Radiant and romantic Italy is a European country in the center of the Mediterranean. It is surrounded by five seas, so every diver will find a place for exciting underwater explorations here.
Sunken ships of different historical epochs, the narrow caves of Punta Chiappa (Italian Punta Chiappa), the famous statue “Christ of the Abyss” in the San Fruttuoso Bay (Italian San Fruttuoso) hide under the water.
Sicily (Sicilia) definitely deserves the attention of divers. In its waters there are gorges that were formed by volcanic eruptions. There are octopuses, sea anemones, rockfish and barracudas. Sardinia (Sardegna) with its cold and clear waters is a natural home for mugil, tuna and sea urchins.
Freshwater diving in the northern part of Italy attracts divers from all corners of the world. Lake Garda (it. Lago di Garda) is famous for its caves, underwater rocks andmysterious statues at the bottom.
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The Italian island of Sardinia (Sardegna) is rich with places for diving where you will find barracudas, tunas, octopuses which scurry past the shipwrecks sunk during the war.
The Strait of Messina (Stretto di Messina) attracts divers with its underwater space and cliffs covered with starfish, sponges and bryozoa between which stone fish swim. There is something here to explore.
The Elba Island is famous for its beaches. There are 70 of them: with soft sand or varied pebbles, even “wild” ones. Divers from all over the world come out to the island to admire its coral gardens.
If you want to go diving in Italy, choose from the following: Sicily (Sicilia), Elba (Elba), Sardinia (Sardegna) and the Pontine Archipelago (Isole Ponziane). Also explore the depths of Liguria (Liguria), Calabria (Calabria) and Piedmont (Piemonte). There are famous wrecks and underwater objects.
Dives in Italy begins in April. The high season starts at the end of spring when it is already warm, and you can swim in the sea in the south of the country. In April-May the air warms up to +19... + 23 °С, water up to +18... + 20 °С.
Summers in Italy are dry and hot, but thunderstorms, hail and heavy rain are possible. The air warms up to +29 °С, the water temperature varies from +21 to +28 °С depending on the location and depth. It is high season.
Autumn is the off-season in Italy. The air warms up to +19 °С, the water temperature in the sea drops to +14... + 19 °С, it rains. The diving season lasts to mid-November.
Winters in Italy are mild and warm. Snow is extremely rare on the coast. The daytime temperature, depending on the region, varies from +5 °C to +13 °C. The temperature of sea water does not fall below +12 °С. Its a low season for diving
The Vervece rock (It. Vervece Roccia) near Sorrento (Sorrento) goes 50 meters into the deep, where the statue of the Virgin Mary and the cargo ship lie. The marine life changes depending on depth: there are shorthorn sculpins, octopuses, white pomfret, red sea fans.
In the sunken steam tug Colossus (Colossus) the cabins and galley have remained unchanged despite the active marine life in it.
There is a relatively calm atmosphere on the Italian coast. You don't have to worry about your life but the same cannot be said about your wallet. Motorcyclists rip bags from the shoulders of women, merchants with a smile cheat or palm off forged notes. Tourist robberies on buses happen often. It’s better to keep your valuables with you, because the police doesn't always respond quickly. When entering Italy it is recommended to have vaccinations (DPT, MMR, etc.) as well as to purchase international medical insurance. Despite the fact that first aid will be provided free of charge, for further medical care you will have to pay more than average European prices.
On the rocky bottom there is a high probability to step on a sea urchin whose sharp spines are difficult to remove from the body. It is dangerous to scare moray eels: their bites are painful and take a long time to heal. Weeverfish are another danger to humans in the warm waters of the Mediterranean. Their poison causes severe pain, and in large doses leads to paralysis, heart failure and convulsions.
The Italian dishes (pizza, pasta and lasagna) are world famous. But these are not all the flavours of Italy. Taste the gelato, it is thick ice cream with the addition of fresh fruits and berries, chocolate and nuts. Also, try the prosciutto, it is dried ham from pork. The perfect one is from Parma. The traditional dish of Tuscany, Cacciucco, is a thick soup of seafood, red wine and tomato juice. It also deserves attention.
Italy is famous for its winemaking. Try wines of the country. Every region has its own sorts.
Water in Italy is drunk from the tap and from special drinking fountains on city streets.
2021
