Puglia dive sites

The Tremiti Islands are reached by ferry or hydrofoil from several ports along the Adriatic coast. The most common departure points are Termoli in Molise (one hour by hydrofoil), Vieste on the Gargano Peninsula (90 minutes by ferry), and Manfredonia (two hours). Summer services run multiple times daily. Helicopter service operates from Foggia airport. Most divers stay on San Domino, the largest island with hotels, restaurants, and two dive centres. Day trips from the mainland are possible but overnight stays allow morning dives when conditions are best.

The Tremiti Islands Marine Reserve is divided into three protection zones. Zone A around Pianosa Island and certain areas of Capraia is fully protected with no diving, swimming, or boat access. Zone B allows diving only with authorised guides from the island's dive centres. Zone C permits diving with standard precautions. Dive centres coordinate dives through the reserve authority, and a daily permit fee applies. Anchoring on live bottom is prohibited throughout the reserve, and mooring buoys are provided at dive sites. Gloves are banned to prevent coral and organism handling.

The Tremiti Islands offer a combination of factors rare in the Mediterranean: genuine marine reserve protection since 1989, extreme isolation that limits diver numbers, and the convergence of Adriatic and Tyrrhenian marine influences creating unusual biodiversity. The water clarity, often reaching 30 to 40 metres, rivals the best Mediterranean destinations. The archipelago's volcanic and limestone geology produces dramatic underwater topography with grottos, walls, and swim-throughs not typical of the relatively flat Adriatic coastline. Large resident groupers approaching divers with curiosity rather than fear demonstrate the tangible effect of decades of protection.