Santiago Tarrafal Dive Coast

Before booking, verify that the operator is currently running and ask to see appropriate certifications, active accident/emergency insurance, boat capacity, oxygen kit, first-aid capability, communications, site briefing, guide ratios, buddy procedures and a defined emergency action plan. The older Divecenter Santiago website mentions unguided house-reef buddy dives after a check dive, but this is not current permission to dive alone or without support. Operator descriptions identify strong current at Three Rocks and depths around 36 m at Amaro and 40 m at Three Rocks; avoid overhead penetration except with specialist training and a suitable supervised plan. For snorkeling, follow lifeguards, local guides, flags and vessel separation. Never practice breath-hold diving alone or assume that a scuba service includes freediving rescue. DAN emergency planning guidance.

The UK FCDO describes Cabo Verde medical services as basic and limited and identifies the larger hospitals on Santiago in Praia. It also highlights dengue alerts on Santiago and gastrointestinal infection precautions. No operational hyperbaric treatment location, ambulance response time, local evacuation boat or guaranteed diving oxygen source was independently confirmed for Tarrafal. Ask the operator where the nearest suitable receiving facility is and how an evacuation would actually be initiated. For suspected decompression illness, activate local EMS first, provide emergency oxygen if trained/equipped, obtain urgent professional medical help and contact DAN for specialist assistance. Insurance must explicitly cover intended dive activities and medical evacuation.

Marine life and coastal habitats deserve no-touch treatment. Do not anchor on living reef, collect marine organisms, feed fish, chase rays, handle octopus, enter nesting areas or disturb fishing activity. Conservation-program reporting and 2026 local reporting identify Lantuna patrols of Ribeira da Prata, Mangui, Prozela and Medronho nesting beaches in Tarrafal municipality, including monitoring and relocation of vulnerable nests. Cabo Verde turtle-protection law restricts capture and exploitation; observation should be pre-approved and conservation-led. No claim that Tarrafal has a verified blanket marine park tag, or that the Serra Malagueta terrestrial park regulates all coastal dives, is made.