Spain and many other parts of the world, will lead the diving part of these retreats. His way of teaching, close, safe and deeply human, has shaped hundreds of divers over the years.

Alongside him, Leslie, also co founder of the center and a yoga teacher, accompanies the experience from a spiritual perspective and body awareness. Together, we offer retreats both for certified divers and for those who wish to get certified here, living the process with calm and presence.

Yoga once or twice a day.

Conscious diving.

Breath, Presence, Calm.

Yoga helps you relax, breathe better and stay more present. This is felt underwater. You dive with more control and enjoy each dive in a deeper way.

If you feel that a journey like this is calling you, it is probably not by chance.

Cape Verde is waiting for you. And we are waiting for you with open arms.