Sources · Destination Guide

Sal

Atlantic reefs, lava caves and wrecks by day; turtles, salt pans and Santa Maria by land.

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Destination Guide Sources For Sal

Reference links used to build and maintain this guide.

40 sources • Updated Oct 29, 2026

Written by DiveJourney. Built from public sources and local operator knowledge. Last updated Oct 29, 2026.

Government of Cabo Verde: Archipelago Geography - Official island classification, trade-wind context and broad marine climate.
Cabo Verde Tourism Institute: Sal Island - Official visitor attractions, Santa Maria, Pedra de Lume, Palmeira and island transport.
ScubaCaribe: Diving on Sal - Operator evidence of Sal day-boat diving, reefs, wrecks and west-coast caves; operational claims are subject to confirmation.
ScubaCaribe: Diving in Cabo Verde - Operator explicitly describes year-round Sal diving and location-specific differences from Boa Vista.
ScubaCaribe: One Local Dive on Sal - Published example dive fee, equipment exclusions, certification and weather dependence.
ScubaCaribe: Sal Dive Courses - PADI training and introductory dive menu for Sal.
Cabo Verde Diving: Sal Dive Sites - First-party descriptions of 3 Grutas, Buracona/Regona, Santo Antao wreck, Tchuklassa and other sites.
Atlantic Star: Diving FAQ - Operator statements on year-round scuba, wind, temperature, variable visibility, boats and equipment.
PADI Directory: ScubaCaribe Sal - Dive center location and locally offered scuba activities; directory is not live booking confirmation.
Apnea Boom: Freediving in Santa Maria - Dedicated CMAS-instructor-led freediving sessions, classes and boat/shore formats; dates and availability unverified.
Atlantic Star: Guided Snorkeling - First-party guided southwest Sal snorkeling, equipment, swimming requirements and boat excursions.
Herimar Adventures: Snorkeling - First-party guided snorkeling to Ponta de Sino and Cristo Rei, equipment and location.
Herimar Adventures: Boat Tour - Santa Maria coast boat cruise with guided swimming or snorkel stops.
ISI Tourism: Ilha do Sal - Local excursion marketing for snorkeling, land itineraries, airport transfers and historic published fees; reconfirm before travel.
Project Biodiversity: Turtle Season - First-party conservation guidelines, 2026 permitted turtle-watching window, nesting and hatching seasons.
Project Biodiversity: Conscious Visits to Sal - Wildlife tourism ethics, juvenile lemon sharks, turtle hatchery education and local marine-life context.
Project Biodiversity: Responsible Tourism - Protected-area fragility, non-contact wildlife guidance and dune protection.
Project Biodiversity: Wildlife Guide - Cetacean observation guidance and protected species; not a promise of encounters on Sal.
WMO World Weather Information Service: Sal - Sal monthly mean temperature and precipitation; 1961-1990 normals, so use for seasonal orientation only.
Boletim Oficial: Ponta de Sino Reserve 2025 - Official 2025 updated reserve delimitation; does not itself prove access to any underwater route.
Boletim Oficial: Sal Protected Areas 2022 - Official register of protected areas including Serra Negra and Costa da Fragata.
VINCI Airports: Sal Airport - Sal international airport operator, IATA code SID.
CV Interilhas: Sal - Official upcoming inter-island departures touching Sal, changing dynamically.
CV Interilhas: Routes and Schedules - Official scheduled crossing times and check-date-specific ferry departures.
Government of Cabo Verde: Visas - Official visa categories, nationality exemptions, EASE registration and passport validity.
Government of Cabo Verde: Airport Security Fee - Official TSA fee, exemptions and EASE payment route.
UK FCDO: Cabo Verde Entry Requirements - Country-specific UK visitor guidance and July 2026 late-registration penalty.
UK FCDO: Cabo Verde Safety - Rip currents, beach flags, taxis, weather and off-road sport insurance risks.
UK FCDO: Cabo Verde Health - Healthcare capacity, hygiene risks and emergency preparedness.
UK FCDO: Getting Help - National emergency numbers.
Divers Alert Network: Emergency Assistance - DAN diver emergency hotline and care-first procedure.
Divers Alert Network: Chamber Availability - Why injured divers should first get immediate medical evaluation, not travel independently to a chamber.
Divers Alert Network: Health Resources - General minimum preflight surface intervals for diving.
The Lagoon: Booking Terms and Tourist Levy - Accommodation provider description of 276 CVE tourist levy per eligible guest night and 10-night cap.
Banco de Cabo Verde: Exchange Framework - Central bank explanation of the fixed CVE/EUR parity.
World Standards: Cabo Verde Electricity - Electrical supply 230V, 50Hz and plug types C/F.
Cabo Verde Airports: Telecommunications - Airport operator confirms Alou and Unitel T+ as Sal Airport telecom retailers.
PADI Directory: Cabo Diving Center - Independent dive-center directory confirmation of boat, rental and instruction infrastructure on Sal.
Destination hero photo by Tbo47 (historical) - Beach near Santa Maria, Sal. Photo: Tbo47 / Wikimedia Commons. CC0: http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/deed.en. Cropped and resized.
Destination hero photo by Florian K. - Fishing boats on Santa Maria Beach. Unsplash License (https://unsplash.com/license). Photographer: https://unsplash.com/@flouchy. Cropped and resized for the cover.