Sao Tome and Principe

Diving

The dive centres on Sao Tome and Principe offer both beginner and advanced dives

Wildlife Active Guided Tours

Diving

We offer everything, from single ‘baptism’ dives to an exciting range of diving experiences, PADI open water and advanced dive courses

There are dive centres on Sao Tome, Principe, and Rolas, so diving can be fit into your tailor-made holiday and matched to your level of experience.

The best time to dive is when visibility is clearest – between December and March. Yet, due to the islands’ equatorial location, the conditions are good for diving most of the year, with warm sea temperatures (27 to 30 celsius) and an abundance of marine life. In terms of species present, Sao Tome and Principe have been likened to the Caribbean (with almost as much variety) and you’ll soon find yourself swimming amongst snapper, parrot fish, barracuda, moray eels, turtles, and gorgonian sea fans, as well as finding volcanic boulders covered in colourful yellow, orange and red hard corals.

Even though the islands are quite close to the African mainland, they are still relatively unexplored, and of the 240 species of tropical fish that have been recorded so far, many are endemic and found nowhere else in the world.

At the time of writing, there is no hyperbaric chamber available on either of the islands but there are plenty of fantastic dive sites between 10 and 20 meters. Call our Sao Tome holiday specialists on 01768 721050 if you’d like to include some diving in your tailor-made holiday to Sao Tome and Principe.

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Best time to go

The tropical Islands of Sao Tome and Principe can be enjoyed during any month of the year. The most optimum months to visit are perhaps during the short dry season, between December and February, because this is a good time to see the turtles coming to shore to nest. The long dry season, between June and September, is the most settled. During the dry seasons the weather is usually warm and predominantly dry, but you can get some short downpours, and high humidity does mean that the skies are often overcast.

If you enjoy the intensity of short tropical downpours followed by clear blue skies, and an abundance of tropical foliage, then visit during the wetter months: October and November, and March to May.

Turtle nesting season runs from mid-November through to early February, with hatching generally occurring during March. October through to March are the optimum months for bird watching enthusiasts and there are a range of bird watching walks and excursions on offer. Humpback whale watching season is between late July and October, most of which falls in the long dry season, with the exception of October which is the wettest month on Sao Tome and Principe.

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Design your perfect escape with our Archipelago Choice flexible holiday packages, tailored to you and packed with experiences and adventures.

01768 721040

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