cape verde???

[scapaman]

hi people thinking of going to cape verde in november to the island called sal.
anyone been there? some advice would be good pls i.e.....places to stay and people to dive with thanks.......

[mala]

i stayed in santa maria last winter and dived the south coast and some of the west coast.
there is a posh riu hotel there and most of the others on the beach front seemed ok.
i dived with a portugese outfit based in a hut on the east side of santa maria,s main beech.-sorry i cant remember the name.
some of the larger hotels had dive shops in them.

the sites i dived varied from 5m to 25m viz with constant currents and about 23c.
while i was there in dec the weather was hot and sunny but the sea conditions were pretty rough on the surface and not suited for the inexperienced.

i will definately go back.

have fun.

[Ali]

I was there in Nov for a week. The weather was wonderful, nice and sunny
As for the island not alot to do, did a trip around the island which took half a day and to be honest wouldn't do it again.
We stayed at the RIU Garopa which was really nice, but other than going on the trip we didn't go out the grounds. Apart from a run around Santa Maria one Morning
Sorry can't comment on the diving (Bloody PFO)
But there was a dive centre on the beach and a couple of dive centres in Santa Maria.
It would have been nice to see some of the other islands.


I'm sure things will have change alot by next Nov as there was craines everywhere!

Ali

[BJ]

Going next week. I'll let you know!

[mala]

Originally Posted by BJ

Going next week. I'll let you know!

take us dollars.

[scapaman]

cheers going to book rui funana just got to put the travel companies agaist each other to get the best deal.

[Ali]

The Funana and Garopa joined together. It's a big place, but was great!
We went with Thomson direct from Manchester.

Ali

[scapaman]

Originally Posted by Ali

The Funana and Garopa joined together. It's a big place, but was great!
We went with Thomson direct from Manchester.

Ali

snap mate thats who i`m going to book with i think £579 for 1 week all inclusive .so it ok then hotel.... diving ....and the people ?

[Ali]

Yeap the hotels great, the food and drink spot on (put on 8lbs in the week)
The staff were nice and friendly.
But like I said can't comment on the diving.
Would I go again Defo.

That price is good, we paid £630.

Ali

[divertim]

Liz and I were there in April this year, staying at the Riu Funana whilst we looked at property. We in the process now of buying two apartments there within 50 metres of a dive centre. Won't be ready before next Christmas unfortunately.

We did about 8 dives there which were all pretty good. Good vis and loads and loads of fish. Didn't get chance to do the Buracona Caves in the north though.

I was approached by a guy there who wants me to help him to open up the windward side of the island (Sal) and he thinks (and I agree) that we will find more wrecks there and loads more dive sites. He's living there now, and I'm going back in summer.

Sal Island, Cape Verde will grow and grow, and so will the diving. Don't knock it yet, as Sal is in the same situation now as Tenerife was 40 years ago. Watch this space.

Tim Saville