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Italy

© iStock/RudyBalasko

Explore Italy

Italy, nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, offers a unique diving experience that combines rich history with vibrant marine life. With 7,600 km of coastline and 450 islands, Italy presents a range of diving environments from the clear, tropical-like waters of Sicily and Sardinia to the pelagic-rich Tuscan Archipelago. Divers can explore shipwrecks that bear historical significance, a testament to the area's bustling maritime history. The variety of dive sites caters to everyone, from beginners enjoying their first drift dive to technical divers seeking deeper adventures. One of the remarkable diving experiences in Italy includes the submerged city of Baia near Naples. Here, divers can explore ancient Roman villas, mosaic floors, and columns that rise from the seabed, offering a glimpse into the past. Seasonal visitors like the ocean sunfish and playful dolphins add to the underwater allure. Inland, Lake Garda provides an exceptional freshwater wall diving experience. Italy's dive centers and resorts offer diverse courses and trips, from shore dives to liveaboards exploring the marine life-rich waters of the Tuscan Archipelago, where eagle rays and barracuda abound. Overall, diving in Italy is a blend of natural beauty and historical intrigue, making it a standout destination for those seeking adventure and cultural enrichment underwater.

Power Plug Type
C, F, L
Payment Method
VISA, MC, AMEX, DC, Cir, Plus
Tipping
5–10% / Service Staff / Tipping is appreciated in restaurants and cafés, though a service charge (“coperto”) is often included.
Currency
EUR
Dial Code
+39
Electricity
230V / 50Hz
Time
UTC+1, UTC+2

Top Regions to Explore

Upcoming Events

Dive Centers

Dive Sites

Top Wildlife Sightings in Italy

The Meditteranean Sea holds a unique array of creatures. While diving on wrecks, statues, and pristine reefs divers will discover giant moray eel and the venomous scorpion fish - so make sure not to touch! Lobster, octopus, conger eel, and seahorse are seen among incredible coral formations and fabulous gorgonian sea fans that are unlike any other found in the world. While sailing via liveaboard on the Tuscan Archipelago, diving Elba and its surrounding islands will find divers encountering pelagic species. Schooling barracuda, groupers, yellowtail tuna and amberjack are often seen at these offshore dive sites as well as eagle rays arriving from the deeper blue. During the right season, lucky divers may experience dolphin and whale sightings!

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 approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

28k Sightings
J
95
F
121
M
224
A
803
M
2.2k
J
4.3k
J
6.5k
A
7k
S
3.9k
O
1.9k
N
658
D
208

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

18k Sightings
J
14
F
16
M
35
A
355
M
1.4k
J
3.1k
J
4.3k
A
4.1k
S
2.7k
O
1.4k
N
443
D
60

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

7.7k Sightings
J
25
F
52
M
68
A
242
M
677
J
1.5k
J
2k
A
1.7k
S
812
O
389
N
116
D
55

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

1.2k Sightings
J
3
F
1
M
3
A
6
M
27
J
155
J
362
A
523
S
74
O
9
N
6
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

29k Sightings
J
50
F
46
M
140
A
674
M
2.2k
J
4.6k
J
7k
A
7.7k
S
4.3k
O
2k
N
652
D
178

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

10k Sightings
J
15
F
14
M
38
A
189
M
754
J
1.7k
J
2.4k
A
2.7k
S
1.3k
O
682
N
162
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

5.9k Sightings
J
33
F
23
M
80
A
224
M
484
J
807
J
1.4k
A
1.4k
S
836
O
373
N
165
D
70

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Perch

Perch

5.4k Sightings
J
144
F
139
M
181
A
240
M
377
J
759
J
1.3k
A
768
S
557
O
490
N
307
D
186

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

4.9k Sightings
J
21
F
39
M
67
A
198
M
515
J
671
J
1.1k
A
1.2k
S
610
O
332
N
61
D
35

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 5

Pike

Pike

2.8k Sightings
J
79
F
86
M
132
A
141
M
218
J
300
J
541
A
374
S
306
O
249
N
193
D
131

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

1.8k Sightings
J
1
F
1
M
13
A
23
M
74
J
206
J
405
A
600
S
321
O
109
N
34
D
4

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

1.6k Sightings
J
3
F
9
M
5
A
16
M
70
J
133
J
466
A
514
S
290
O
94
N
29
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 190

Conger Eel

Conger Eel

1.6k Sightings
J
6
F
8
M
14
A
44
M
142
J
240
J
391
A
395
S
183
O
101
N
18
D
22

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Spiny Lobster

Spiny Lobster

838 Sightings
J
7
F
33
M
29
A
67
M
83
J
163
J
168
A
150
S
76
O
24
N
23
D
15

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 7000

Crab

Crab

764 Sightings
J
2
F
13
M
6
A
25
M
63
J
78
J
176
A
264
S
74
O
46
N
6
D
11

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