Diving and snorkelling

Before talking about seabeds, something must be said about the water. Visibility off La Maddalena is not a weather forecast: it is structural. The archipelago sits where Bonifacio Strait currents move between Sardinia and Corsica, renewing the water column. Typical visibility 20–25 m even in high summer, when other Mediterranean bottoms go murky. That is the first reason divers come back — year after year.

⚠️ Secca di Mezzo Passo Secca di Mezzo Passo (often simply “Secca di Mezzo”) is a hazardous rocky shoal in the heart of the La Maddalena archipelago, Sardinia.

📍 Features and position Location: About 0.4 nautical miles south-south-west of Punta Tegge, the south-west tip of La Maddalena island.

Navigation hazard: A partly submerged rocky ledge surrounded by shallows. Follow buoys and markers carefully when transiting this stretch.

Aids: A light (Secca di Mezzo Passo) marks the rocks for vessels.

🛥️ Boating and diving Navigation: About 0.5 nautical miles south-east lies another critical area, Secca del Palau, also rocky and marked.

Marine environment: Though less famous for tourist diving than Secca di Washington, the whole area lies within the national park.

Rules: For fishing, diving, or boating, check permits and tickets required by the park authority.

How to reach the beach 🚗 The beach lies on the southern part of Caprera. After crossing the Caprera bridge 🌉, continue in a straight line. After entering the pine wood 🌲, go straight to the second junction and turn right. 🛣️ Follow the paved road without turning until you reach the far south of the island, near Due Mari beach 🌊 (also called Cala Portese), where the sea is on both the right (small beach) and the left (larger linked beaches) and the paved road ends at dirt track 🚜.

🚩 At the final straight toward the Punta Rossa gate, turn left immediately onto the dirt road to a parking area 🅿️; walk a few metres 👣 to the beach. 🏖️

⚓ The wreck on the shore The beach is famous for fine white sand ✨, but what makes it unique is the remains of an old coal ship 🚢 on the shore. The wooden skeleton, beached after a fire on board, still emerges from the water in an almost surreal atmosphere.

🏊‍♂️ Swimming among these historic remains in crystal-clear water 💎 over sandy bottom, surrounded by intense Mediterranean scrub 🌿, is a memorable experience.

🤿 Diving in the La Maddalena archipelago The archipelago ranks among the Mediterranean’s top diving destinations. Granite formations and Posidonia meadows host outstanding biodiversity: dusky grouper, barracuda, moray eels.

Main dive centres operating in the park:

🏛️ La Maddalena Diving ASD Base: Punta Tegge. Profile: The park’s historic first dive centre, with over 40 years of experience. Activities: Guided dives across North Sardinia and South Corsica. Also: Kayak, SUP, and snorkelling trips.

🔬 AREA11 DIVING CENTER Base: Via Padule. Profile: SSI-certified centre active for over 20 years. Strengths: Small groups and a team with marine biologists for deeper insight into the ecosystem.

⛺ Argonauta Diving Sardinia Base: Camping Village Abbatoggia. Profile: Long-standing PADI centre with 30+ years. Training: Full range from beginner “try dives” to professional courses.

⚓ Scuba Point Base: Palau (daily operations in the archipelago and Bonifacio Strait). Profile: PADI 5-Star Dive Center. Services: Popular full-day format with two morning dives and lunch on board.

To navigate, anchor, or dive in the protected area you need the correct authorisations.

📋 Permits — overview Requirement: A ticket is needed for navigation, anchoring, and diving.

Purchase: Permits are sold online only on the official Lamaddalenapark.it site.

Fees: Depend on boat length and duration (daily, weekly, or annual).

🚤 Navigation and mooring Distance from shore: Motor vessels must pay to navigate, moor, and stay within 300 m of the coast.

Exemptions: Non-motorised craft such as kayaks and SUPs are exempt.

Residents: Eligible for a free Seapass (5 years) for leisure, fishing, and diving.

🤿 Scuba diving Individual diving requires the specific authorisation.

🏖️ Beach rules (2025 update) To protect sensitive areas, the following are not allowed on beaches: large backpacks, cool bags, and inflatables.

🤿 Snorkelling on Caprera: paradise from the shore You do not need a boat or a licence to explore underwater wonders.

🏝️ North-east coves Coves on Caprera’s north-east coast offer shallow rocky bottoms ideal for mask and fins from the shore:

Cala Coticcio, Cala Brigantina, Cala Serena

🐠 Tahiti shoal Near Cala Portese, considered one of the archipelago’s richest snorkel sites.

Depth: Gently slopes from 1 to 10 m.

Life: Fish density you would elsewhere need a boat to reach.

Gear: Mask, fins, and the will to jump in.