nw coast

 from Bosa to Costa Paradiso

Diving spots

DIVING IN ALGHERO - CAPO CACCIA

Scuba diving • Pintadera


With the multitude of perpendicular cliffs and submerged caves in the Capo Caccia and Punta Giglio dive areas, it is possible to dive in a different environment each time, especially good for those looking for a challenge!

The dive sites are so many and you'll have plenty of choices! Just along the coast from Capo Galera to Punta Giglio, in less than a mile west from the Diving Center, there are a dozen caves; wrecks of Roman ships and galleons lie on the bottom around here. Then there is Capo Caccia with its cliffs sheer above the sea that continue underwater, and its famous red coral.

An underwater theater that offers scuba diving opportunities at all levels, from beginners to cave divers. And we still have tunnel to explore!
A complete list, however, is far too long! We chose eight of the most beautiful dives.
You can imagine the rest...



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Along the Cliffs 


East to west, the gulf of Alghero is a jagged arch formed by calcareous headlands: first, Capo Galera, where the Dive Centre is, then Punta Giglio and Capo Caccia. Any point facing the tall cliffs is ideal for a dive. Just a splash away from the Diving Center you can have great dives, day or night.

Behind Capo Caccia, the rocky coast continues north to Punta Cristallo, which drops 300 meters to the sea. The cost is faced by two islands, the Foradada, getting its name due to a tunnel that bisects the little island and Isola PianaWe can dive at a comfortable depth and cruise around the walls exploring the thousand crevices, hovering over the sea grass which covers the bottom like a prairie. Every underwater ravine and crack in the rock is full of colourful life to discover.

Every once in a while, the dark opening of a cave opens up in front of you. It is not easy for everyone to overcome the fear caves instil; on the other hand, it is even more difficult to resist the temptation to enter and discover these silent and wonderful environments.

Lastly, to experience the awe of the light that seeps down into the intense blue as you return to open waters... It's magical.

 

Nereo's Cave

The cliff of Capo Caccia drops down underwater to about 30 meters where the cave's deepest entrance is located. Other entrances are found at shallower depths, between 18 and 16 meters. It is possible to navigate a complete circle starting from the lowest entrance. The first section of the cave with its walls covered in red coral, leads to an upward tunnel connecting to a "room" stunningly illuminated by the light coming from the outside. From there, a 10 meter wide tunnel with a white sandy bottom extending hundreds of meters brings you back to the starting point.

Once the circle is completed, at a depth of around 23 meters, you’ll exit through a wide window 18 meters deep. Besides the red coral, this cave is home to lobsters and many other crustaceans and, if in the mood to be seen, the host - a huge conger eel. At a comfortable depth, Nereo's cave is perfect for those who want to experience their first cave dive. The amazing scenery changes as you go dispelling any fear you might have had.

 

Madonnina's Cave

Under the cliff of Capo Caccia lies the spacious cave Madonnina. The cave is full of light and life. It is an easy dive, where you can admire the diversification of the Mediterranean marine life: corals,parazonthus and a big school of Barracudas mostly cruising around in front of the entrance of the cave. 


Ghosts' Cave

This is truly an exciting dive. Under Punta Giglio, just 5 meters deep, from a small atrium you enter a tunnel that takes you to a submerged room, where you'll see two white rock formations on a black background, like a "doorway" into the mountain. Continuing cautiously, trying not to kick too hard because of the silt, through a large tunnel for about 30 meters which doubles back to return to the same room where daylight never enters. It is possible to explore another smaller tunnel, before finding the exit. Regardless of the short exploration, it's a real speleological experience, we leave behind the bright sun to swim into an almost alien world. Returning to the blue sight of the opening, a sense of relief and at the same time longing takes over.

 

Deers' Cave

It seems like the sea level has been a lot lower during the prehistorian time and there, where today are the cliffs and the rocks of Capo Caccia, were land and meadows. It was full of little animals which have perished in a cave and there skeletons turned into fossils... After thousands of years we can admire now their bones in the limestones of Punta Giglio. In the wall of Punta Giglio, in ten meters depth, there is an entrance which leads to a siphon. Dive trough this siphon and you reach a channel head which is aerated stadely with fresh air. From there you can move into the next chamber, where the fossils are located.

Once again outward the cave, you can dive along the rock face or into another little tunnel and observe the spiny lobsters nursing themselves. Mostly there will be some Barracudas or other marine creatures to welcome you during the journey. A big grouper has been settling down there long ago and looks forward to your visit.



Cabirol's Cave


The name is taken from the homonymous staircase leading to the Neptune’s Caves, built in the sixties with 634 steps. Beneath this stairway, in the depth of 25 meters, lies the ideal anchorage. The dive follows the profile of the bay around the anchorage, with vertical walls up to 30 meters deep. The rock face is full of colorful life and several cracks, where shy fishes find safe shelter.

One of this ravine leads to the entrance of the Cabirol’s Cave. The cave has a length of approx. 50 meters and a depth of approx. 16 meters. As soon as we reach the end of this cave it gets really thrilling: we discover that there is another cave above, which is connected to the other through a siphon. Turning off the torches we are fascinates by the sight: with the light of the afternoon, the two caves are flooded with amazing light effects that turn on our imagination. Unique sensations that continue on the way out while leaving the second cave, and heading back to our boat.

 

The Colonnade

Beneath Capo Caccia not far from the Nereo’s Cave, there is a wonderful dive, that mixes passages in cave with the exploration of the rock face. You dive under countless arches and columns through a chamber to another, and every chamber is permanently flushed with light. You will have light all the time, which comes from the left side and illuminates the fascinating cave chain. Corals, parazoanthus, crustacea of all kind and multi-color fishes will accompany us during the whole dive.

 

The Tunnel

The name comes from the tunnel that crosses the cape of the bay of the "submarine". This passage, 80 meters long, develops to a maximum depth of 18 meters. The feeling is impressive: a huge gallery, full of caves and tunnels! Following the main passage we arrive in the bay of the submarine, a rock that takes its name from its peculiar shape, where, especially with the light of the afternoon and with the clear water above us, we can see the beautiful cliffs of Capo Caccia. Once we round the rock, we go back into the tunnel, through small passages full of lobsters and stenopus, to return to the bay where we dropped the anchor. Such a good feeling: back where we started our dive relying only on our expert guides.

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