Sal, Cabo Verde
Discover Scuba Diving Sal
Your first breathunderwater. Calm, unhurried, unforgettable.
No experience, no certificate. Skills in calm, shallow water first, then a real ocean dive to max 12 m with a PADI instructor beside you — and turtles, if the sea is kind.
Made for nervous beginners 0–3 m
The first dive most people wish they'd had.
The bad first-dive stories on Sal share a pattern: big groups, a fast boat, rough water and no time to feel ready. Ours is built the other way round.
“I'm scared I'll panic underwater.”
Calm first, depth second.
Pool or chest-deep shallows before the ocean, a hand on your shoulder the whole dive, and you set the pace. Nervous beginners are our speciality, not an inconvenience.
“Last time we were 20 people on a speeding boat.”
Never more than 6 guests per guide.
Small groups mean you are seen, not herded. No crowd kicking your mask, no race to the next site.
“What if the sea is rough the day we booked?”
Honest conditions policy.
If wind or visibility would make the dive unpleasant or unsafe, we tell you the evening before and move you — free. We would rather lose a booking than give you a bad first impression of the ocean.
“I don't want to waste my holiday in a classroom.”
Theory before you fly.
PADI eLearning lets you finish the reading at home. On the island, every hour is wet hours.
“I can't tell what anything really costs.”
Clear prices, everything included.
Equipment, guide, boat and park fees in one number. The only optional extra is photos — and we'll say so up front.
“Logistics in a foreign place stress me out.”
We pick you up.
Hotel pickup in Santa Maria, one WhatsApp thread for everything, and reminders the day before. You just show up in your swimsuit.
Pickup & fitting
Hotel pickup in Santa Maria, wetsuit and mask fitted properly — comfort starts here.
Plain-language briefing
How the gear works, how to equalise your ears, five hand signals. No jargon.
Calm-water skills
Breathe with your face in the water at standing depth, then mask clearing and regulator recovery.
Your ocean dive
A sheltered reef, a slow descent and your instructor within arm's reach the whole time.
Log it & decide
See your photos if you chose them — and if you're hooked, your dive can count towards PADI Open Water.
Price all-inclusive
One price. Nothing hidden.
Discover Scuba Diving — first dive
€110Everything you need for your first breath underwater.
- Full scuba equipment
- PADI instructor
- Calm-water training
- Ocean dive to max 12 m
- Hotel pickup in Santa Maria
- Free reschedule for bad conditions
Optional: photo & video package, priced before you book.
What you may meet 12 m
Shallow reefs, real wildlife.
Sea turtles
On many reef dives, and the encounter guests mention most.
All year; nesting on the beaches in summer and autumn
Stingrays
Gliding over the sand between reef patches.
All year
Nurse and lemon sharks
Calm, bottom-resting species. Thrilling, not threatening.
Depends on site and season
Octopus and morays
A reward for slow, patient divers. Your guide knows the holes.
All year
Schooling fish
Big Atlantic schools swirling around wrecks and pinnacles.
All year
Humpback whales
Heard more often than seen, and the song underwater is unforgettable.
Late winter to spring; ask us about this year
Do I need any experience or a certificate?
No. Discover Scuba Diving is designed for complete beginners. You learn the essential skills in calm, shallow water before your ocean dive.
How deep will I go?
A maximum of 12 m — and often less. Your instructor sets the depth based on how comfortable you feel.
I'm nervous. Is that a problem?
Not at all — most first-timers are. Tell us when you book. We keep ratios very small for beginners, never rush skills and you can signal to stop or surface at any time.
Can my first dive count towards a PADI course?
Yes. If you continue to PADI Open Water, the skills and dive can often be credited, so nothing is wasted.
What is the minimum age?
10 years. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who signs the forms.
Ten metres down is closer than you think.
Tell us your dates and how you feel about the water. We'll match you to the right instructor, the right site and the calmest morning of your week.
Prefer to talk? WhatsApp +238 981 3729 or call us.