Diving Lazio – Ponza & Ventotene

About Lazio – Ponza & Ventotene

Lazio’s diving centres on the volcanic Pontine Islands of Ponza and Ventotene, plus the history-rich coast of Gaeta, Circeo and Anzio. Ponza is a seamount paradise: the Secca di San Silverio swirls with barracuda, amberjack, tuna and groupers, while Cala dell’Acqua hides glassfish caves and the San Paolo wreck holds big groupers. Ventotene offers the red-gorgonian wall of Punta Pascone and the Archette pinnacle. Gaeta and Circeo add walls and WWII wrecks such as the HMS Sahib submarine, and Anzio’s wartime wrecks draw advanced divers. Dramatic, fishy and steeped in history, this region is a favourite weekend escape from Rome. The region rewards careful planning and respects the strong Italian marine-protection rules, offering rewarding diving for a range of Mediterranean experience levels.

Highlights

• ✓Secca di San Silverio: Ponza pinnacle with swirling barracuda and tuna
• ✓San Paolo Wreck: a passenger ship at 20-35 m with big groupers
• ✓Punta Pascone: Ventotene red-gorgonian wall with lobsters
• ✓HMS Sahib: a WWII submarine at 45 m off Gaeta (technical)
• ✓Anzio WWII wrecks: the HMS Spartan cruiser and Liberty ships

Getting There

Fly into Rome (FCO), then drive to Anzio, Gaeta or Formia and take the hydrofoil to Ponza and Ventotene. Dive bases sit in Ponza, Ventotene, Gaeta and Anzio.