Are you under the impression that Sardinia is solely for the wealthy and famous? Well, you are wrong. Sardinia is accessible to all, offers low-cost activities, and, above all, because of its five protected marine zones, rich in magnificent flora and fauna. The beautiful seabeds truly make Sardinia one of the best Italian islands for diving.

When it comes to diving in Sardinia, you will have a wide choice of options, including various forms of diving, that will not make you regret choosing this island as the location for your 'diving holidays.'

What types of scuba diving activities can I participate in?

• From the age of ten, Sardinia provides the PADI Junior Open Diver Course to the youngest and most novice divers. This course is meant to familiarize divers with the equipment through theory courses before using it in shallow depths of 18 metres. Young individuals can also take the PADI Junior Advanced Open Diver Course to continue their fundamental training and improve their technical skills and dive to further depths. Carbonia-Iglesias, Alghero, Santa Teresa di Gallura, San Teodoro, Golfo Aranci, Porto Rotondo, Villasimius, and Cagliari are all offering these courses.

• For older individuals who are terrified of diving into the depths of the open sea, Sardinia's snorkelling activities are a suitable option. You'll simply need a mask, snorkel, and fins if you don't have any heavy equipment like tanks or regulators. Cagliari, Villasimius, Isola di San Pietro, and Sant'Anna Aresi in the south, Riviera del Corallo, Tavolara, Stintino, La Maddalena, Budoni in the north, and Cala Gonone and Cala Goloritzé in eastern Sardinia, as well as Bosa in western Sardinia, are the greatest spots to snorkel.

• The Baptism of the Sea activity is also ideal for those who cannot swim or have disabilities. This practice is a good exercise for making a dive in total safety, at a depth of 5 meters, in Quartu Sant'Elena, San Teodoro in the Marine Park of Tavolara, Bosa Marina and Portoscuso.

• The Discover Scuba Diving experience is for you if you are not yet ready for a course and are a novice who wants to try diving. Although this is not a certified course, you will learn the fundamentals and have the opportunity to dive in shallow water. San Teodoro, Alghero, Olbia, Punta Coda di cavallo, and Villasimius are all good places to visit.

• The PADI Open Water Diver Course is for young people aged 14 and up and involves a practical and theoretical component with various pool exercises before diving to a depth of 18 meters in the sea. This training in Gereameas or Teulada (Cagliari), Sant'Anna Arresi (Carbonia-Iglesias), and Porto Turistico is suitable for individuals who want to become a safe and proficient diver (Villasimius).

• PADI Dive Master courses are also available on the island for more experienced and enthusiastic divers who wish to achieve a high level of diving experience. At the end of the lessons, you will be able to organize and direct diving activities on your own. Among the locations offering this practice are Palau, Santa Teresa di Gallura, Bosa, Alghero, Santa Maria Navarrese, Orosei, Porto Coda Cavallo, Cagliari, Sant'Antioco and Cannigione.

• EFR Emergency First Response courses are also available. These are not only for divers but also for those that want to learn first aid concepts, and the PADI Rescue Diver Course, a continuation of the previously mentioned course and expand your knowledge and allow you to descend to 30 meters, are also available for the more preventative and unsafe. These classes are available in a variety of locales, including Palau, Sant'Anna Aresi, Cagliari, Villasimius, Orosei, Cala Gonone, Alghero, and San Teodoro.

What will you have the opportunity to see at each location?

- We can definitely recommend the Secca del Papa as an underwater tour in the Tavolara Marine Protected Area, mainly for two reasons: the diversity of corals and the remarkable presence of fish such as groupers, corvinas, ductus, breams, amberjacks, and sunfish.

- The seabed in northern Sardinia, in Palau, near the Bocche di Bonifacio and La Maddalena, is characterized by Posidonia oceanica plains, magnificent molluscs and crustaceans, amberjacks, snappers, and barracudas in the Secca dei Monaci or Lavezzi. In the Maddalena Archipelago National Park of the same name, the Secca di Spargi or Washington are quite famous.

- Further north, on the Marmorata rocks in the town of Santa Teresa di Gallura, you can see the famous Angelika wreck, a Greek cargo ship that sits at a depth of 18 meters. The Grotta Niedda, a 60-meter tunnel on the island's north side, is home to red coral, prawns, lobsters, and cuttlefish.

- L'Asinara, an island that was once a prison and is now a national park with spectacular coves and cliffs such as Cala Reale, Cala Tamburino, and Costone dei Tamburi, is another must-see.

- The southern portion of the island also has beautiful scenery: near Cagliari, for example, the enigmatic ruins of Italian ships destroyed during World War II may be found in the Marine Protected Area of Villasimius. This is an unmissable place, so make sure you visit this area!

- Along the west coast, on the two islands of Mal di Ventre and Scoglio del in the Marine Protected Area 'Penisola del Sinis - Isola di Mal di Ventre' you can find ecosystems rich in marine life and biodiversity. The Secca del Libeccio, for its multitude of fish, and the Secca del Catalano, for its red and yellow sponges and variety of corals, are considered excellent diving sites.

- In the eastern part of the island, you will find Gulf of Orosei, located in the National Park with the same name, and home to the Grotte del Blue Marino is famous for its fantastic stalactites and stalagmites. Diving in Ogliastra, which is known for its limestone and granite seabed, is a splendid site for scuba diving in the eastern part of the Sardinian island.

When is the best time to go scuba diving in Sardinia?

Summers in Sardinia are hot and dry, with favourable summer temperatures for diving, thanks to the Mediterranean environment and the presence of the sea. During the summer, the water temperature can reach 26°, but as you descend into the depths, the temperature often lowers below 15°. A water temperature of roughly 12° would discourage diving during the winter months, mainly because most marine life vanishes at this time.