The 5 best places to dive in Sicily

Are you leaving for the largest island in Italy? Don’t forget to take palms and masks to discover the most beautiful dives of Sicily and Italy!

Sicily is a region of Italy besides, that you must absolutely visit. Between its street cuisine, its exceptional beaches and its softness of living, it charms travellers at the first glance.

Cherry on the cake, it is also surrounded by some of the most beautiful seabed in Italy. From its coasts to the Eolian Islands, to Uscita and Marettimo, discover the most beautiful diving sites in Sicily.

1.Taormine, Naxos and Isola bella

In the northeast of the island, not far from the Strait of Messina which separates it from the tip of the boot, the region of Taormine has some of the most beautiful dives in Sicily. The sites spread along the coast between Naxos and Capo Taormina and on the beautiful Isola Bella in the center of the bay. This is where many scenes of Luc Besson’s “The Great Blue” film were filmed. The funds are mainly rocky, which ensures exceptional visibility throughout the season.

Grotta azzura is one of the best known diving sites in Sicily. This cave is visible on the surface and derives its name from the deep blue of the water in which we evolve. You will enter the cave by always keeping access to the surface, ideal for a first experience of underground diving. You will be dazzled by the fauna and flora that have invaded the walls: spirographs, nudibranches and shrimp are placed in the middle of the red coral.

In Cape Taormina, you will be able to observe the remains of a Roman ship that sunk more than 2,000 years ago. The marble columns he was carrying are aligned to the bottom and serve as a habitat for the walls.

Isola bella is pierced by tunnels in which yellow and pink shrimp, lobsters and sheep are sheltered. On the northern part, you may have the chance to observe Luigi, a beautiful 80-kilometre merou that is approached by the most discreet divers.

The canyon, the rock of uncle Gennaro and the gorgony will be diving sites in Sicily that will delight the most experienced divers, with depths of up to 40 meters.

2. Syracuse

Not far from Syracuse is the marine protected area of Plemmirio. The area gathers no less than 15 diving sites in Sicily, with different levels of difficulty and varied depths.

For example, the beginners will go to the cave of the cyclops, which allows to observe all the typical Mediterranean fauna, with benches of anhias, sars and solitary dorades and merouss.

On the other hand, lovers and lovers of cave diving will be filled with the many caves that dig the coasts of Syracuse. The caves of the cape, cheese, corvine or stalactites are mentioned. They have in common to offer wide passages and not to present a particular difficulty. Of course, you will have to stay close to the openings and follow your guide, but you will enjoy amazing light games throughout the walk.

For confirmed divers and divers, it is possible to find depth at the Chinese wall. This falling plunges up to 55 meters deep and is pierced by many anfractuosities or hide lobsters, murene and crabs. In the blue, it is not uncommon to see beautiful specimens of tuna or barracudas... Open your eye!

3. Ustica

The island of Ustica is a jewel of diving in Sicily, but its visit deserves! You will join her at the start of Palermo by ferry or fast boat, by a journey from 1h30 to 2h30. We advise you to stay on site if you want to enjoy all that the island has to offer, on the surface as under water.

Ustica is nicknamed the Black Pearl because of its volcanic origin. It has more than 30 dive sites, shared between walls, caves and reefs. The best known is the doctor’s Rock, which is one of the most beautiful diving in Sicily and even the Mediterranean! This rock is actually a small island, which is located right next to the marine protected area. There are huge benches of barracudas and dozens of crooks. It is possible to perform at least 4 different dives on this site, that is to say the quantity and quality of fauna and flora!

The dry of the Colombara is another star site of the island, with a drop that starts at low depth and sinks up to 45 meters. There are many fishes, especially daurades, sars and saupes.

For experienced divers and divers, the shrimp cave offers an entrance to 42 meters, which leads to a large room filled with red shrimp. In the light of your torch, you will see thousands of eyes light up around you. You will then take a narrower passage to reach the exit at 28 meters.

4. Marettimo

Marettimo belongs to the Ideas archipelago, west of Sicily. It is considered one of the most beautiful islands of Italy with Capri , and constitutes a paradise for hikers as for divers. It is located within the largest marine reserve in Europe and gathers about 20 diving sites in Sicily.

In front of the unique village of the island, the sites San Simone I, II and III are accessible to intermediate divers to confirmed. Huge sponges and multicolor gorgones create an exceptional atmosphere and serve as habitat for merous, lobsters. Look around you, the barracudas and the vivens hunt in the middle of the sea.

South of Marettimo, the cathedral is one of Sicily dives not to be missed. After flying over a large field of posidonia, you enter a huge hall at 29 metres deep. You evolve as a magnet between stalagmites and stalactites, among sponges and rays of light that give a mystical look to the place.

Not far. grotta con le due camere is a cave that leads up to two rooms in the open air, or you can remove your regulator. On your way out, you plan over a sandy area or hide pastenague rays.

5. Iles Eoliennes

The majority of diving sites on the Eloean Islands are around Lipari. They offer a wide variety of landscapes and depths, which will fill beginner divers as confirmed. It is therefore an exceptional spot for diving.

♪ formiche is a huge reef that starts at low depth, ideal for a diving baptism in Sicily. You will find colorful walls, huge rocks, caves and tunnels. The seaweeds cover the bottom and serve as shelters for the nudibranches, Spanish octopuses and other sponges.

The Secca di Capistello is a pinacle starting at 25 meters below the surface and sinking up to 50 meters. You will see the remains of Roman pottery and a huge anchor. The remains of the structure of a Roman boat dating from 300 BC are also visible.

On Vulcano, we recommend it Scoglio del Quaglietto . After longing a beautiful tomb, you enter a cave that is particularly appreciated by photographers. The inside is filled with shrimp, and the light games allow you to create beautiful effects on the clichés.

The site Cap Grosso is a vertical drop of the surface at – 50 meters. Very colorful, the wall welcomes many nudibranches. Certified divers and divers, which will reach the depth of 50 meters, will find beautiful specimens of merous and huge fish-scorpions.

On the island of the famous Stromboli volcano , don't miss it Secca di Scirocco and its beautiful gorgones! In fact, visibility is often exceptional, and allows to appreciate the site as a whole. You will see anthias, crowned serioles and maybe tunas and other pelagic.

On the island of Filicudi, the underwater archeological path of the Capo Graziano allows to discover Roman vestiges like amphores and pottery.

So, ready to dive into Sicilian waters?