Nestled between Corsica and Tuscany, Elba Island is the largest island in Italy's Tuscan Archipelago and offers a diving experience that truly stands out. Situated within a National Park, the waters surrounding Elba are a haven for rare Mediterranean marine life, including seahorses and bamboo sharks. Divers of all certification levels can explore hidden caves, shipwrecks, and rugged pinnacles, often described as the 'Mediterranean’s best diving'. The island's dive environments range from vibrant reefs to intriguing walls, making each dive an adventure. Scuba diving in Elba is accessible through numerous dive centers scattered across the island. Many of these centers are part of dive resorts, providing easy access to the ocean. Whether you are a beginner looking to try scuba diving for the first time or aiming to advance your skills, Elba's dive centers offer a variety of courses. The island's historical significance as Napoleon's place of exile adds a unique touch to your diving exploration. With over 150 beaches, amazing visibility, and a diversity of marine life, Elba is a paradise for underwater photographers. Popular dive sites include the Elviscot, Formiche della Zanca, and the bay of Portoferraio, promising unforgettable underwater encounters.
While diving Elba Island, divers can find themselves exploring the sunken artifacts of wrecks such as the ‘Elviscot,’ which lies only 12 meters/39 feet deep and has become a thriving artificial reef. Deep pinnacles encrusted thick with red gorgonian sea fans are buffeted by strong currents at sites such as ‘La Cala,’ while sites such as ‘Capo Enfola’ are shallow and ideal for novice divers. Gently sloping walls can be admired for the brightly colored sponges and hard coral that cling to their surfaces. Over millennia of gentle erosion, waves have cut hidden caves into the rocks.
When Elba diving, divers are sure to encounter a lot of macro life including; nudibranch, seahorse and seagrass eels. Seahorses are largely seen in the peak season from April through to October while eagle rays glide through Elba island’s waters when temperatures are at their maximum, from June through to August. Large pelagic fish such as amberjacks and tuna patrol rock formations and grouper, octopus, and moray eels are resident to the area. Occasionally, while scuba diving in Elba’s deep pinnacles, lucky divers will find themselves basking in the presence of the otherworldly mola mola. In the summer months, resting on sandy seabeds and hiding in caves, sightings of the Mediterranean bamboo shark have been recorded.
Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 200
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 27
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 300
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 250
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 250
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 3000
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 110
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 90
The Tuscan Archipelago diving season starts in April and ends at the beginning of November when the cold really starts to creep in. The best time to dive is during the months of July, August, and September when the water temperature can climb to around 26°C/79°F, but this can also result in crowded sites! During the winter months, however, the water temperature can dip down to 10°C/50°F. During this period, much of the marine life disappears, and those who intend to explore in winter will have to don a drysuit.
