- Best season
- November to May
- Water temperature
- 22–29°C
Updated September 2026 · Sources cited: padi.com, divessi.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- Dakar is recognized as one of the world's largest boat cemeteries, making wreck diving a signature experience here.
- Most diving is day-boat accessible from the N'Gor and Soumbédioune areas; no liveaboard dependency needed for typical visits.
- Conditions are most predictable November to May; June–October seas are rough and visibility drops significantly.
- Nautilus Diving (PADI 5-Star IDC Resort) at Hotel La Madrague in N'Gor and Oceanium Dakar are the main established operators offering courses, equipment rental, and guided dives.
- Gorée Island has 30+ dive sites and is easily reached by ferry (~25 minutes from Dakar), making it a convenient day trip addition.
- Shore diving is limited; most sites require day-boat access.
- Advanced certifications or higher are required for some wreck and deeper sites (35 meters).
- Summer (June–December) is peak tuna season, making pelagic sightings more likely.
- Dakar's dive market is small but reliable; Nautilus has operated for over 20 years and holds top-tier PADI credentials.
- Best diving season is November–May (calmer seas, better visibility); June–October features rougher seas and reduced visibility.
- Water temperatures range from 22–27°C; bring appropriate wetsuits for the cooler months.
- Most local dive shops experience seasonal staffing and may have weekend-only schedules during off-season — contact ahead to confirm availability.
- Dive sites include wrecks, rocky outcrops, and reef dives around Ngor Island and the Madeleine Islands; most accessed by short boat rides from the city.
Dive Sites And Conditions
- Overview
- Dakar offers dive sites accessible primarily via day boat from the peninsula, with over 50 documented sites featuring wrecks, reefs, walls, and volcanic formations. Most sites are reachable within 15 minutes by boat from shore operators based in N'Gor and Soumbédioune. Shore diving is limited but available at select locations.
- Best Season
- November to May (dry season with calmer seas and improved visibility); June to October has rougher seas and reduced visibility
- Accessibility
- Day boat accessible from operators at N'Gor and Soumbédioune; most major sites reached in under 15 minutes. Liveaboard diving is not the dominant model here — most diving is day-trip oriented from the peninsula.
Dive Sites
ÎLe De Gorée (Goree Island)
- Type
- Reef / Mixed
- Depth Range
- 10–30 meters typical
- Marine Life
- Surgeonfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, sea urchins, small red sea anemones, occasional larger pelagics
- Certifications
- All levels
- Travel Time From City
- Ferry + boat ~30 minutes
- Description
- Major hub with over 30 documented dive sites off its shore. Shallow baptism sites and sandbank areas suitable for beginners. Sandy and rocky beds with submerged structures. Boat traffic is significant due to island tourism.
Tacoma Wreck
- Type
- Wreck
- Depth Range
- Variable, suitable for experienced divers
- Marine Life
- Groupers, schools of fish, large fish populations
- Certifications
- Advanced+
- Travel Time From City
- Boat ~20 minutes (marked by navigation buoy on Dakar–Gorée ferry route)
- Description
- British World War II warship bombed in Dakar harbor and sunk on the ferry route. Historically significant dive with large fish population.
Ngor Island / N'Gor Peninsula (30+ Sites)
- Type
- Reef / Wall / Mixed
- Depth Range
- 10–30 meters for most recreational dives; some wrecks 30+ meters
- Marine Life
- Groupers, carp, sea breams, rays, parrotfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, rare species, nurse sharks, African stingrays, octopus, frogfish, gregarious green turtles
- Certifications
- All levels; advanced sites available
- Travel Time From City
- Boat less than 15 minutes from N'Gor beach (within walking distance of city)
- Description
- Extensive network of dive sites accessed from N'Gor, the closest major diving location. Cliffs, walls, ancient riverbeds, rocky ridges covered in sea fans, sponges, and red coral. Volcanic relief with striking underwater topography. Sites range from sheltered to drift diving.
- Special Notes
- Nitrox available at N'Gor dive sites
Falaises (Cliffs) Dive Site
- Type
- Wall
- Depth Range
- 22 meters maximum
- Travel Time From City
- Boat from N'Gor/Soumbédioune, ~15 minutes
- Description
- Three cliff formations set against sandy bottom. Circumnavigation circuit around cliffs returns to starting point. North side is deeper; south side closer to breaking waves.
Almadies Point Reef
- Type
- Reef
- Depth Range
- Up to 30 meters
- Marine Life
- Octopuses, Balistes, surgeon fish, moray eels, crabs, shrimps, lobsters, cicadas
- Travel Time From City
- Boat from Dakar peninsula, ~15 minutes
- Description
- South-facing reef with less relief but abundant life. Known for octopus, fish, and night diving. Gorgonians in multiple colors at depth.
- Special Notes
- Night dives particularly rewarding for discovering nocturnal fauna
Gouye Tan Mbot
- Type
- Reef / Volcanic
- Marine Life
- Diverse marine life attracted to volcanic relief
- Travel Time From City
- ~5 km from Nautilus Diving club (N'Gor area)
- Description
- Volcanic relief creating striking underwater topography with natural refuges for marine life. Amateur and professional diver appeal.
Seminole Bank
- Type
- Shoal
- Visibility
- Good, up to 30 meters
- Depth Range
- Up to 35 meters
- Certifications
- Advanced Open Water minimum
- Travel Time From City
- 5.3 miles southwest of Gorée Island (boat ~40 minutes)
- Description
- Unique rock formations with almost mountain-like shapes. Difficult to find; requires advanced open water certification or higher. Rays often seen in sandy areas.
Mbao Wreck Cemetery
- Type
- Wreck
- Depth Range
- Variable
- Marine Life
- Groupers, surgeonfish, angelfish, parrotfish, butterflyfish, moray eels, damselfish
- Travel Time From City
- Accessible from Dakar area
- Description
- Multiple sunken vessels created as a government-backed marine conservation project to prevent trawling and create artificial reef habitat. Accessible to all diver levels. Wreck density makes it an unusual dive experience.
Russian Trawler Wreck (Suk)
- Type
- Wreck
- Depth Range
- 35 meters maximum
- Certifications
- Expert+
- Travel Time From City
- Boat from Dakar, ~20–25 minutes
- Description
- Sunk in 2005. One of the largest wrecks in Dakar. Lying on its side with upper deck rising to significant height and descending to depth. Holds can be visited by expert divers only.
Yoff Island
- Type
- Reef / Mixed
- Certifications
- Experienced
- Travel Time From City
- North coast, accessible by boat from Dakar
- Description
- Almost like a peninsula off the north coast; a hub for local fishing. Site offers parrotfish, butterflyfish, angelfish. Experienced divers due to possible strong currents.
ÎLes De La Madeleine (Madeleine Islands)
- Type
- Reef / Marine Protected Area
- Marine Life
- Fish, corals, marine birds (cormorants, Northern Gannets)
- Certifications
- All levels
- Travel Time From City
- 3 kilometers off Dakar coast, ~10 minutes by boat
- Description
- National Park established 1976. Uninhabited marine sanctuary. Shallow sites ideal for beginners and Try Scuba; depths vary with tide and sea conditions. Sandy bottom areas. Known for coral and fish life.
Water Temperature
- Celsius
- 25
- Fahrenheit
- 77
- Best Period
- June to December
- Note
- Range 25–29°C during this period; cooler 22–27°C November to May
Certifying Bodies And Levels
PADI
- Notes
- PADI 5* IDC Resort available. TecRec technical diving also offered.
Levels Commonly Offered
- Discover Scuba Diving
- Open Water
- Advanced Open Water
- Rescue Diver
- Divemaster
- Instructor Development Center (IDC) training
CMAS
- Notes
- Operators in the area also hold CMAS instructor credentials.
Levels Commonly Offered
- Recreational certification courses
SSI
- Notes
- Available at Nautilus Diving.
Levels Commonly Offered
- Basic Freediver certification
- Navigation specialty
Major Named Operators
Nautilus Diving
- Status
- PADI 5* IDC Resort
- Contact
- +221 77 637 14 22
- Location
- Hotel La Madrague, Plage de Ngor, Dakar
- Languages
- English, Spanish, French
- Credentials
- PADI Course Director on staff; PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer; TDI technical instructor; offers PADI and SSI certifications
Operator Density
Approximately 2 documented operators actively serving the Dakar market, with several dive shops reported to be in operation. Business can be seasonal with variable hours — dive shops may have limited weekday availability during slow periods.
Freediving Crossover
Nautilus Diving offers SSI Basic Freediver certification alongside scuba courses. No evidence of other operators commonly offering freediving courses; freediving availability appears limited to the primary PADI/SSI center.
AI-generated estimateData refreshed September 2026
Sources cited for this category
These are the sources cited in this scuba diving research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.
More About Dakar
Data last updated September 2026 · Verify anything important.