BOMBARDIERE
Protected Area
Secche di Torre Flavia
Why dive here
With 136+ marine species recorded in the area - including blue sharks, hammerhead sharks, mobula rays (devil rays), octopuses and sea turtles - BOMBARDIERE offers some of Naples & Campania's richest wreck diving.
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.
Typical BOMBARDIERE Dive Profile
Illustrative profile based on site depth and type. Actual dive profiles vary - always follow your dive computer and training.
Safety Notes
Depth of 30m - Advanced Open Water certification recommended.
Wreck site - avoid penetration without wreck diving certification. Watch for sharp metal and entanglement hazards.
Always perform a 3-minute safety stop at 5m before surfacing.
BOMBARDIERE Wreck History
Year Sunk
1943
Vessel Type
warship
Cause
torpedo
Tonnage
1,850 tons
The Bombardiere was a formidable Soldati-class destroyer, one of the fastest and most modern warships in the Italian Royal Navy (Regia Marina) during World War II. Named for the 'bombardier' or gunner, these ships were the workhorses of the fleet, primarily tasked with the dangerous duty of escorting convoys across the heavily contested waters of the Mediterranean.
On January 17, 1943, the Bombardiere was escorting a convoy to Tunisia when it was ambushed by the British submarine HMS United. A single torpedo struck the destroyer, causing a catastrophic explosion that broke the ship in two. It sank in minutes with a heavy loss of life, including its commander. The sinking was a stark reminder of the brutal nature of the submarine war being waged beneath the waves.
Lying at 30 metres, the wreck of the Bombardiere is a powerful and poignant war grave. While the description may confusingly label it a 'barge', divers will find the unmistakable remains of a sleek naval destroyer. The site is a significant piece of military history, offering a direct connection to the fierce naval battles that defined the Mediterranean theatre of war.
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DIVE SECURESUB
A.S.D. ROMA SUB
DIVE BLU ASD
DIVING LINE
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