Eco Dive School Cabo Verde is often praised for warm, attentive instruction and a safe feeling, especially for beginners. However, a few accounts report serious protocol issues. It works when trust clicks; when it doesn’t, the experience can linger.
When you decide to get more than your feet wet
In Sal, there are days when the sea is so calm it feels like a quiet deal with the island. On those days, diving doesn’t sound like an epic adventure — it just feels like the natural next step. Eco Dive School tends to show up right there: once you’ve been here a few days and you’re ready to go a bit deeper.
This isn’t an impulsive choice. And it shouldn’t be treated like one.
What it really is, without the poster drama
Eco Dive School works like a classic dive school, well plugged into Santa Maria’s rhythm. It’s not a luxury center and it doesn’t feel like a massive operation. It’s a place where courses, try-dives and regular outings happen side by side, with a very present team.
For beginners and low-experience divers, it often fits well. For people who value a calm, patient and attentive approach, too. For highly technical divers — or anyone carrying a previous bad experience — expectations need adjusting carefully.
What usually happens underwater
The most repeated positive pattern is clear: attentive, patient, close-by instructors. Names like Ilson, Fernando, Nando, Dudu or Claudia show up again and again linked to safety, calm guidance and solid teaching. People mention small groups, frequent check-ins and the feeling of being looked after — especially when experience is limited.
Dives are often described as enjoyable, with varied marine life — turtles, rays, nurse sharks — and a pace that doesn’t push. This isn’t about breaking records or showing off. It’s about enjoying the water.
The gear, as reviews tend to put it, is fine but not new. Some wetsuits look worn and the facilities aren’t modern, but many divers accept that as long as the human factor makes up for it. Often, it does.
Rhythm, service and atmosphere
The overall vibe is professional but warm, with jokes, smiles and that relaxed island tone. There’s no unnecessary rush — but the world also won’t stop and wait just for you.
Still, the local rhythm asks something important from a diver: trust. And this is where the balance gets delicate.
Underwater you don’t need epic. You need to feel safe before you enter.
When it doesn’t work, it’s not a small detail
Among many positive experiences, a few reviews stand out for their seriousness. Not because of minor frustration, but because of a real sense of unsafe practice. There are accounts — including from experienced divers — describing not being allowed to check equipment, weight changes made without consent, dives not explained beforehand, or difficult conditions without a clear briefing.
In those cases, it doesn’t just “go wrong”: it sticks. Anxiety afterwards, fear of diving again, and the feeling of not being listened to. They’re fewer in number, but too serious to brush aside.
The center’s response to one of these complaints offers their version and strongly defends their protocols and certifications. But from the outside, the clash is there. And in diving, when stories clash, the diver’s job is to choose prudence.
A few practical ideas before you book
Without turning this into a technical manual, a few things are worth keeping clear:
– If you’re a beginner, spread the course over more days. Less intensity helps a lot.
– Always check your own gear — and don’t ask for permission to do it.
– If something feels off before you enter the water, don’t enter.
– Ask what the dive site is and what kind of dive it will be, even if it sounds obvious.
– If you’re carrying a past negative experience, say so from the start.
The ending that matters
For many people, Eco Dive School is one of the reasons they keep coming back to dive in Sal. For others, it’s an experience they’d rather not repeat. The difference isn’t the sea — it’s the same sea — but how trust is handled.
Diving is beautiful. And fragile.
Here, it can be both.
