Snorkeling tour to discover the sea bottom of Ischia

Theisland of Ischia is known for its rich vegetation, elegant residences, seaside villages and numerous land and coastal beauties. Perhaps not everyone knows, however, that its seabed is just as wonderful and holds timeless natural and historical treasures.

This snorkelling tour will take you on a discovery of natural caves, underwater walls and citadels, curious underwater volcanic phenomena and all that mysteriously lurks beneath the surface of the water.

All you need are flippers, mask, snorkel and a desire to marvel along the route led by experienced guides. Come with us, the underwater world is waiting for you!

What we will do

We will meet at 1.30 pm at the diving centre in the Ischia Ponte area. We will meet the guides who will provide us with all the necessaryequipment for the snorkelling tour. After that, we will board a boat to reach the first point of interest in a few minutes: the Grotta Verde. We will go inside through the narrow entrance that hides a larger basin, in the middle of which the seabed is so shallow that, during low tide, a small beach forms that is invisible from the outside. The cave takes its name from the reflections of the sun that, penetrating through the small entrance, tint the water a deep green.

Following the guide, we continue swimming along the coast until we reach the second stage. During the swim, we will be able to observe the many typically Mediterranean marine species that populate the seabed of Ischia (don't worry, the boat will follow us for the duration of the activity, should anyone not feel up to swimming for long). We will then reach the Grotta del Mago, a place rich in stories and legends that the guides will meticulously tell us.

Third stop on the tour will beAenaria, an ancient Roman citadel suddenly destroyed by a volcanic eruption or an earthquake. Today, the remains of the city are completely submerged and constitute an extremely valuable example of marine archaeology. Snorkelling in this area will allow us to admire underwater walls and the mysterious Grotta del Ninfeo (Cave of the Nymphaeum), the origin of which is still unknown.

Finally, we will visit the area in front of the Aragonese Castle, known for some secondary volcanic phenomena. The seabed of Ischia is affected by considerable volcanic activity, so much so that the island of Ischia is an open-air laboratory, attracting the interest of many international scholars. Here one can see the effect ofacidification of the waters, due to the emission of carbon dioxide from the volcanic seabed. This is a natural phenomenon that alters the marine ph, causing animal and plant species to adapt.

These and many other stories will make the snorkelling tour an unmissable experience to fully discover the wonders of our seas. The activity lasts 2.5 hours and ends at the meeting point.

Who it is aimed at

This activity is of an easy level and is open to all those who have good aquatic skills and are able to swim, even for short stretches.

Other information

The activity can be booked from May to October and is confirmed when there are at least 4 participants.

Showers, toilets and changing rooms can be used at the diving centre.

Recommended clothing

Seasonal Comfortable Clothing

Don't forget to bring

• sunscreen
• swimming costume
• towel
• waterproof shoes
• shower accessories