Reefwander
Reefwander
Full calendar

Destinations at their peak each month

  1. Jan167
  2. Feb183
  3. Mar192
  4. Apr216
  5. May186
  6. Jun272
  7. Jul307
  8. Aug313
  9. Sep296
  10. Oct180
  11. Nov119
  12. Dec145

Americas

Europe, Africa & Middle East

Indo-Pacific

Four red big-eyed fish hover at the mouth of a dark hollow lined with bright orange-yellow cup corals — São Vicente & Mindelo.

São Vicente & Mindelo · Cabo Verde · Reef

Ponta do Tubarao

Nurse sharks resting under the rocks inside the canyons

Area photo: Jerome Paillet (IFREMER, Laboratoire d'Océanographie Physique et Spatiale, Centre Bretagne - ZI de la Pointe du Diable - · CC BY 4.0

Ponta do Tubarao is a very exposed site on São Vicente and a spot to look for nurse sharks, which normally rest below the rock formations in the middle of its canyons. The dive stays within 18 m, but current and waves can sometimes make it demanding.

Also known as Ponta do Tubarão.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Ponta do Tubarao: typical dive to 18 m (to 60 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit18 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows São Vicente & Mindelo and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

The dive runs among the canyons that cut between the rock formations, and the search is for the nurse sharks lying below the rocks in the middle of those canyons.

Marine life and season

The sources we used don't single out particular species here.

Month-by-month season rating for Ponta do Tubarao
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGood

Season follows São Vicente & Mindelo: Diving runs all year; July to November is the high season, and August to October is the rainy season, though little rain falls.

Know before you go

  • A very exposed site: current and waves can sometimes make the dive demanding.

Sources

  1. Dive Sites – Dive Tribe — Dive Tribe

More dive sites in São Vicente & Mindelo

Reef

Canjana

Manta rays passing by at the dive's furthest point

to 20 mintermediate

Reef

Djeu Sul

Frogfish of several species and huge java morays on a sheltered rock

to 30 mintermediate

Reef

Ladra Cahorro

Starts inside a protected bay and works out to its far point

to 24 mintermediate

Wreck

Sao Macario

An 80 m ship in Mindelo's own bay, shallow enough for every level

to 15 mbeginner

Similar dives elsewhere

Reef

Alcatraz

Boa Vista · Cabo Verde

Islet rocks full of parrotfish, with groupers and turtles deeper

7–16 mbeginner

Reef

An Auter

Belle-Île-en-Mer & Quiberon · France

Labyrinths, overhangs and canyons in one shallow rock dive

5–18 mbeginner

Reef

Âncoras

Algarve · Portugal

Anchors from three centuries jammed in the rock

to 17 mintermediate

Reef

Arcadas do Judeu

Azores · Portugal

Arches through an uncommon prismatic rock formation

to 16 mbeginner