this is a journey into a hidden world most people will never get to see, and with Nautilus Dive Center at the helm, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable experience. For our dive, we headed together with Hilda to a site known as “Cliff”, an underwater paradise just off the coast, where vibrant marine life thrives beneath the Atlantic’s calm surface.
Whenever you go for a dive, you go as a group and together with some dive instructors and dive guides. Today we got a few more traveler with us and I was able “catch” one of the with my underwater cam.
The day began at the Nautilus Dive Center, where they make sure you’re equipped with very good gear. Philipe, who runs this scuba site, did a good job with all the material.
And then there was me, clutching my GoPro like it was a ticket to another world. I’d been excited to capture the dive on camera, hoping to bring a bit of that magic back with me. Before the trip, the instructors even gave me a few tips on the best angles to capture certain creatures and how to keep the camera steady underwater—a godsend when you’re trying to film fast-moving fish without turning your footage into a blurry mess.
A lot Scuba Pro stuff means they rent quality. Everything from the wetsuits to the fins felt like top-quality stuff—no worn-out zippers or fraying seams here. I was particularly impressed by the well-maintained regulators and BCDs (buoyancy control devices). Having reliable equipment is everything when you’re going underwater, and Nautilus doesn’t skimp on that. Safety and comfort were obviously a priority.
The ride to Cliff was as smooth as the water that day. We zipped across the surface, the boat cutting through the blue, Dakar slowly fading in the distance behind us. The crew was lively, cracking jokes, and pointing out the coastline landmarks as we made our way out. I’ve done dives before where the boat ride felt like a necessary evil, but this one was part of the fun. The excitement on board was contagious.
As we neared Cliff, we were briefed one more time. The instructors explained where we’d be diving, what to look out for, and how to communicate once we were below. I loved how clear everything was—no confusion, just pure anticipation. Before long, we suited up, made sure our gear was ready, and with a final nod from the dive master, we plunged into the water.
The first thing I noticed when we started our descent was how clear the water was. As we sank deeper, Cliff slowly revealed itself—a massive, rocky underwater landscape teeming with life. I immediately switched on my GoPro, determined to capture every moment. It was a whole new world down there, one where the colors of the reef contrasted beautifully with the deep blue of the ocean.
Right away, I spotted a sea urchin with long, white spines nestled between the rocks. Its delicate, spiny exterior looked almost otherworldly, and I hovered for a few seconds, filming its intricate structure as the sunlight filtered through the water above.
Moving along the reef, I saw a handful of moray eels, their heads sticking out from the rocks, eyes gleaming as they gaped at me. Some of them were small, barely noticeable until you were right next to them, while others were larger, their long, snake-like bodies winding through the crevices of the reef. They seemed to regard me with casual indifference as I filmed them, the GoPro catching every movement of their sharp-toothed jaws.
Today I used different red filters in front of my cam and sadly I didn’t took my new underwater light with me for this trip. You see the results and I know it can better.
One of the most fascinating creatures I caught on film was the boxfish. These little guys are something else. Picture a fish shaped like a—well, a box. They have these squarish bodies and tiny, almost comical fins that flutter as they swim. They look like they’re constantly struggling to move through the water, which made them all the more fun to follow. I watched through my GoPro as one boxfish bumbled along, moving slowly but surely, a bizarre but lovable sight.
Then, of course, there was the stone fish. I’m telling you, if I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have swum right past it. This fish was perfectly camouflaged against the seabed, blending in so well with the surrounding rocks that it took me a moment to even realize it was there. Stone fish are known for being highly venomous, but as long as you leave them alone, they won’t bother you. I captured a few close-up shots, admiring how something so dangerous could be so unassuming.
At beginning ofthe dive, I spotted the underwater spider skittering across the sea floor. Its long legs moved swiftly, almost unnervingly, over the sand. It was strange to see a creature that reminded me of land life right in the middle of this underwater ecosystem. The GoPro got some great footage of it, its jerky movements playing out like a scene from some alien world.
The reef itself was alive with small black fish darting in and out of the coral. They were everywhere, moving in synchronized bursts, like tiny, dark blurs against the bright coral. Every now and then, they’d scatter as if in perfect unison, only to regroup and start again. Capturing their movement on camera was mesmerizing—I could have spent the whole dive just watching them dance around the reef.
After nearly 40 of exploring the depths of Cliff, it was time to start our ascent. Due all the extra activity with my cam, my tank went empty faster on this shallow 20m dive. I switched off the GoPro, knowing I’d captured enough footage to relive the experience back on land.
Some more relaxed divers spend 15 minutes longer with our second dive master and had some extra fun.
As we surfaced, the boat was waiting, and I clambered aboard, adrenaline still buzzing from everything we’d seen.
On the ride back, Dakar began to reappear on the horizon, the bustling city a stark contrast to the peaceful, vibrant underwater world we’d just left behind. I sat back, going through the footage on my camera, reliving the sights—the spider, the morays, the stone fish, the black reef fish darting around like shadows.
If you ever get the chance to dive at Cliff, with Nautilus Dive Center leading the way, don’t hesitate. Between the high-quality equipment, expert guidance, and the stunning marine life, it’s a dive that’ll stay with you long after you’ve left the water. And if you bring along a GoPro, like I did, you’ll have plenty of stories to share when you get back to shore.
Sure, this nice and professional Dive base need to be at the #worldmappin map and after a talk to the owner, we are allowed to leave one of our stickers to the the #ProofOfPin
You will more details about the dive center at http://nautilus-diving.com at the web.
Whenever you go there mention the #worldmappin stickers and this guy who left it there
See the sticker at their advertising at the beach.
pic by 
@Detlev loves HIVE
