Diving Centres in Ustica

You can fly to Palermo (in Sicily) and then take a ferry to Ustica. The budget airlines visit Palermo. The Airport in Palermo is around 45 minutes drive from the Port. A taxi from the airport will cost around 50 Euros. The Hydrofoil from Palermo to Ustica takes around an hour and a quarter. The ferry takes around 2 and three quarter hours. Buy a ticket at the port before boarding the ferry; alternatively your dive centre may arrange for a ticket to be waiting for you on board. Confusingly, the "Ustica Ferry" company doesn't go to Ustica: you need the Siemar ferry. For timetable information see the FerriesOnline site

You could instead catch a ferry to Ustica from Naples. This takes 4 hours and in Summer there is one a day.

Ustica is only small. The main road which circles the island is only 9 km long. A bus travels round this every hour. You can also hire bicycles or motor bikes. Your diving centre will generally pick you up from your accommodation and take you to their dive boat.

Profondo Blu is owned and run by Paolo and Ann. Paolo is Italian and Ann Belgian: they speak Italian, English and Flemish. Profondo Blu is one of only two diving centres on the island to offer a covered hard boat. Open May until October. June, July and August are their busiest months. May or October is a good time to go as this is their quietest period. They are happy to go out even if there are only two divers. For 10 Euros non-divers can go on the boat - snorkelling whilst the divers are down or just relaxing on the sun deck.

Profondo Blu also offer accommodation in a small resort with excellent food and wine. Lunch is on shore so you can choose just to do the morning or afternoon dive if you wish. The diving is very relaxed, in small groups according to experience. A very friendly, well-run, dive operation.. Highly recommended.

Profondo Blu Ustica
Via Cristoforo Colombo s.n.
90010
USTICA (PA)
Sicily
Italia
Tel: +39 (0)91 8449609 - 3385336201
Fax: +39 (0)91 8449609
E-mail: ustica@ustica-diving.it
ustica-diving.it/

Reviews:

"Hi Jill: my son Sammy and I just got back from a week at Profondo Blu, and really enjoyed it! Thanks so much for the recommendation. Even though it was the end of the season (we were the last guests before they closed), the diving was great and the weather more or less cooperated - we'll definitely go back. Anne and Paolo are brilliant, the small resort is pretty much every thing a diver could ask for, and the food, boat and service was great.
We stayed at Visa Mare B&B in Palermo - literally across the street from the Ustica ferry. "
Tim, 2015

Open April to November.

Lustrica Diving Center
Banchina Barresi
90010 Ustica (PA)
Italia
info@lustricadiving.it
Tel: +39 339 333 1870

Open May to November in Ustica, year-round in Palermo.

Mobile: 338 88 82 236
E-mail: palermo@orcasub.it

Reviews:

"Diving center Orca are nice guys operating in a very professional mood. Prices are average for this destination. Two big RIB. Good value for money."
Francesco Annis

Mare Nostrum Diving started in Ustica in 1997, arranging dive safari liveaboards. Since 2005, a new boat changed the way of organising dive vacations, by offering full day diving and accommodation on land.

A dive boat gives you the real freedom you need to experience on holiday. No hassling with equipment at each dive, diving when you feel to, have a siesta in the refreshing shadow, eating with your feet in the water, the sun on your back, next to a good glass of wine!

The Linosa Sunshine Day Cruiser is a Dive Boat especially planned and equipped for divers. Length: 10,70 m, width: 4,10 m, sundeck, toilet, kitchen and fresh water. Full-Day Diving – min. 8 divers/ max. 14. Also the Dinghy "Gommone": no services, no shelter for single dives with up to 8 divers.

Open June to September. Other periods only for groups on request. Guided dives can be organised in full day diving or half day, with about 2 or 3 dives per day and lunch on board if arranged. You can also choose to go for single dives. Groups are divided by level of licence and experience with about 6 divers per guide. Night dives, Deep dives and Nitrox on request. Dive Courses, Discovery programs, Scuba Review, Equipment rental. Snorkelling and sea-watching, boat tours and excursions.

Via Cristoforo Colombo
Isola di Ustica
Palermo
Italy
Tel: 330 792589
Tatiana Geloso (booking & info): +39.3281698697 (English)
Danilo Genovese (Responsible Diving Centre): +39.330.792589 (Basic English)
E-mail: info@marenostrumdiving.it

Reviews:

"A wonderful week was spent on Ustica diving wih Mare Nostrum. The two young guys running the dive centre, Danilo and Giuseppe, were a lot of fun but also very professional, and were excellent dive buddies. The diving was great, lots of life - octopus, tuna, lobsters, shrimp, morays... I could go on and on. Highly recomended."
James Padfield, UK

Offer PADI and ACUC courses. Leave the port of Cala S. Maria at 9.15 in the morning and at 15.15 in the afternoon.

Hotel Grotta Azzurra
Tel: (+39) 091.6254096
Mobile: Mauro 347 175 7255, Maurillo 329 667 1353
E-mail: info@altamareaustica.it

(Diving : via Petriera snc) Piazza Vito Longo 4
90010 Ustica
Tel/Fax: +39 (0)91 844 8104
Tel: +39 (0)91 8449 914
Roberto +39 349 22 07 327
E-mail: info@laperlaneradiving.com

Piazza Umberto I
90051
Ustica
Mobile: +39.335.8210017 (Jonathon)
E-mail: info@usticadiving.it

    Name:
   Email:
Comments:
If recommending a diving centre, what connection do you have to them?
(Customer, owner, employee, relative, 
friend, contractor, supplier...)