Explore Ponza

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.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Faraglioni di Punta della Madonna

As soon as you leave the port of Ponza, after having passed the Grotte di Pilato, you will find the Faraglioni di Punta della Madonna which offer both wall and cave diving starting from a depth of 4 meters and suitable for everyone. The site is easily accessible by dinghy.

323
Logs
195
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Secca dei mattoni

Located between Ponza and Palmarola, the Secca dei Mattoni is an important site in terms of archeology since an ancient Roman ship sank right here. Even today there are amphorae, finds from the Roman era and a Bourbon anchor. The site can be reached in a short time with a dinghy.

60
Logs
50
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Relitto LST 349 - Prua

This place is located in the western part of Ponza, it offers a wall full of life at the base of it lies the bow of the shipwreck from the Second World War, lying in navigation trim at a depth of 30 meters, divided into two parts and partly penetrable . Reachable by dinghy.

268
Logs
181
Divers
23.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Grotta della Maga Circe & Grotta di Capo Bianco

To the west of the island, among the white limestone cliffs, are the caves of Maga Circe and Capobianco, where with only mask and fins and accompanied by ODISSEY DIVING's dinghy, one can observe stupendous plays of light and crystal clear water.

20
Logs
14
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Relitto Kastell Luanda

Located in Cala dell'Acqua, on the west face of the island, the wreck lies at a depth of 6m. It is not buoyant and cannot be penetrated but both the propeller and rudder can be seen. Perfect site for Try scuba and snorkeling, conveniently reached by ODISSEY DIVING dinghy.

13
Logs
11
Divers
11.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Faro della Guardia di Levante

We are located in the southernmost point of the island, where Mount Guardia ends on the sea and you can see the Faro della Guardia, important for sea and air navigation. Given the geography of the place there are often currents along the walls. Site accessible by dinghy.

53
Logs
39
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility

☆☆☆☆☆ Secca di Mezzogiorno

More than a mile from the stacks rises the last reef of the Secca di Mezzogiorno with cap at - 42 meters and descends to 85 meters. Challenging dive to do in open circuit but with certain mixtures it is possible to observe the wonder of this shoal. Recommended for rebreather owners.

★★★★☆ Relitto LST 349 - Poppa

Place located in the western part of Ponza, the stern of the shipwreck from the Second World War lying in navigation trim at a maximum depth of 19 meters and partly penetrable. The propeller and engine are still visible. Also suitable for Open Water Divers. Reachable by dinghy.

159
Logs
112
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Faro della Guardia di Ponente

We are at the southernmost point of the island, where Mount Guardia ends up on the sea and you can observe the Guardia di Ponente lighthouse, important for maritime and air navigation. Given the geography of the place, there are often currents along the walls.

13
Logs
12
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Aqualung

★★★★☆ Parata di Punta Madonna

The Punta Madonna parade is the wall behind Punta Madonna, a real natural swimming pool where you can take courses, discoveries or take a dive in total relax. Characterized by stacks and walls with a maximum depth of 17 metres.

77
Logs
52
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
19.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Scoglio Rosso

Located just outside the port of Ponza, in front of the Grotte di Pilato, the SCOGLIO ROSSO offers walls full of life for both advanced and more expert divers. It is possible to reach the site very comfortably with a dinghy.

219
Logs
142
Divers
27.0 m
⌀ Depth
20.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ Cigliata di Punta Papa

A few hundred meters from Punta Papa, from 40 meters, there is this colorful wall. The dive, depending on the depth, takes place along the wall with crevices and dens. Generally you make a multilevel dive with times ranging from 45 to 60 minutes in the water; this is also thanks to the vast plateau at 5 mt.

8
Logs
5
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
16.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★★ Secca di Punta Papa

’SECCA DI PUNTA PAPA’ is one of the most exciting dives from a morphological point of view and rich in biodiversity. It is a rocky and sheer wall located outside the bay of Cala Feola. dive off curve and quite demanding (top of the shoal at -32 m). Suitable for open circuit and CCR users.

11
Logs
7
Divers
28.0 m
⌀ Depth
17.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Scubapro, Stephen Frink

★★★☆☆ Gavi

L’isola di Gavi is located at 120 mt from Ponza: it outlines a cliff morphologically varied but without obvious landmarks, characterized by passages, little caves and about three meters deep a long cave, which penetrates obliquely into the mountain for about 50 meters flowing into a dark chamber.

8
Logs
8
Divers
13.0 m
⌀ Depth
25.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares, Janez Kranjc

★★★★☆ Scoglio Grosso

SCOGLIO GROSSO is situated between Ponza and Zannone: it offers a very nice and suggestive dive site, characterized by caves and wall full of marine organisms. it can be reached very easily by boats and dinghy

25
Logs
18
Divers
30.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Ponza

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.

The best Months to Dive in Ponza

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!

Statistics

Historical data and trends

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Centers Map

Odissey Diving Ponza

Via Sindaco de Luca SNC, 04027 Ponza, LT - ITA

Ponza Diving Center

Via Banchina di Fazio SNC, 04027 Isola di Ponza, LT - ITA