Diving in Naples & Campania
Why dive here
Naples & Campania offers some of Italy's richest diving, with 136+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, hammerhead sharks, mobula rays (devil rays), octopuses and sea turtles.
Diving in Naples and Campania? We’re talking about more than just a dip. You’re literally swimming through history here, especially at the Baia Underwater Archaeological Park. Seeing those ancient Roman villas and mosaic floors, now home to darting damsel fish and curious brown combers, it’s genuinely surreal. Beyond Baia, the volcanic coastline is a gift to divers. Think dramatic drop-offs, caves that beg exploration, and arches draped in vibrant Devonshire cup coral. We love seeking out the more unusual creatures here, like the Rufus snake eel slithering in the sand or the surprisingly charming odd bobtail squid. Visibility can vary, but on a good day, the light filtering through the arches is incredible. The wrecks are a particular highlight for us, often encrusted with bottleneck sea cucumbers and patrolled by conger eels. We’d suggest visiting in late spring or early autumn; the water is warm, and the summer crowds have thinned out, making for a much more peaceful experience. Just be ready for some boat traffic, it’s a busy bay.
Naples & Campania Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Naples & Campania
Naples & Campania Dive Sites
123 dive sites in Naples & Campania
A. MAVONA
We love A. Mavona not just for the history, but for how the Mediterranean has reclaimed it. This isn't a deep dive, sitting at a maximum of 6 metres, which makes it perfect for longer bottom times and really soaking in the atmosphere. You’re exploring the remains of a German patrol boat, sunk during World War II, and it's surprisingly intact in places. We’ve finned through open sections, almost feeling the chill of history, while schools of damselfish flit through the rusted metal. The main draw here is the way the wreck has become an artificial reef, draped in colourful sponges and anemones. You’ll spot nudibranchs browsing the hull, and octopuses often peek out from shadowy crevices. We’d suggest going on a calm day; even at this shallow depth, surge can kick up the sand and reduce visibility, making it harder to appreciate the finer details. It’s a site for divers who appreciate accessible history and the resilience of marine life.
AMELIA S
The Amelia S, resting at a gentle 17 metres in the Bay of Naples, is a lovely wreck dive that we always recommend for divers looking for something a bit different. She went down back in 1971, not from a storm or a collision, but from a rivet failure – a real ‘oops’ moment for the shipbuilders. Now, nearly fifty years on, she's an artificial reef absolutely covered in life. When you drop down, the first thing you notice is the sheer volume of silversides shimmering around the superstructure. It's like diving into a cloud of glitter, particularly on a sunny afternoon. We love poking around the bridge area, where you can often spot inquisitive octopus peeking out from behind a growth of yellow sponges, or the occasional moray eel nestled deep in a crack. The visibility here can be excellent, especially outside of peak summer. We’d suggest going early in the morning to get the best light filtering through the water and to avoid any potential boat traffic from the nearby marinas. It’s an easy wreck to navigate, relatively intact, and a really atmospheric dive for anyone who enjoys a bit of history with their marine life.
ANNA MARIA JEVOLI
The Anna Maria Jevoli isn't one of those big, deep wrecks, but it's our pick for a really atmospheric dive, especially if you're into history and close-up marine encounters. Lying shallow, around 10 meters, it's perfect for a longer bottom time, giving you plenty of scope to explore. We love how the light plays on the deck, filtering through the water and illuminating all the nooks and crannies that have become home to a surprising amount of life. The wreck itself is scattered, not a fully intact ship, but that’s part of its charm. You’ll find sections of hull, ribs, and machinery, all encrusted with sponges and anemones. Look closely and you’ll spot octopus peeking out from shadows, moray eels coiled in pipes, and shoals of damselfish darting between the metalwork. It feels like a genuine archaeological site, a quiet place where you can almost hear the echoes of its past. We'd suggest going on a calm day; the visibility is usually pretty good here, but flat water makes it even better for photography. It's an easy dive, ideal for anyone who appreciates the beauty of a wreck reclaimed by the sea.
ANNUNZIATA MADRE
The Annunziata Madre is a proper dive, a deep slice of history sitting quietly on the seabed. She was a merchant ship, torpedoed in 1943 during WWII, and her stern is still largely intact, upright in the sand at 14 metres. We love how accessible she is, even for newer divers getting their first taste of wreck diving. You can swim through the main cargo hold, a wide-open space now home to schools of glinting damselfish and the occasional inquisitive octopus peering from the shadows. The bow section is more broken up, scattered debris forming mini-reefs where we’ve often spotted colourful nudibranchs grazing. The light filters down beautifully on a sunny day, illuminating the wreck's skeletal structure. It’s not a drift dive, just a gentle exploration, giving you time to really absorb the atmosphere. We'd suggest aiming for a calm morning; visibility can drop after a strong southerly wind, but generally, it's clear enough to appreciate the scale.
ASHANTI PALM
The Ashanti Palm is a proper old-school wreck, and we love it for its story. This steamship met a dramatic end in 1962, pushed onto the breakwater during a storm. Now, she rests upright in just 5 metres of water, making her ideal for newer divers or anyone wanting a relaxed, long bottom time. You’ll weave through the collapsed deck structures, seeing sunlight dapple the hold where schools of damselfish now dart in and out. The ship's bow, crumpled from its impact, tells a clear tale of its final moments. What we really enjoy here is the way the wreck has become part of the seascape. You’ll spot nudibranchs grazing on the metal, conger eels peeking from shadowy crevices, and often, a large grouper lurking near the deeper sections of the hull. It's a surprisingly vibrant spot for such a shallow wreck. We’d suggest an early morning dive to avoid any boat traffic, especially in summer. The visibility can be excellent, though a westerly wind can stir things up a bit. It’s a great site for photographers too, with plenty of interesting angles and natural light.
Baia Underwater Archaeological Park
The Bottle Dive, off Scotland's West Coast, lives up to its name. You’ll find a seabed littered with old bottles and other historical debris, offering a unique glimpse into local maritime activity. It’s a quiet dive, often with good visibility depending on the day, best suited for divers who enjoy exploring history and submerged artifacts rather than chasing big pelagics. We’d suggest it for an easy second dive.
Banco di Santa Croce
Banco di Santa Croce is a straightforward dive, well-suited for beginners looking to get comfortable in the area. Dropping to 31 meters, you'll find a gently sloping seabed. We often see scorpionfish tucked into the rocks and various small Mediterranean wrasse species darting about. It’s a good spot for a relaxed dive, especially if you're keen to take your time and practice buoyancy.
BETTOLINA (POSSIBLY)
The Bettolina, or what we strongly suspect is the Bettolina, offers a proper historical dive just off the Campania coast. Dropping to 33 metres, this isn't a beginner's wreck, but for those comfortable with depth, it's a beauty. We love poking around the bow, where the light plays off the collapsed superstructure. You’ll feel the chill of the thermocline as you descend, but the visibility usually opens up nicely once you’re on the wreck. This isn't some intact museum piece, it's a working wreck, broken but full of character. Moray eels peer from shadowy crevices and schools of small fish drift through the hold. We'd suggest going in the morning; the light penetration is better, and you avoid the afternoon boat traffic. It’s a dive that rewards slow exploration rather than a quick swim-through.
BOA (Secche di Tor Paterno
The BOA at Secche di Tor Paterno offers an intermediate dive in the Mediterranean, generally reaching around 24 meters. You'll find a rocky seabed here, often dotted with gorgonians and a good chance of spotting various schooling fish. It's a straightforward dive, making it a solid choice for those comfortable with their buoyancy looking for a relaxed exploration rather than dramatic topography. We often see nudibranchs on the rocks if you take your time.
BOMBARDIERE
The Bombardiere isn't your typical postcard Mediterranean wreck dive, and that's precisely why we love it. This isn't some ancient Roman galley, but a modern barge, sunk in the last few decades. It’s a purposeful, deep dive, sitting upright and mostly intact on a flat sandy bottom at 30 metres. We found the visibility here can be surprisingly good, especially on a calm morning, letting the light filter down through the water column and illuminate the wreck’s steel bones. What makes it special? The sheer scale and the way marine life has completely taken over. We're talking big schools of barracuda circling the superstructure, and moray eels peeking out from every crevice. You can penetrate parts of the holds, though we’d suggest good buoyancy and a torch, as it gets dark in there quickly. For experienced wreck divers, it’s a proper exploration, a tangible connection to recent maritime history, and a chance to see how quickly the sea reclaims what's hers. We think it’s one of the more underrated wrecks in the area, perfect for those looking for something a bit more substantial than a shallow reef potter.
BONACCIA
Bonaccia isn't just another wreck dive; it's a deep blue journey into history off the coast of Naples. We love how this sailing vessel, resting at 48 meters, still holds a sense of its past life, even after all these years. Descending through the calm, often startlingly clear Mediterranean water, the form of the ship slowly emerges from the gloom, its wooden structure softened by time and encrusted with life. You’ll find schools of shimmering damselfish darting through the skeletal rigging, and octopus peeking from shadowy crevices within the hull. Our favourite part is the way the light filters down, creating an ethereal glow around the wreck, making the exploration feel genuinely profound. It’s a dive for those comfortable with depth, offering a quiet, contemplative experience rather than a riot of colour. We'd suggest going on a weekday morning to beat any potential boat traffic and to enjoy the serene descent undisturbed.
Bracciano
Bracciano is a straightforward shore dive near Naples, ideal for beginners or those getting back in the water. It’s shallow, only reaching 11 metres, with conditions usually calm enough for comfortable skill refreshing. You'll find a few small boulders and patches of seagrass, often with pipefish or small blennies tucked away. We'd suggest it for check dives or a relaxed afternoon if you're local.
Naples & Campania Dive Centres
35 dive shops and operators in Naples & Campania
ABYSS DIVERS TORRE FLAVIA DIVING
Acquazzurra
A.S.D. BLUE & BLUE DIVER CLUB VITERBO
ASD Pro Diving
A.S.D. ROMA SUB
ASD UP AND DOWN
BANCO DI SANTA CROCE DIVING
Centro Sub Campi Flegrei
Ocean Wildlife in Naples & Campania
136 species recorded in Naples & Campania
Naples & Campania Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Naples & Campania, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:24
Sunset
18:53
Daylight
13h 29m
Golden Hour
18:16
First light (dawn) at 04:56 · Last light (dusk) at 19:22
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 07:30 | 17:00 | 9h 30m |
| Feb | 07:03 | 17:38 | 10h 36m |
| Mar | 06:20 | 18:11 | 11h 51m |
| Apr | 05:29 | 18:44 | 13h 15m |
| May | 04:49 | 19:16 | 14h 27m |
| JunLongest | 04:33 | 19:40 | 15h 7m |
| Jul | 04:45 | 19:38 | 14h 53m |
| AugNow | 05:14 | 19:08 | 13h 53m |
| Sep | 05:45 | 18:19 | 12h 33m |
| Oct | 06:16 | 17:28 | 11h 12m |
| Nov | 06:52 | 16:49 | 9h 56m |
| DecShortest | 07:24 | 16:38 | 9h 14m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Naples & Campania.
Where to Stay near Naples & Campania
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Marine Protected Areas near Naples & Campania
64 protected areas near Naples & Campania - please respect local regulations when diving
Isole Tremiti
Isole di Ponza, Palmarola, Zannone, Ventotene e S. Stefano
Parco Nazionale del Circeo
Area marina protetta Regno di Nettuno
Fondali marini di Punta Campanella e Capri
Fondali marini di Punta Campanella e Capri
Area marina protetta Santa Maria di Castellabate
Fondali marini di Ischia, Procida e Vivara
Fondali marini di Ischia, Procida e Vivara
Fondali tra Capo Circeo e Terracina
Parco marino di S. Maria di Castellabate
Parco marino di S. Maria di Castellabate
Showing 12 largest of 64
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