Dive trip the Marine Park of Naples, Area Kingdom of Neptune

Swim, dive, snorkel and dive in Italy, in the Marine Park of Naples, Area Kingdom of Neptune

The most beautiful dives in the world? Most of them are in marine reserves. So go diving in Naples, in the Area Marina Protetta Regno di Nettuno with the diving center Subaia Campania Divers. The seabed around the islands of Ischia, Procida and Vivara, three islands that close the Gulf of Naples to the west, is teeming with life, especially as this archipelago is a volcanic complex that is still considered very active. The signs of this vitality? This nature of water and fire explodes in the Phlegrean Archipelago with thermal springs, spas, splendid lush gardens, pools with water of different temperatures, botanical gardens with various species, and beaches. You can dive here thanks to diving centers such as Centro Sub Pozzuoli and Subaia Diving Center, which are approved by the Authority that regulates this marine park. Created by the ministerial decree in 2007, the regulation of this reserve was effective on 5 June 2008. As early as 1991, the islands of Ischia, Vivara, and Procida were identified as requiring protection. In 1999, the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station in Naples produced a report which was subsequently submitted to the Ministry of the Environment in January 2001. The Regno di Nettuno Marine Protected Area has a surface area of 11,256 ha, with areas of either full protection, general reserve, or partial reserve.

A special protection area is dedicated to marine mammals. To the north, towards the island of Ventotene, the two-mile-wide and eight-mile-long Cuma Canyon represents a unique area where the greatest density of marine mammals in the Mediterranean, such as dolphins, whales, and sperm whales, are concentrated. All the animal species that live in the Mediterranean are found here. The Cuma Canyon is also home to the largest family of common dolphins in the Mediterranean. Despite its name, this dolphin species is now endangered and is on the red list of threatened species. Zone D of the Area Marina Protetta Regno di Nettuno for the protection of marine mammals is the only one in Italy. The Pelagos Sanctuary is in fact an Italian-French marine protected area of international interest. Study and research programs in the Area Marina Protetta Regno di Nettuno have been developed in the fields of ecology, marine biology, and underwater archaeology. Environmental education activities are carried out in collaboration with environmental associations and schools for children of all ages.

Events, conferences, and seminars aimed at disseminating the importance of protecting marine resources are regularly held here. On dives to observe the biodiversity in the Area Marina Protetta Regno di Nettuno, you will find coralligenous, concretionary red algae, madrepores, and corals. The "false black coral" Gerardia savalia is described on the Ischia Sant'Angelo, scoglio dell'Elefante dive spot, around the island of Ischia, in the middle of numerous caves. A huge Posidonia oceanica meadow covers the seabed of the islands, including Ischia, over tens of square kilometers. Schools of squid and small tuna migrate through these waters. The richness of the Phlegrean archipelago is also due to its geographical position, on a climatic frontier: to the north for the animals and plants that colonize the southern Mediterranean; to the south for the animals and plants that prefer colder climates. So you have the chance to meet all the animal species present in the Mediterranean here! This is why Anton Dohrn, a German scientist and friend of Charles Darwin, decided to conduct his studies between Naples and Ischia. In 1872, he built the first marine biology institute in the world, which is still one of the most prestigious today.

Marine species in the area

Dive sites

Secca di Terra Murata is located on the south side of the island of Procida near the Terra Murata drop off. Expect a 40 minute multilevel dive on this small shoal, which is spiked with large boulders between 11 and 28 metres. The high visibility allows you to see pelagic fish in the blue. See beautiful gorgonians and sea daisies here as well as lobsters and conger eels in the holes. At the southwestern end of Corricella Bay, admire the most beautiful drop off in the Mediterranean, Punta del Pizzaco, dropping down to 70 metres in successive steps at depths of 5 and then 12 metres. Up to 26 metres, take a gully. From 24 m, you can see branches of corallium rubrum with their polyps well open. At a depth of 40 m, beautiful gorgonians Paramuricea Clavata bloom on the rocky walls, next to the coral branches. Grouper, anthias. To the southwest of Procida, at the tip of the bay of Chiaiolella and opposite the islet of Vivara, the Punta Solchiaro dive site is a rocky promontory. First, fly over boulder screes where groupers hide, until you reach some fairly steep steps at 12m and then at 25m. Continue down the wall to 50m. To the south, old car and motorbike wrecks thrown off the mountain years ago are scattered on the bottom at 40m. At 38m look for a branch of false black coral, Gerardia savaglia, surrounded by various branches of Eunicella cavolini and Paramuricea clavata.

Nice encounters take place here with octopus, scorpion fish, sea bream, amberjack and Saint Pierre. Several species of starfish and sea urchins can be found here. There is a beautiful deep-sea diving atmosphere here. The seabed drops off to great depths a few dozen metres from the rocky point. Halfway between the islands of Procida and Ischia, Secca delle Formiche di Vivara appears, a very jagged shoal, reaching up to 4 metres below the surface. Considered the most beautiful dive in the Mediterranean, Secca delle Formiche di Vivara is battered by waves and subject to strong currents that have eroded its rocky walls, creating caves, passages and natural arches. The complete tour of the shoal represents 65 minutes of active swimming, staying at an average depth of 15m! Enter a beautiful, very large cave, then sail south through two arches and visit three more blind caves. Their walls are covered with yellow gorgonians where rare diadem sea urchins are hidden. The ambience of the caves and the passage of amberjacks, bream and snapper make this an ideal spot for video and photo opportunities to recreate the atmosphere. Near the castle of Ischia, between the Banco d'Ischia and the Secca delle Formiche, you dive on Secca del torrione between 12 and 24 m. The easy and quiet walk will please both novice and experienced divers, as well as photographers, for the atmosphere created by the light and dark passages.

At shallow depths, you can observe ascidians. In summer, crustaceans come to reproduce. Get ready for a wildlife dive with not only scorpion fish, groupers, lobsters and octopus, but also pelagic fish with amberjacks, tuna and large bass. The Secca del Rummolo shoal, located between the island of Procida and the port of Ischia, is best explored in winter or autumn. This large rocky shoal is located on the route of boats and ferries, so there is a lot of traffic! Nearby are the cables of the telephone and electricity distribution services of Ischia. To see healthy pinna nobilis trees planted in the sand, go to Secca del Rummolo, which reaches a height of 9-12m and falls to the sand at 24-35m. To the south of the island of Ischia, after Cartaromana, between the Banco d'Ischia and the site of Punta Sant'Angelo, you enter the bay of San Pancrazio. The Punta di San Pancrazio site is an emerging cliff which continues into a submerged drop off, with caves from 9 m, and home to groupers and conger eels. Launch yourself inside the bay, then head for the rocky promontory by immersion. Take the opportunity to spend the whole day in Sant'Angelo! To the west of the island of Ischia, an islet is connected by an isthmus to the land, Sant'Angelo. Don't miss two of Ischia's best dives here, at Scoglio dell'Elefante. The Elephant drop off owes its name to the shape of a rocky arch that resembles an elephant with its trunk raised and ears cocked! Magnificent red gorgonians spike the walls of the arch.

At 40 metres, a rocky projection, emerging at right angles from the drop-off, is entirely covered with large branches of red coral, over an area of 40 square metres. To the south of the Punta di Sant'Angelo D'Ischia is a small bay. Your dive starts on the outer side, south/west of the bay. Paddle through a series of gullies leading south with stops at 5, 9, 12, 18 and then up to 40m. Between 38 and 43m, circle around pinnacles bristling with branches of false black coral, Gerardia Savaglia. Finish the walk in the canyons near the Punta di Sant'Angelo and above all don't miss to make your landing near a small drop-off between 5 and 10 m... a small wonder! The Secca del Banco di Santa Croce is located next to the Lido Bikini of Vico Equense, hence the name of this spot... which is also called Bikini! Three very different shoals, the Secca di Fuori, the Banco dei tre Sommi and the Secca Della Grotta, follow one another, staked with large red gorgonians, Gerardia savaglia. The greatest biodiversity of the Mediterranean awaits you here with a festival of large groupers evolving in schools of 7 to 8 specimens, sars and barracudas which accompany the divers as soon as they descend into the water. Don't forget your camera and video equipment. What's best? Spend the day here, have lunch on board the boat and make 2 dives.