Ponza is steeped in mystical mythology, which legend tells was Homer’s inspiration for the sorceress Circe’s island in his brilliant tale, ‘The Odyssey’. Bordering the Tyrrhenian Sea, situated in the province of Lazio in Italy, Ponza diving features pinnacles rising from the ocean’s depths, caves, as well as several wrecks.
Scuba diving in Ponza is accessible to everyone, with shallow sites ideal for beginners to wrecks which have sunk below 80 metres and are only accessible by rebreather. On Ponza, there are dive centres offering day trips as well as several hotels/dive resorts that provide access to the sea beneath the island’s astounding cliffs.
Scuba diving in Ponza will find divers venturing the entire breadth of the island as well as to the nearby islands, Palmarola and Zannone. Diving sites range from shallow seabeds littered with intriguing rock formations and caves, such as ‘Gavi’, - which are ideal for novice divers - to walls, such as ‘Punta Papa’ which stretch to 40 metres deep. There are wrecks like the ‘Landing Ship Tank’ which is accessible for advanced divers to witness its cannons and machine guns while rebreather divers can head beyond 80 metres at ‘Wreck LCM’.
Ponza’s crystal clear waters and range of sites make it the ideal place to embark on a dive course, from the very beginner to learning how to use a rebreather.
Camouflaged in seagrass meadows, which are important refuges for juvenile reef fish, pony needlefish flit around and a wide variety of crustaceans rest on the sandy seafloor. On the sand, red mullet, scallop fish, and the lizardfish relax while in caves, it is possible to observe swarms of greater shrimp merging in the dark rooms. Groupers shelter behind the submerged boulders while observing out into the blue, snapper and sea bream patrol.
At wall sites, moray eels hide within the many ravines and burrows and Mediterranean lobsters sit sedentarily flaunting their giant claws. Scorpionfish are often seen stationed on wrecks and rocky outcrops.
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: 300
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 600
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: 190
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 120
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 60
The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species: 110
The prime dive season in Ponza is from April through to October, with the busiest month likely to be August. Expect a minimum water temperature of around 14℃ in the winter months, from January through to March, while in the summer, from July through to September, temperatures can reach a maximum of 26℃. If you are braving the cold in winter remember to don a thicker wetsuit!
