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Dive sites

Divided into three zones, A, B and C, the Portofino Marine Park has pre-installed mooring buoys that prevent boats from damaging the seabed with their anchors. Zone A is accessible to biologists and scientists from the University of Genoa and includes the Cala dell'oro inland sea. It is forbidden to sail, swim, dive and of course... fish! Zone B, located between Punta del Faro di Portofino and Punta Chiappa, allows sport fishing for residents and diving, snorkelling and swimming for all. In front of Portofino, area C, characterised by stretches of Posidonia, is suitable for water sports activities. Experience one of the most famous dives in the world, in Portofino! The legendary Italian diving figure, Duilio Marcante, has installed the Christ of the Abyss in front of the village of San Fruttuoso, at a depth of 17 metres, a large bronze statue 2.50 metres high, weighing 260 kg and resting on a large concrete base. The hands of the statue are 10 metres deep.

Also, snorkelling on the Christ of the Abyss or free diving above the statue, allows you to admire it too. And if the weather conditions do not allow you to go there by sea, discover in the chapel of the church of San Fruttuoso a copy of this Christ placed there on August 13th 1974. For the record, medals of sailors, athletes as well as metal parts of ships such as bells, and cannons, were melted in the crucible, for the conception of this work. Wonderful technical dives, on wrecks and shoals, are to be made in the Portofino Marine Reserve. All the other spots presented below are only available to very experienced divers, who have been previously trained in teak and deep diving, using technical equipment and gases such as trimix. The Portofino Lighthouse is located at the easternmost point of the promontory, drained by strong currents, with less visibility, depending on the weather.

The ridges, drop-offs and rocky terraces extend to a depth of 50m and end at 70m with large boulders. Here you can see yellow and red gorgonians, Aplysina Aerophoba sponges and, at depth, colonies of Eunicella verrucosa and Leptogorgia Sarmentosa. Conger eels, moray eels and mostella take refuge in the crevices. At a depth of 62 m, 20 colonies of false black coral (Gerardia Savaglia) are regularly studied by the University of Genoa. At a depth of around 70 m, you will notice the presence of amberjacks and especially red coral (Corallium rubrum) and black coral (Anthipates Subpinnata). This place was very well known to professional coral divers, as early as 1970. A rock resembling a column rises from 58 to 47 m, covered with Paramuricea Clavata. Branches of red coral, particularly large ones, line the holes. To the south of this rock, beautiful white gorgonians vibrate in the current. Star gorgonians (Astrospartus mediterraneus) intercept tiny planktonic organisms, carried by the current.

At around 68m, objects - perhaps the remains of wrecks - are scattered on the bottom. Explore a shoal, Secca Isuela, with a 35-minute walk between 13 and 55m. Its distance from the coast and the often strong currents here cause an explosion of life. Less well known, another small shoal, Isuelita is connected to Secca Isuela by a rocky base going west, at 40 m depth. On this beautiful dive spot in Portofino, you can see a colony of false black coral (Gerardia Savaglia), orange sponges Axinella, sea breams, snappers, amberjacks and bonito. Dogfish leave their eggs to cling to the red gorgonians Paramuricea clavata. Every crevice here is a den of crustaceans. At Punta Torretta, huge boulders spread out from west to east, between 45 and 55 m deep. Because of their proximity, they form corridors and drop-offs to be explored in a weak current. Red gorgonians (Paramuricea clavata) alternate with yellow sponges (Aplysina aerophoba) typical of deep waters.

Beware, the last boulders extending westwards are located in zone A, an integral reserve of the Portofino marine park. So follow the wall of the Torretta on your left, to go back up to make your stops at a shallower depth. Punta Chiappa is known for its shrimp cave, drop-offs and canyons. This shoal peaks at 32m and drops down to 50m. Rich in red corals, Punta Chiappa has crevices rich in crustaceans. The bottom is dotted with white gorgonians (Eunicella verrucosa) while orange sponges (Axinella cannabina) sting the rocks. Heading west on the 45 m-long bottom lines, you move from one isolated rock to another until you reach the western drop-off. On this spot, good underwater navigation skills are required!

This extensive site is particularly suitable for scuba diving (DPV). Another dive is to be made at Punta Manara, in the low tourist season, preferably on weekdays, at the beginning and end of the summer. Punta Manara is located on the route of the pleasure boats which, from the tourist ports of Chiavari, Lavagna and Sestri Levante, follow the coast of the Riviera di Liguria di Levante towards the Cinque Terre. Underwater, swim along the large parallel rocky ridges, representing canyons and drop-offs - which extend from Manara Point out to sea, from 35 to 50 metres and rise from 3 to 5 metres above the muddy bottom. Visibility is often poor here. In this very specific topography, you have plenty to do in terms of marine biology.

Others Activities

This holiday in Portofino, Italy, is perfect for those who enjoy medium-difficulty hikes. The Portofino Park, which covers an area of 1,500 hectares, also has 80 km of signposted paths, which you should walk in hiking boots (not flip-flops!). Take a walk to the Portofino lighthouse on the Punta del Capo, a 40-minute round trip. Or take one of Liguria's most scenic trails, trekking from Camogli to Portofino. Nearby, in the marine reserve, discover also Santa Margherita Ligure.

Discover one of the greatest concentrations of flora in the Mediterranean in the Portofino Natural Park, which enjoys a mild microclimate all year round. Stroll along the seaside, which is very sunny in winter, and prefer the tree-covered north side in summer. Watch for birds and invertebrates along the 80 km of paths. Insects such as the Arbutus Nymphalus (Charaxes jasius) and Europe's largest beetle, the Kite Lucanus (Lucanus cervus), have been recorded here.

Try to catch a glimpse of the Spectacled Salamander (Salamandrina perspicillata) and the small snake the Luscegnola (Chalcides chalcides). Among the birds, more than 100 species are listed here, including the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), which stands on the promontory above Cala d'Oro. A visit to Brown Castle is a must during your holiday in Portofino. Dating from the 15th century, this fortress dominates the town from a rocky promontory. Take a look at the church of San Martino, a very important place of worship for Portofino.

The Marine Park of Portofino, Area Marina Protetta di Portofino : Dive shops