Exploring the Blue Paradise: Marine & Water Activities on Príncipe

Príncipe's coastline is pure drama – jagged volcanic cliffs plunging into gin-clear equatorial waters, hidden coves reachable only by boat, and an underwater world that punches far above its tiny size. Designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 2012, the island is as serious about low-impact marine tourism as it is about its rainforest. Warm seas (rarely below 26°C), excellent visibility from December to March, and a surprising roll-call of big pelagic visitors make this one of Africa's most underrated ocean playgrounds.

Diving & Snorkelling

Forget the over-photoshopped Caribbean reefs – Príncipe's underwater landscape is raw, volcanic and weirdly beautiful. True coral-reef structures are almost absent (just five hardy species of hard coral), but lava boulders and pinnacles are draped in electric-yellow, orange and red encrusting corals and swaying gorgonian sea fans. Visibility often tops 20–30m in the dry season.

The island's only PADI dive centre is at Bom Bom Island Resort, with around ten recognised dive sites mixing Caribbean, Indo-Pacific and genuine Gulf of Guinea endemics. Expect schools of snapper and parrotfish, lazy nurse sharks, massive moray eels, green and hawksbill turtles, and the occasional barracuda patrol. Most high-end lodges (Bom Bom, Roça Belo Monte, Sundy Praia) throw in free snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards. Top snorkel spots include the shallows off Praia Banana, Praia Burra and the little wooden bridge at Bom Bom – you'll often have them to yourself.

Whale & Dolphin Watching

Between July and October (some operators stretch it June–September), humpback whales use the channel between São Tomé and Príncipe as a nursery and mating ground. Seeing a 40-tonne whale breach beside your boat is a bucket-list moment. Spinner and bottlenose dolphins ride the bows year-round, while orcas and sperm whales make rarer appearances. Bom Bom runs half-day trips; book ahead during peak season.

Boat Trips & Baía das Agulhas

No visit is complete without a boat ride to Baía das Agulhas (Bay of Spires). Those skyscraping phonolite towers rising straight out of the sea look like the film set for a lost-world movie – think Jurassic Park with palm trees. A typical four-hour excursion leaves from Bom Bom or the northeast coast, zips along deserted beaches, stops for swimming and snorkelling, and serves a picnic on a sand spit you'll swear no human has ever set foot on before. Private full-island circumnavigations are possible if you charter the boat for the day.

Sea Turtle Watching

Príncipe is a critical nesting site for four of the world's seven sea-turtle species, including the critically endangered hawksbill ("tartaruga sada"). From September to April – peaking November to March for nesting, December to April for hatchlings – Praia Grande and several other wild beaches become nightly maternity wards. Guided night walks (strictly regulated, no flash photos, red lights only) let you watch a two-metre-long female haul herself up the sand, dig her nest and lay over a hundred ping-pong-ball eggs under the stars. Fundação Príncipe and local NGO MARAPA lead the monitoring programmes; join a patrol and you'll leave understanding why the island declared itself a zero-take turtle sanctuary back in 2009.

In short, bring reef-safe sunscreen, a mask and a sense of wonder. The ocean here still feels wild, unspoiled and gloriously empty – exactly the way Príncipe likes it.