Diving Liguria – Portofino & Cinque Terre

About Liguria – Portofino & Cinque Terre

Liguria is the crescent of coast that arcs around the north-west Mediterranean, home to the legendary Portofino Marine Protected Area and the pastel villages of the Cinque Terre. Portofino is one of the most famous dive destinations in Europe, where the Cristo degli Abissi statue, the Secca dell Isuela pinnacle and the walls of Punta Torretta host red gorgonians, groupers, barracuda and amberjack in crystal water. The Cinque Terre adds the walls of Punta Mesco and the lobster-covered Scoglio Ferale, while Savona and Bergeggi guard the mighty Haven tanker wreck. Genoa and Nervi round out the region with gorgonian walls close to the city. Accessible, protected and intensely beautiful, Liguria is the perfect introduction to Italian Mediterranean diving.

Highlights

• ✓Cristo degli Abissi: the bronze Christ statue at 17 m in the Portofino MPA
• ✓Secca dell’Isuela: a 50 m pinnacle rising to 18 m with gorgonians and big fish
• ✓The Haven Wreck: a 334 m VLCC tanker at 30-50 m for advanced divers
• ✓Punta Mesco: Cinque Terre walls with salema, barracuda and groupers
• ✓Secca di Nervi: gorgonian wall and pinnacle close to Genoa

Getting There

Fly into Genoa (GOA) or Milan Malpensa (MXP), then drive or train along the coast. Dive bases sit in Santa Margherita, Portofino, Levanto and Savona, with boats launching into the Portofino MPA and to the Haven wreck.