The 12 Try Dives in Italy Worth the Boat Ride

1.Exciting PADI Discover Scuba Diving Experience Isola Bella Marine Park Taormina

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 96 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $193Our pick

Start at Sea Spirit Diving Resort at UNAHOTEL Naxos Beach, meet instructors including Julien, Filipi, Chrissy, or Swan, and travel by boat to Isola Bella. You’ll learn basic scuba skills, complete two guided underwater sessions to 12 meters, enjoy fruit and drinks between them, and return with Sicilian wine and almond biscuits.

“With friendly and knowledgeable staff, this was a great experience that my daughter and I loved. It was her first ever dive and she’s now hooked!”

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2.Sea Baptism Scuba Experience in Polignano a Mare

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 87 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $95

Meet Holly Tour at Lido Cala Paura for a gentle first scuba experience from the beach. Instructors including Emilio, Natalino, Carmen, Claudia, and Laury provide equipment, patient instruction, and close support. Expect about 45 minutes underwater, colorful fish and octopuses, photos, a certificate, and focaccia with a drink afterward.

“Excellent experience, had the best time - everything was clear and felt very safe throughout. Would highly recommend this!”

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3.Napoli: Dive or Discover Scuba Diving in the Park of Baia

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 79 reviews · 3 - 4 hours · from $53Best value

At Sea World Diving Baia, you’ll learn basic scuba skills, ride by boat to Baia’s submerged Roman villas, and spend about 45 minutes among mosaics, statues, marble floors, and marine life. No license is needed for the Discover Scuba program. Instructors including Andrea, Camilla, Alessandro, and Carlo speak English, Italian, and Spanish.

“Great dive locations and very experienced knowledge instructors. highly recommend this activity for all skill levels.”

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4.Try Scuba Diving and Underwater Roman Ruins in Baia from Naples

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 66 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $263

Spend about five hours learning basic scuba skills, then visit Roman ruins beneath Baia with a certified English-speaking instructor. Beginners receive equipment and two underwater sessions, while certified divers and snorkelers have other options. Groups are limited to four, and transport from Naples costs an extra €75.

“The instructors were very patient with us as we had essentially never done Scuba before. They were very supportive throughout the process. The dive locations were wonderful and you could touch the artifacts! The advert shows the statue but we did not end up seeing that - we knew that before we went out to dive though as the educational video/presentation made it clear what we would see. I was very nervous about doing this but it was great!”

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5.Discover Scuba diving in Villasimius

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $106

Start at the Villasimius diving center with a short lesson on scuba equipment and safety. Then head from Spiaggia del Riso by inflatable boat into Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area for a guided 30-minute session at no more than 5 meters. Michael and Wendi are named team members, and groups are limited to four.

“Équipe super, vraiment, pédagogue, patient avec ma fille. On a passé un très bon moment. Je recommande”

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6.Baptism of the Sea Scuba Experience in Polignano a Mare

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 13 reviews · from $89

Meet Emilio and the scuba team at Cala Paura in Polignano a Mare for a two-hour beginner session in Italian or English. You receive equipment, an in-water briefing, close guidance, an introductory scuba certificate, and an Apulian snack with Bari focaccia and a drink.

“everything was great. The guys were professional and very nice. despite the fact that our first date had to be canceled due to bad weather, we agreed on a replacement. and everything was well organized”

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7.Marina di Campo: Try diving on the island of Elba

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 9 reviews · 4 hours · from $94

From Marina di Campo, you get a half-hour safety lesson, learn the basics of preparing and using scuba gear, then board the boat Marianna with an instructor. At a quiet coastal site, no more than two people per instructor receive their first underwater experience. Viktor may guide your session.

“Mooie eerste ervaring met de duiksport. Heldere, duidelijke uitleg, vervolgens met de boot de zee op richting de duikplaats. En dan achterover de zee in. Wat is daar veel moois op de bodem te zien.”

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8.Diving baptism with cylinders (Introdive) at the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 9 reviews · from $97

Meet SubAquaDive Service in Notteri for a guided first scuba experience in the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area. After pickup, equipment fitting, and safety instruction, you descend to about 5 meters with close personal help. Staff members named in guest accounts include Luana, Alberto, Luca, Giulia, Tio, and Francesco.

“What a pleasure to discover Sardinia underwater and get back to the taste of diving.”

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9.Cagliari: Discover scuba diving for Beginners

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 8 reviews · from $134

Meet your English or Italian-speaking instructor at the Cagliari center, get fitted with a wetsuit and full scuba gear, then ride a 7.5-meter inflatable boat to Calamosca Cove. After a guided lesson, you spend about 20 to 30 minutes underwater at a maximum of 5 meters, swimming near rocky seabeds, fish, and small caves.

“fantastic and unique activity! instructor is experienced and patient, which made me feel safe under water. and above all, it was a great fun!”

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10.Sardinia, La Maddalena Archipelago: First Dive Experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $187

Meet Scuba Point in Palau for a 30-minute safety lesson, equipment briefing, and guided first scuba descent. With an instructor such as Matteo, you will boat 10 minutes to a sheltered cove in La Maddalena National Park, then spend about 40 minutes underwater, reaching no more than 12 meters. Groups are limited to four.

“Matteo completely put me at ease. It was my first time diving! A truly amazing experience. I will definitely do it again👌”

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11.San Domino, Tremiti: try scuba, first diving experience

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 4 reviews · 3 hours · from $106

At Aquodiving Tremiti Centro Immersioni, you’ll learn the basics with an Italian or English-speaking instructor, gear up, and ride a dinghy to a protected marine area near San Domino. No certification is required. You can descend to 12 meters, with patient guidance from staff such as Linda, before returning to shore after about three hours.

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12.Scuba diving experience in La Maddalena : Baptism of the sea

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2 reviews · from $192

Meet Pollo Diving ASD for a 3.5-hour first scuba experience in La Maddalena. Instructor Jesse and the team keep the start shallow, limit instruction to two participants, then guide you to two 40-minute sessions in the national park. Equipment, boat, water, and biscuits are included.

“Es war ein perfektes Erlebnis! Das ganze Team war sehr nett und professionell. Das Tauchequipment war in einem top Zustand. Die Einweisung auf dem Boot war super. Am ersten Tauchspot angekommen, zieht man sich an und lässt sich ins Wasser fallen. Nach dem Abtauchen macht man ein paar Sicherheitsübungen. Wenn man diese geschafft hat, kann man die Unterwasserwelt einfach nur genießen. Am zweiten Tauchspot konnten wir dann 40 Minuten die Unterwasserwelt erleben. Unser Tauchinstructor Jesse war sehr freundlich, hat sich Zeit genommen uns alles in Ruhe zu erklären und war rundum professionell. Ich kann dieses Abenteuer nur weiter empfehlen. Danke an das ganze Pollo Diving Asd Team.Read more”

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