Costa Paradiso • Stintino • I. Maldiventre, nr Oristano • Capo Caccia • Palau • Cala Gonone • Cagliari

Costa Paradiso

The diving in this area features caverns and caves. The visibility is generally good and it is well worth a trip. Dive Operators at Costa Paradiso...

An excellent dive. It starts with swim down a crevice to a sandy-bottomed cave at around 26 m. A large lobster sometimes lurks here. After peering into the cave you make your way up a chimney to emerge at a shallower level. Have a good look about here for a slipper lobster, Scyllarides latus. This is a primitive looking creature with plates instead of long antennae. Another lobster to watch for is the Palinurus elephas crawfish. Other animals you might see include octopus, red coral, nudibranchs, moray eels and what is believed to be the largest mussel species in the world, the Pinna nobilis fan mussel. Lo Stazzu, incidently, is the name of a hut occupied by a shepherd, one of which is on the shore near to the dive.

Descend the anchor line to rocks at around 7 m, then follow the seafloor down. Terrain is very rocky with some beautiful tunnels and caves. Covered in life: nudibranchs (and their egg spirals), sea squirts, small sea fans, delicate pink corals and so on. Larger animals include a conger eel and a crawfish - Palinurus elephas. Big clouds of chromis are also swarming about.

Rocky outcrop with caves and tunnels. Look for oOctopus, pretty corals, crawfish, nudibranchs, sea bream, moray eels and a well camouflaged Pinna nobilis fan mussel which is protected in Italy. Dive finishes at 6 m.

Take a bright torch for this one as it is a series of tunnels, canyons and caves. Descend down La Punta pinnacle and enter a cave. A short stretch leads to an entrance into a second cave. This leads to an open canyon. At the end of the canyon is a small tunnel with a large lobster. Great dive. Lots of spiny lobsters (crawfish) and a rather large octopus. Not for the faint hearted.

Multi-level dive with things to see at all depths. Gullies and pinnacles. Sandy bottom with caves and crags. Large moray, Muraena helena, and, unusually for this area, a large grouper.

Isola Rossa

Rating:

"Boat dive about 5 minutes from the Harbour. Very good visability, dive depth about 23 m. "
Mr J Shepherd, UK, 2008

Rating:

"Boat Dive about 10 minutes from the harbour. The water was cold in parts although it was the end of September and we were diing using 3 mm wetsuits. "
Mr J Shepherd, UK, 2008

Stintino

Rating:

"Like an aquarium, easy dive with many different kind of fishes, barracuda, octopus, snapper, grouper, moon fish, eagle ray, many nudibrach, excellent "
Pedro Suarez, Spain, 2006

Rating:

"Many, many barracuda and yellow snappers swimming together, big crabs, moray eels "
Pedro Suarez, Spain, 2006

"Killer seascape, lots of barracuda, big grouper, blue clear water, visibility up to 30 m. "
Darko Davilen, Denmark, 2008

Rating:

"The kingdom of barracudas. White stones around a wall. Easy dive: max depth 20 m."
Marcella Manca, USA

Rating:

"Many many grouper really close to you, eagle ray, moray eels. "
Pedro Suarez, Spain, 2006

Rating:

"Deep dive with a little caver and a big wall. "
Marcella Manca, USA

Rating:

"The paradise of divers. A lot of fish, groupers, barracudas, morays and others from Mediterranean Sea. Easy dive, max depth 18m."
Marcella Manca, USA

"Beautiful as Tumbarrino "
Darko Davilen, Denmark, 2008

Capo Caccia, near Alghero

Rating:

This is actually a series of caves and tunnels stretching over 350 m. It is not too far from Alghero in the Northwest. There are 3 entrances to the cave: two open and shallow, and one at 30 m. It really needs about 4 dives to do it justice.

"Entrance on 30 m, real cave about 35 m into the rock of Capo Caccia, very good visibility. Dive operator: Sardadivers "
Tina, Austria, 2009

"Some of the most exciting cavern dives in the world! "
Ric Vieira, 2007

Rating:

"Big Cave, entrance on 12 m. Very beautiful dive site. Dive operator: Sardadivers "
Tina, Austria, 2009

Rating:

"Entrance at 7 m, possible to surface inside. Interesting and beautiful dive site. Dive operator: Sardadivers "
Tina, Austria, 2009

I. Maldiventre near Oristano

I wouldn't go to this area specifically for the diving as the selection is limited. However, if you are in the area then don't miss the Eye of Venus which is a lovely dive. Another one worth doing is the wreck of the Vaporetto. Dive Operators at I. Maldiventre and Oristano...

Lovely dive with small cliffs, canal and rocks. Lots of little stuff like nudibranchs. The walls are coated in red and yellow cup coral (Parazoanthus axinellae).

In a marine reserve you enter the dive through a hole in the rock and swim down a channel. There is a small wall on the right-hand side which eventually turns into boulders when you will probably want to turn back. Make your exit where you started. The dive features large boulders and rock masses with some overhangs. The prettiest bit of the dive is near the entrance. Some big grouper and scorpion fish.

A small wreck in which you can swim through the ribs. One part is enclosed and you can enter. Three conger eels live on the wreck and you may also see moray eels.

Shallow dive with small arches, swim throughs and rocky outcrops. Big shoals of fish to be seen plus little stuff like brittle stars. Look for the trails of Patella fruginose - big flat limpets which move across the sand.

A very shallow dive with archeological interest. This shore dive is the site of two Roman wrecks. You can see amphora and catapult balls. One wreck dates from 200 BC and the other from 200 AD. If you look carefully at the amphora you can see that those from the older wreck are much heavier than those from the later one, showing how pottery techniques advanced over the 400 years. You can do the first part of the dive as a snorkel - enter the sea at the left of the beach and swim straight out a hundred meters or so.

Palau and La Maddalena

" In my opinion, this dive area is equal if not better than Phuket. The water is colder but better visibility and really interesting underwater landscapes. "
Sharron La Fratta, 2007

Lots of lobsters, giant rocks cover with soft corals,

Rating:

Beautiful Gorgognia sea fans in swim-through, moray eel, octopus.

Rating:

"Site reasonably close to Palau harbour (15 minutes away max). Varied dive with plenty to see during deco stop. Fish life plentiful, Conger eels, Octopus, Grouper etc. "
Tim Wilson, UK

Sea fan, nudibranches, school of fishes and pelagics.

Rating:

"Very interesting dive with lots of marine life including Scorpion fish, grouper, king crab, moray eel, conger eel, sea flatworm, hermit crab, spiny lobster, octopus and many others. "
Tim Wilson, UK

"More groupers, barracuda, jacks, different kinds of wrasses, and beautiful nudibranchs in a sheltered setting with calm clear water and very little current. Definitely a dream dive! "
John Donnelly, 2008

Rating:

"By a large lighthouse on the outer limits of the marine reserve - good drop off with plentiful fish and crustacean life - couple of King Crabs close up (as it was mating season). "
Tim Wilson, UK

Rating:

"In the La Maddalena Marine Reserve,up close and personal with more groupers than I could count. In 7 years of recreational diving it is like nothing I have seen before."
John Donnelly, 2008

"Groupers"
Zbigniew Roguszka, Poland, 2007

Rating:

"Wreck"
Zbigniew Roguszka, Poland, 2007

Rating:

"Aircraft's engine "
Zbigniew Roguszka, Poland, 2007

The archipeligo of La Maddalena is designated a national park and hence is a popular diving destination.

Cala Gonone, East Sardinia

"Sea life average but beautiful clear sea and interesting terrain. "
Paul Millner, UK, 2009

Rating:

"WWII supply ship - intact except for mid section - lies in 32 m. Dive operator: Argonauta Diving. "
Paul Millner, UK, 2009

Rating:

"WWII beach landing ship - intact and upright - lies in 32 m. Dive operator: Argonauta Diving. "
Paul Millner, UK, 2009

Rating:

"Huge boulder filed with lots of overhangs and swim throughs. Dive operator: Argonauta Diving. "
Paul Millner, UK, 2009

Cagliari

The gulf of Cagliari contains many WWII wrecks.

The Romagna was sunk in 1943 by a mine. The wreck is split in two, 800 m apart so two dives are needed to see it all. Lots of anthias, black brittle stars and large scorpion fish.

The Entella lies at 9 - 15 m. It was part of a convey in 1943 with two other ships, the Isonzo and the Loredan. The convoy was attacked by the British submarine Safari and the Isonzo and Loredan were sunk outside Torre delle Stelle in over 50 m of water. The Entella headed for shore where her captain scuttled her. It is semi-submerged in sea-grass. An easy dive.

Rating:

"A lot of life as sponges, octopus, parazhoantus, scorpionfish. "
Giuliano, Sardinia Scuba, 2007

Rating:

"Sometimes lots of barracudas swimming through huge rocks. Some current. Red gorgonias and corals. "
Giuliano, Sardinia Scuba, 2007

Capo Carbonara, East of Cagliari in the south of the Island, is also a marine reserve.

One of the best wrecks in Sardinia. The current can be fierce especially near the surface. A 65 m long German ship sunk in 1943. The stern is well preserved but the bow is broken up.

This area, south of the Gulf of Olbia in the North East, is a marine reserve.

Rating:

"Advanced diving in on of the best Mediterranean spots, gorgonias, giant groupers, mooray eels, and sometimes tuna and sharks! "
Andrea, Italy, 2007

Rating:

"Easy dive but lots of life and great light! "
Andrea, Italy, 2007

Further Reading

Sardinia

by Dana Facaaros and Michael Pauls, Paperback, Cadogan Guides, 308 pages, (2006)
Very good on Sardinian history and cuisine. Includes the normal sections on getting there, opening hours, festivals, money, etc. Small amount on where to stay or eat but plenty of information on beaches, ancient sites, churches and general site-seeing. Recommended
Buy with 20% off from Amazon.co.uk
Buy from Amazon.com

Sardinia Diving Guide

by Egidio Trainito, Paperback, Swan Hill Press, (1997)
Excellent photography and includes descriptions of the sea life in Sardinia. Thirty-one dive sites around the island are described.
Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Carta dei Diving in Sardegna

Edited by Carlo Delfino.
A map and booklet featuring 80 dive sites and centres. Unfortunately, as far as we know, this is only available in Italian from shops in Sardinia.

Sea Fishes and Invertebrates of the Mediterranean

by Lawson Wood, Paperback, New Holland Publishers, 128 pages, (2002)
Covers 289 species with colour photographs
Buy with 20% off from Amazon.co.uk
Buy from Amazon.com

Complete Mediterranean Wildlife

by Paul Sterry, Collins, 384 pages, (2000).
Buy from Amazon.co.uk

Your Comments

Have you dived in Sardinia? Let us know about the dive sites, accomodation, dive centre and anything else you feel like mentioning. If you've questions about Sardinian diving then why not post a message on our Diving Board forum?.

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