Underwater island: diving and snorkeling

Diving in Pantelleria is a total experience. Its jagged black coasts, crystal-clear waters with visibility up to 30 meters, and seafloors sculpted by fire. Lava walls, submerged canyons, basalt columns, caves, and wrecks: every dive is a sensory journey, a plunge into geology and memory.

The Breath of the Sea

Currents caress posidonia forests while marine creatures dance among the rocks. Octopuses, barracuda, colorful nudibranchs, moray eels, and fluorescent damselfish inhabit this vibrant, pristine environment. On lucky days, you may encounter dolphins, loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), and eagle rays gliding like shadows. Diving here feels like flying: suspended in a deep blue where light mingles with lava and silence reveals ancient presences.

Top Spots for Archaeological Diving in Pantelleria

Cala Gadir - An Open-Air Underwater Museum. One of the most beloved coves both for diving and its thermal pools at the shore. Between 12 and 30 meters deep, you’ll find:

• Wooden hull remains (likely Roman) -Stone and lead anchors -Over 100 Punic, Greco-Italic, and Dressel 1
  Less experienced divers can follow the shallow coastal route with mask and fins to safely admire the artifacts. The deeper section (down to 30 m) is reserved for experts and features a lead anchor stock and richly biodiverse rock faces.

Cala Tramontana - The Hidden Punic Treasure. In a natural setting, Cala Tramontana is also an underwater archaeological site. Just a few meters offshore at 18–20 m depth, an underwater trail leads to:

• A fishing boat wrecked in the 2000s
• Punic and Greco-Italic amphorae
• Three stone anchors
• An extraordinary deposit of over 3,500 Punic coins (264–241 BCE) depicting the goddess Tanit and horse protomes

Archaeologists believe this “treasure” was intended to finance pro-Carthaginian factions in Sicily during the First Punic War—an immersion into the heart of ancient Mediterranean trade and military routes.

Punta Tracino - Routes Through Time. Near the Elephant’s Arch and Cala Levante, Punta Tracino guards another underwater gem. At 12–18 m depth—suitable for those with a basic certification—you’ll discover:

• Stone, lead, and iron anchors dating from the Punic through Byzantine periods
• Dressel 1B and Keay 25 amphorae
• Lead ingots

Scauri - At just 8 m deep in the small port of Scauri lies a 5th-century CE Roman shipwreck. It carried Pantellerian Ware—local ceramics destined for North Africa, Italy, and the Iberian Peninsula. Among the most precious finds is a carnelian-set ring engraved with an anchor: a simple yet powerful Christian symbol. A quiet fragment that speaks of faith, a journey, and a story resting at the bottom of the sea.

History of Pantelleria’s Waters

Pantelleria, a natural bridge between Africa and Sicily, has for millennia been a crossroads of trade, sea routes, and conflicts. Its bays offered shelter, its seabeds hold ancient stories. Every dive is a journey through time: from the load of “Pantellerian Ware” ceramics found in the port of Scauri, to the submerged wrecks of Gadir.

The first underwater archaeological research began in 1999, unveiling a hidden and extraordinary heritage. Since prehistoric times, the island has been frequented for obsidian, its black and sharp stone, used to create tools, weapons, and trade items. Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, and Romans sailed these waters, leaving traces that today resurface, silent, among seaweed and amphorae.

Don't Miss

Diving at archaeological sites is not just a plunge into history: they are also breathtaking visual experiences. In these crystal-clear waters, among volcanic canyons and lava walls, it is easy to encounter schools of fish, dancing algae, and colorful seabeds.

Beyond the cultural itineraries, don't miss diving and snorkeling in these spectacular places:

• Cala Cinque Denti – clear waters and fascinating seabeds.

• Scarpetta di Cenerentola – a small cove set into the rock, perfect for those seeking silence and beauty.

• Cala Levante – perfect for dives among sea stacks and volcanic walls.

• Cala Cottone – clear waters and wild access, a hidden corner for lovers of pure sea.

• Balata dei Turchi – one of the island’s most scenic cliffs, a destination beloved by expert divers.

• Faraglione di Tracino – a natural monument immersed in blue.

• Arco dell’Elefante – the symbol of Pantelleria, visible even underwater.

• Bue Marino – ideal for snorkeling, with shallow waters and an accessible seabed.

Curiosities

• Cala Gadir also hosts an underwater webcam that allows observing the seabed in real time.

• All routes are equipped with waterproof labels, mooring buoys, and laminated guides that illustrate the underwater finds.

• Some diving centers offer wrist-mounted underwater viewers: by bringing them close to an artifact, they display descriptions, photos, and 3D reconstructions.

Experiences to Live

• Snorkeling in the shallower coves to admire amphorae and swaying algae.

• Guided diving with authorized centers: to explore the archaeological sites and the island’s most beautiful coves safely and with accompaniment.

• Mini underwater archaeology lessons before the dive.

Travel Tips

• Diving is available year-round, but the best months are June through October, when the sea is calmest.

• Archaeological dives are only accessible through authorized dive centers.

• For non-divers: the sites are also showcased in the museum or via videos and informational panels on-site.

• Snorkeling is equally thrilling—you don’t need great depth to experience the wonder.

• Equipment is provided by the dive centers.

• Content produced with the contribution of Green Divers and Dive-X.

Contenuto realizzato con il contributo di Green Divers e Div-X