Water and Marine Activities

The archipelago consists of small islets teeming with seabirds, cliffs, volcanic formations, and waterfalls plunging into the sea… Exploring the coastline by boat is a natural spectacle! There are local agencies that organize customized boat trips to various destinations around the island; most of the excursions are for private groups of varying sizes. 

The Island
Tour: Departing early in the morning from the city of São Tomé, the return is around 4:00 p.m. You can arrange a picnic halfway through the trip on Ilhéu das Rolas, in São Miguel, or at other beaches. Be sure to bring plenty of sunscreen and a raincoat.

Ilhéu das Cabras 

Despite its name, there are no goats on this islet, but rather a beautiful view of Ana Chaves Bay and a small beach much loved by São Toméans for private picnics. It’s easily accessible from Porto or any fishing village in the north.

Santana Islet

It can be visited by boat from Club Santana or the city of São Tomé. A partially submerged cave runs through the islet and is worth a visit, whether by boat or while snorkeling. At this time, it is not possible to disembark on this islet.

COMPANIES TO CONTACT

For more information, contact:

Dive Tribe São Tomé
City of São Tomé: Hotel Pestana São Tomé
Ilhéu das Rolas: Hotel Pestana Equador
Cell: +239 987 25 60
Email: saotome@dive-tribe.com
Website: www.dive-tribe.com

Navetur
Rua Viriato da Cruz, São Tomé
Phone: +239 222 21 22 / +239 222 17 48
Email: navetur@cstome.net
Website: www.navetur-equatour.st

The cetacean family is well represented in São Tomé and Príncipe. Humpback whales (Megaptera novaenglaea) visit our waters between June and December, often accompanied by their calves. Groups of dolphins can also be spotted, though less frequently.

Best time to visit: June through December

COMPANIES TO CONTACT

Some agencies offer whale-watching trips in both the northern and southern parts of São Tomé Island.

For more information, contact:

Dive Tribe São Tomé
, São Tomé City: Hotel Pestana São Tomé
; Ilhéu das Rolas: Hotel Pestana Equador
; Cell: +239 987 25 60
Email: saotome@dive-tribe.com
Website: www.dive-tribe.com

Navetur
Rua Viriato da Cruz, São Tomé
Phone: +239 222 21 22 / +239 222 17 48
Email: navetur@cstome.net
Website: www.navetur-equatour.st

The waters off São Tomé, and particularly Príncipe, are recognized worldwide for their enormous potential for sport fishing, with world records having been set at certain times for sailfish. Some agencies and hotels have specialized in this activity and offer high-quality professional services and equipment.

COMPANIES TO CONTACT

Dive Tribe São Tomé
, São Tomé City: Hotel Pestana São Tomé
; Ilhéu das Rolas: Hotel Pestana Equador
; Cell: +239 987 25 60
Email: saotome@dive-tribe.com
Website: www.dive-tribe.com

Navetur
Rua Viriato da Cruz, São Tomé
Phone: +239 222 21 22 / +239 222 17 48
Email: navetur@cstome.net
Website: www.navetur-equatour.st

For those who prefer a more athletic way to explore the sea, kayaking is the perfect option, and some operators already offer sea kayaks designed for this activity.

Dive Tribe São Tomé
, São Tomé City: Pestana São Tomé
Hotel; Ilhéu das Rolas: Pestana Equador
Hotel; Cell: +239 987 25 60
Email: saotome@dive-tribe.com
Website: www.dive-tribe.com

Club Santana
Tel.: +239 224 24 00 / 01 to 09
clubsantana@cstome.com
www.facebook.com/gogosaotome

In São Tomé and Príncipe, there’s just as much to see at sea as there is on land! After all, we’re in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, right on the equator, where the waters are the clearest in the entire Gulf of Guinea. Characterized by a very rugged seabed, the underwater landscape offers a wide variety of features at depths ranging from 10 to 50 meters, including reefs, drop-offs, caves, and other underwater wonders.

Easily accessible for beginners, advanced divers won’t be disappointed by the waters off São Tomé. Local operators have discovered fantastic sites of increasing difficulty, including those suitable for night dives.

Naturally, each agency offers different dive sites, all carefully identified and surveyed. Even for those who have never dived before, there are opportunities to take a trial dive or a diving course taught by certified instructors.

However, we would like to mention and highlight the following sites:

Lagoa Azul
: Ideal for both beginners and experienced divers, it’s an excellent spot to observe corals, seahorses, schools of sardines, and other bottom-dwelling species. It can be explored both from the inside (from the beach and the bay) and from the outside (a short distance from the bay, with depths ranging from 20 to 30 meters).

Santana
Islet: The main attraction is the cave that runs through the islet from north to south, where you can see both reef fish and pelagic species. You’ll also see beautiful gorgonians and other corals.

Diogo Vaz
A deep-water dive for certified divers. Opportunities to see gorgonian gardens and much more on this wall, which is about 40 meters high.

São Miguel
A remote spot on the wild, untamed side of the island of São Tomé.

Sete Pedras
In reality, there are far more than seven rocks! A fantastic spot with rock formations home to corals, rays, turtles, and more.

Nanook
At a depth of approximately 15 meters, you can see corals, moray eels, as well as stingrays and sea bass.

DIVE
CENTERS IN SÃO TOMÉ

Dive Tribe São Tomé
City of São Tomé: Hotel Pestana São Tomé
Ilhéu das Rolas: Hotel Pestana Equador
Cell: +239 987 25 60
Email: saotome@dive-tribe.com
Website: www.dive-tribe.com

Surfing in São Tomé and Príncipe is starting to gain popularity. There is already a surf school in São Tomé, located at Sete Ondas Beach.

Although the waves aren’t very powerful, it’s best to bring boards with good volume. 

In general, in addition to the regular spots we’ll describe below, anyone driving south along the road should keep their eyes open, as good waves can appear at any stretch of beach or reef, depending on the tide and the microclimatic conditions around the island.

Santana
: Enter the water in front of the church and follow the coastline southward behind the cliff. Arrange a session with Marlin, an experienced local surfer who knows this wave like no one else. Watch out for sea urchins!

Sete Ondas
Ideal for beginners and children. However, watch out for the currents at this beach—it’s not as calm as it seems.

Ribeira Afonso
A peaceful spot with a great fishing village atmosphere. The wave is a right-hander and breaks at the river mouth.

Iô Grande
Another fishing village in the district of Caué. The wave is a long right-hander at the mouth of the country’s largest river. Watch out for sharks. Do not surf on rainy days.

• Praia das Conchas (São Tomé Island) - White sand and calm waters, perfect for relaxing. Surrounded by lush vegetation.
• Praia dos Tamarindos (São Tomé Island) - It has golden sand and crystal-clear waters, perfect for swimming.
• Jalé Beach (São Tomé Island) - In addition to its white sand, it is one of the most important sites for observing sea turtle nesting.
• Inhame Beach (São Tomé Island) - Near the Rolas islet. Golden sand, a preserved environment, and a beachfront ecolodge.
• Café Beach (Rolas Islet) - It has golden sand and crystal-clear, turquoise waters, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
• Praia Café and Praia Banana (Príncipe Island) — On Príncipe, some of the most famous beaches have light golden sand.
• Banana Beach, shaped like a banana when viewed from above, is one of the most photographed beaches in all of Africa.
• Jalé Beach — Wild, remote, and famous for its turtle nesting grounds.
• Inhame Beach — Overlooking Ilhéu das Rolas and offering excellent conditions for ecotourism.
• Banana Beach (Príncipe) — One of the most photographed beaches in the country, with perfect curves and lush natural surroundings.
• Boi Beach (Príncipe) — Dark sand, a wild atmosphere, and dense forest.
• Abade Beach (São Tomé) — Dramatic scenery with volcanic rocks and strong waves.