Cabo Verde · Cabo Verde · Cave & cavern
Regona
A labyrinth of caverns linked by horseshoe tunnels
Area photo: Charlotte Kirchner · CC BY 4.0
Regona is a cavern dive on Sal, entered from the shore and worked at no more than 18 metres. The site is a labyrinth of chambers of varying dimensions linked by horseshoe-shaped tunnels that eventually open back into the sea, so the dive is about following the rock rather than covering distance. Big fish and crustaceans live in the tunnels, and sharks, turtles, dolphins and whales are all listed among the sightings.
Where it is and how deep
16.7952° N, 22.9945° WPublished position for this site.
The dive
You go in from the beach, and the dive proper starts as soon as the first chamber opens up in front of you. Regona is not one cavern but a series of them, of different sizes, and the guide's job is to link them in an order that suits the light and the sea state on the day. Nothing on the route is deeper than 18 metres, so the whole dive sits inside a comfortable no-decompression profile and gas planning is straightforward.
The chambers are joined by horseshoe-shaped tunnels: you swim in on one side, follow the curve of the arch, and come out where the rock opens again, until the last of them emerges into open sea. Keep your trim flat and your fins clear of the rock, both to protect the walls and to avoid stirring up the water for everyone behind you. Big fish and crustaceans hold in the tunnels and caverns, and sharks, turtles, dolphins and whales are all on the list of sightings here.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Dolphins
- Whales
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Good |
Season follows Cabo Verde: Apr–Jun and Oct–Nov bring the calmest seas and best visibility; Jul–Sep swell affects exposed sites, and Jan–Feb trade winds cool the water.
Know before you go
- The caverns are an overhead environment: stay with the guide on a known route, keep the way out in mind, and turn the dive on gas rather than on curiosity.
Dive videos
CAVE DIVE with New PADI Divemasters - REGONA cave system - 6SEPT2015 · Leo Saldunbides on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Regona?+
The maximum depth on the site is 18 metres, which keeps the whole cavern route inside recreational no-decompression limits and makes gas planning simple.
Is Regona a shore dive?+
Yes. Regona is entered from the shore rather than by boat, so the dive depends on the sea being calm enough for a safe entry and exit.
Sources
- Regona Dive Site - Cape Verde — PADI Travel
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