Scuba Diving · Lagos guide
Scuba Diving in Lagos
A diver’s guide to the wrecks, the season and training in Nigeria’s biggest city.
Advertisement
Checked 30 September 2026
Diving history, not just a holiday
Scuba diving in Nigeria is wreck diving. The coast of Lagos State has almost no coral reef, but the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Guinea have left shipwrecks a few nautical miles offshore. Over the years they have been covered in coral and sponges and filled with schools of Atlantic fish swirling through rusting hulls and propeller shafts. The sites are quiet and rarely visited, so every dive feels like exploration.
When and how to dive
The season runs from November to April. Visibility is usually 5 to 15 metres and currents are common, so Lagos diving suits confident, certified divers. Beginners train first in sheltered water, then complete the PADI Advanced Open Water course, which qualifies divers to 30 metres, before joining the boat dives.
| What you need to know | Details |
|---|---|
| Where | Offshore Lagos: wrecks beyond Bar Beach and about 7 miles from Tarkwa Bay |
| Type of diving | Wreck diving; very little natural reef |
| Season | November to April (dry season); weekend dives when the sea allows |
| Visibility | About 5 to 15 metres, depending on weather and tides |
| Conditions | Currents are common; suited to Advanced Open Water divers and above |
| Marine life | Batfish, moray eels, rays, snapper, jacks, schools of Atlantic fish and sometimes reef sharks |
| Training | Evening and weekend classes over about 2 to 4 weeks; up to 8 students per divemaster |
| Health | A doctor’s clearance is required for students over 45 |
| Airport | Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos |
Getting started
Training in Lagos is built around working life, with evening classes and weekend sea dives. ScubaLagos was founded by diver Houssam Azem and operates from the Lagos Jet Ski Riders Club in Ikoyi, which provides the boat, tanks and compressors. Its students range from teenagers of 14 to divers of 65.
From our archive
About ScubaLagos
Scuba Lagos is a professional institute based in Ikoyi, Lagos, that offers quality training and diving experience to individuals around the globe who are interested in scuba diving. The club allows its members to discover new adventures below the sea. They are the first official PADI Dive Resort in Nigeria.
They also allow divers to get a PADI diving certificate in Nigeria and professional PADI instructors who make the learning experience rewarding. The institution has a lot of diving opportunities offshore in Lagos, providing personal adventurous dive sites that consist of history and marine life.
Scuba Lagos also provides divers with tanks and weights filled with compressors that are well maintained, as well as a diving boat that is professionally crewed with a deep knowledge of the waters.
Advertisement
Quick answers
Scuba diving in Lagos: quick answers
When is the best time to scuba dive in Lagos?
From November to April, the dry season, when the Atlantic is calmer and visibility is best.
Do I need experience to dive in Lagos?
Yes. Because of currents and depth, ScubaLagos asks students to complete the PADI Advanced Open Water course, which trains divers to 30 metres, before diving the offshore wrecks.
Are there coral reefs in Nigeria?
The Lagos coast has almost no natural reef. Instead, divers explore shipwrecks that have become artificial reefs, covered in coral and sponges and full of fish.
How long does it take to learn to dive in Lagos?
Classes are held in the evenings and at weekends for working people and usually take two to four weeks.