São Tomé & Príncipe · São Tomé and Príncipe · Wall · Sand slope
Ilhéu das Rolas
Wall and sand dives at the equatorial crossing islet
Photo: Ji-Elle · CC BY-SA 4.0
Ilhéu das Rolas is the islet where the equator crosses São Tomé and Príncipe. The diving here mixes wall and sandy sites between 12 and 25 m, and there is no house reef, so every dive starts with a Zodiac ride from the dive centre.
Also known as Ilhéu Gago Coutinho, Rolas.
Where it is and how deep
0.0050° S, 6.5205° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dives around the islet combine wall sections and sandy sites, with depths between 12 and 25 m. The islet is the equatorial crossing point, and the dive team varies the dives on offer, always reaching them by Zodiac.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good |
Season follows São Tomé & Príncipe: Jun–Sep is the dry season with the calmest water and humpbacks present; the Mar–May rains cut visibility sharply.
Dive videos
Ilhéu das Rolas underwater · Luís Sousa on YouTube
Sources
- São Tomé and Príncipe: Africa's undiscovered dive destination — cursosdebuceo.com
- taucher.net — taucher.net
- Ilhéu das Rolas (OpenStreetMap) — OpenStreetMap contributors
Photo credits
- Low, tree-covered islet on the horizon across the sea, seen over a dark volcanic rock shore by Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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