Since 1995 · Sussex, Sierra Leone

Franco Diving Center is a family-run escape on the Freetown Peninsula — sea-view rooms, an Italian kitchen, and a diving school that's been running since 1995. Your home on the Atlantic coast.

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30 Years of Diving Family-run since 1995
20 Michael Street Sussex Village, Freetown
Est. by Franco & Florence Family-owned & operated
Franco Diving Center on Sussex Beach, Sierra Leone
Franco and Florence, the founders, since 1995
Our Story

Thirty Years on Sussex Beach

Founded in 1995 by Franco and Florence — a Sierra Leonean–Italian family — Franco Diving Center began as a diving school and has grown into a full coastal experience: hospitality, restaurant, and diving, all under one roof on the shores of Sussex Village.

Rebuilt with care after the war and refined every year since, it remains one of the most personal escapes on the Freetown Peninsula — a place where guests return year after year and leave as friends.

An Italian kitchen, sea-view rooms, and a diving school run by the family itself — Franco's is the kind of place that stays with you long after you've left.

Accommodation

Two Room Types, One Sea View

Every ensuite room is built along the water's edge, with uninterrupted views of Sussex Bay. Choose the comfort of a Standard Room or the generous space of a Deluxe Suite.

Standard sea-view room at Franco Diving Center

Standard Room

Comfortable ensuite rooms with sea views, hot water bathroom, ceiling fan and mosquito net — everything you need for a restful tropical stay.

Sea View Ensuite Hot Water Ceiling Fan
Deluxe suite with panoramic ocean views and premium amenities

Deluxe Suite

Spacious corner suites with panoramic views of the river inlet and Sussex Bay, premium bedding, air conditioning, mini fridge and flat-screen TV.

Panoramic View Air Conditioning Mini Fridge Flat-screen TV
Standard from
$57.50 /night
Deluxe from
$85 /night
Always
Tax Included
Dining

Italian Kitchen, Atlantic Catch

The heart of Franco Diving Center is its restaurant — a beloved institution among Freetown locals and expats since 1995. Every dish is built from the day's freshest catch, hand-prepared with the finest Italian culinary tradition.

01
Wayne's Special
Fresh lobster in a creamy sauce — our signature dish
Le 650
02
Franco's Special
Crab sautéed in melted butter and fresh garlic
Le 500
03
Fresh Lobster
Grilled or steamed with mayonnaise and lime (500g / 1kg)
Le 750 / 1,500
04
Fresh Grilled Fish
Whole mackerel, snapper, pompano, grouper or barracuda
Le 750
05
Homemade Lasagna
Baked in our wood oven — order in advance by phone
Le 500
Please note: All food is cooked to order. For dinner reservations, call ahead — especially on Sundays. All prices in SLE · 15% GST applies on most items.
View the full menu
Fresh Atlantic seafood selection at Franco Diving Center
Full Menu

The Complete Menu

Authentic Italian cuisine meets the Atlantic. All prices in Sierra Leonean Leones (SLE). GST 15% applies unless noted.

Pair any sauce with your choice of spaghetti, penne, farfalle, fusilli or tagliatelle. Whole-meal pasta available on request.

Pasta al Pomodoro Classic Italian tomato sauce — spaghetti, penne or farfalle
Le 400
Pasta alla Carbonara Ham with fresh cheese eggs — recommended with spaghetti
Le 450
Pasta al Ragu Bolognese Minced beef in a tasty tomato base
Le 500
Pasta ai Funghi Mushroom in a delicately spicy cream sauce
Le 500
Wayne's Special Fresh lobster in a creamy sauce — with spaghetti or penne
Le 650
Franco's Special Crab sautéed in melted butter and fresh garlic
Le 500
Pippo's Special Shrimp sautéed in melted butter and fresh garlic
Le 500
Fish Thermidor A variation of Wayne's Special — fresh fish in our creamy sauce
Le 450
Homemade Lasagna Baked in our wood oven — order in advance by phone
Le 500
Gnocchi Homemade, served with Bolognese sauce and fresh parmesan
Le 500

All seafood grilled on charcoal and served with salad, chips or plain rice.

Fresh Grilled Fish Whole mackerel, snapper, pompano, grouper or barracuda
Le 750
Barracuda Fillet Grilled to perfection
Le 550
Barracuda Kebab Two sticks, diced fresh barracuda with onions and tomatoes
Le 700
Shrimp Kebab Two sticks, fresh shrimp with onions and tomatoes
Le 750
Tiger Shrimp Subject to availability
Le 750
Fresh Crab Grilled or steamed — two crabs per plate
Le 500
Fresh Lobster Grilled, or steamed with mayonnaise and lime (500g / 1kg)
Le 750 / 1,500
Lobster Kebab Marinated fresh lobster with onions and tomatoes (500g / 1kg)
Le 750 / 1,500

* These grilled dishes contain peanuts.

GST of 15% not included on sides.

Chips
Le 200
Boiled Potatoes
Le 200
Fried Rice Fresh with mixed vegetables and shrimp
Le 300
Steam Rice
Le 200
Mixed Salad Tomatoes, cucumbers and onions
Le 280
Banana Split
Le 250
Fruit Salad
Le 200
Ice Cream
Le 200
Fresh Fruits
Le 150
Breakfast Omelette or scrambled eggs with bread, butter, jam, fresh juice and tea or coffee. Served 8:00 – 10:00 AM
Le 350
Diving · Since 1995

Beneath the Atlantic's Surface

Franco runs the diving school himself — three decades of experience guiding divers through the clear, reef-rich waters off the Freetown Peninsula. From first-timers to certified divers, every trip is tailored to the conditions, the tide, and the skill of the group.

Guided Dives
Led personally by Franco — intimate group sizes
All Levels
From discovery dives for beginners to advanced sites
Atlantic Marine Life
Tropical reef fish, rays, coral formations, and shipwrecks
Boat-Based
Departing from our private beach in Sussex Village
Enquire About a Dive
Experience

Sun, Sand & The Deep Blue

The resort sits on its own private beach — a sheltered tidal inlet where children can play safely while parents unwind with a chilled glass of wine. A place to slow down, breathe deep, and feel the world simplify.

Private Beach

A sheltered tidal river inlet with beach huts, lounge chairs, and a wide stretch of unspoiled coastline at low tide — often completely deserted.

Fishing Trips

Arranged by the owners themselves, head out into the Atlantic for an authentic deep-sea fishing experience.

Peninsula Views

Stunning panoramic views of the peninsula mountains and unforgettable Atlantic sunsets from every vantage point.

Beach Hopping

Easy day trips to River No. 2 Beach, Lakka Beach, and Bureh Beach — some of West Africa's most beautiful shores.

Atlantic Sunsets

Watch the sun dip below the horizon from the restaurant terrace or the sand — with a cold drink in hand and nowhere to be.

Italian Dining

Thirty years of authentic Italian cooking meets the freshest Atlantic seafood — from classic Carbonara to Fresh Lobster in creamy sauce.

What Our Guests Say

Stories from Our Guests

“

In many ways a hidden gem along the coastline of Sierra Leone. The rooms are beautifully decorated with sea views, and it remains one of the nicest places in Freetown.

— Guest via TripAdvisor
“

The fish carpaccio is possibly the best thing you will eat in Sierra Leone. This is the best value accommodation on any beach south of Freetown.

— Guest via TripAdvisor
“

The perfect place for a dinner date, a special event, even a proposal. The setting enhances every special moment you plan.

— Guest via TripAdvisor
Find Us

Come Stay, Come Eat, Come Dive

Franco Diving Center sits at 20 Michael Street, Sussex Village on the Freetown Peninsula — about 30 minutes from central Freetown, on the road toward River Number 2. Open every day, 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM.

+232 76 744 406
+232 77 366 366
fabriziomiari92@gmail.com
@fabrizio_miari
TikTok · @fabriziomiari
20 Michael Street, Sussex Village, Sierra Leone
Open daily · 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Roughly 300 metres of unpaved road links the Peninsula Highway to our entrance — accessible by car year-round. Watch for the Franco Diving Center sign on the right as you approach Sussex Village from Freetown.