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Franciscus, Cabo Verde

Stay in Tarrafal: see the trip Its beds, the way there and every spot near it.

Also within 20 km of Tarrafal

About Franciscus

It goes down to 21 m. You get in from a boat. It suits Open Water divers and up, as a dive guide states it. The coast faces W: swell from the W reaches it, and wind from the E blows out to sea. 1 dive centre or shop within 10 km, the nearest 0.2 km away. The sea is about 23°C in February, its coldest month (5 mm wetsuit), and 28°C in September, its warmest (3 mm wetsuit). For experienced divers the best months are usually January, February, March and April, with about 7 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Tarrafal. Within 5 km we also list 1 surf spot and 6 dive sites.

  • What it is No source states what kind of site it is.
  • How deep Down to 21 m.
  • Getting in From a boat.
  • Who it suits Suits Open Water divers and up, as a dive guide states it.
  • Dive centres 1 dive centre or shop within 10 km, the nearest 0.2 km away.

Facts: verified.

Dive centres nearby

  • Divecenter Santiago & King Bay 0.2 km

The nearest named dive centres and shops within 25 km, in a straight line; training agencies where the map states them. Listings, not a recommendation. Dive centres: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Credits

Water about 27°C: 3 mm wetsuit. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.

Visibility about 10 m. Typical for the time of year, estimated from ten years of NASA satellite water clarity, not a forecast. Clearest in Jun, Jul and Aug (about 20 m).

This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives. Ask a dive centre before you book.

Save this trip A link to come back to, or to send to the group.

Book the trip

From Chicago: about 20 h 50 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.

  1. Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to RAI, changing at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS). About 4 flights a week that month.

    See flights ORD → RAI · Skyscanner from about £415 returnAd

  2. Getting there. 1 h 10 from the airport to Franciscus.

    Car hire · Discover CarsAd

  3. Accommodation.

    Stay in TarrafalAd

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.

    Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).

    See all places to stay on Booking.com →

    Closest towns to stay in

    Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Distances are straight lines unless a drive is given: a site out at sea is reached by boat.

  4. Hire and lessons.

    Dives and courses in Tarrafal · GetYourGuideAdDive gear hire in Tarrafal · GetYourGuideAd

Everything else for the trip

Where it is

Franciscus on Google Maps · Directions

The map needs JavaScript. Every place on it is listed on this page, and each place's page links to Google Maps.

One finger scrolls the page; two fingers move the map. Pins are our own positions. Map OpenFreeMap, © OpenMapTiles, data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

Forecast

Best on Sun 18: Sea 0.5 m. Wind 8 kn gusting 12.

The score for experienced divers, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoor

DayScoreSeaWindGusts
Sun 18Oct800.5 m8 kn12kn
Mon 19Oct800.5 m7 kn10kn
Tue 20Oct800.5 m8 kn13kn
Wed 21Oct800.6 m9 kn13kn
Thu 22Oct800.7 m13 kn18kn
Fri 23Oct800.6 m14 kn18kn
Sat 24Oct800.7 m14 kn19kn
Sun 25Oct770.9 m17 kn24kn
Mon 26Oct800.9 m14 kn21kn
Tue 27Oct800.7 m8 kn14kn

Day scores are the conditions out of 80, from the two best daylight readings: a morning and an afternoon dive. Sea is the open water's waves near the site, in metres, halved for a sheltered site. Wind and gusts are in knots (10 kn is about 19 km/h); "boats in" marks gusts that keep dive boats in. This week's visibility, the current and the life no free forecast gives.

The season

Good diving days in a typical week, each month, for experienced divers, from 2016 on (ERA5 history scored the same way).

  1. Jan7of 7
  2. Feb7of 7
  3. Mar7of 7
  4. Apr7of 7
  5. May7of 7
  6. Jun7of 7
  7. Jul7of 7
  8. Aug7of 7
  9. Sep7of 7
  10. Oct7of 7
  11. Nov7of 7
  12. Dec7of 7

Typical, not a forecast: the sea and the mean wind of each day, with no gusts or rain in the history.

Rough cost

About £840–£1,615 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing. A guide from typical prices, not a quote. Dives are not priced yet: we have no sourced price for a guided dive, so they are not in it.

  • Flights £415–£865
  • To the UK airport £35–£65
  • Hire car £70–£115
  • Stay £165–£280
  • Food £155–£290

Book the trip

Getting thereAd

Flights · Skyscanner Car hire · Discover Cars

Where to stayAd

Places to stay · Booking.com

In the waterAd

Dives and courses · GetYourGuide Dive gear hire · GetYourGuide

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