3 caves · down to 40 m · 3 suitable for an intro team
Cave diving at Monte Argentario
- Caves3
- Max depth40 m
- For intro teams3
- Dive centres2
Diving and fills
Dive here with
Fills nearby
- Fill stationDiving ArgentarioNot published — askRoute ↗
- Fill stationArgentario DiversAir (oil-free), nitrox, trimix (order 24 h ahead), O₂; mixes to 200 bar via boostersRoute ↗
Why come here
Off the west coast of Monte Argentario lies the islet of Argentarola with the Grotta Grande, a hall full of stalactites, stalagmites and columns that grew when sea level was lower. You go there by boat with a dive centre from Porto Santo Stefano or Porto Ercole, and on the south coast there is also the Grotta Azzurra, a recreational dive with intense blue light. The floor of the Grotta Grande is fine silt, so a line and good trim are essential, and the tight shaft to the chamber below -40 m is for full cave divers in sidemount only. Cala dei Santi and the Grotta Azzurra are exposed to southerly winds.
Don't miss
- Grotta Grande dell'Argentarola: a large hall full of speleothems used in sea-level research: a stalagmite from -18.5 m dates a highstand of ~200,000 years ago.
- Grotta delle Cicaline (Argentarola): a small, roomy cave with clear water, sponges, gorgonians and shrimp, good for macro photography and a nice second dive at the same islet.
- Grotta Azzurra (Cala dei Santi): two entrances, above and below water, and intense blue light, with a boulder slope full of holes for lobsters and congers next to it.
On a rest day
- Orbetello Lagoon: A lagoon between two long sand spits, with the town of Orbetello in the middle and a WWF reserve where you can see flamingos and ospreys among other birds.
- Cosa: The Roman colony on a hill near Ansedonia, with a town wall of about 1.5 km with towers, the forum and the remains of the Capitolium.
- Isola del Giglio: Take the ferry from Porto Santo Stefano to this granite island and visit the walled hilltop village of Giglio Castello.
All 3 caves
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grotta Azzurra (Cala dei Santi)Backmount · Open water / no overhead | 18 m | Backmount | Open water / no overhead |
| Grotta delle Cicaline (Argentarola)Backmount · Cavern | 10 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta Grande dell'ArgentarolaSidemount · Intro to cave | 40 m | Sidemount | Intro to cave |
Certification requirements, configurations and trimix depths are estimates for planning. Always check them locally and dive within your training.
Map
Dive centres and fill stations
2 dive centres, fill stations and instructors
Fill station
Diving Argentario
Via Sant'Andrea 23, 58019 Porto Santo Stefano (GR)
- Not published — ask
Dive centre
Argentario Divers
Lungomare Andrea Doria 103, 58019 Porto Ercole (GR)
- Air, nitrox, trimix, O₂
- Sidemount, CCR, Trimix · UTD, SSI
- Grotta Grande dell'Argentarola, Grotta delle Cicaline (Argentarola)
- Twinsets and sidemount sets
Order: partners first, clearly marked as partner; then dive centres by distance from Porto Santo Stefano and independent instructors by name. Not a recommendation: check what they offer yourself.
On this list, or should you be? Get a free partner card →Where to stay
Find a place near Porto Santo Stefano, Porto Ercole, Orbetello
Villages that work well as a base for the caves in this region. Find a place for your team:
- Porto Santo StefanoBooking.com ↗
- Porto ErcoleBooking.com ↗
- OrbetelloBooking.com ↗
The links to Booking.com are affiliate links: if you book through one, DiveTripPlanner earns a small commission. You pay the same.
Practical info: rules, fills and emergency numbers
Emergencies
- Recompression chamber: Ospedale Misericordia, Via Senese 18, Grosseto — +39 0564 485258 (ask about 24/7 availability; in an emergency via 112). Also Ospedale di Portoferraio (Elba), Via San Rocco — +39 0565 938511.
- 112 · coast guard 1530 · DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685.
Access and rules
- Argentarola: boat only (~450 m off the west coast near Cala Moresca). No permit or protection rule found; dive with a centre from Porto Santo Stefano or Porto Ercole.
- Giannutri (Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano): zone 1 closed; in zone 2 only via park-authorised dive centres, with a park-licensed guide per max 6 divers. The buoy field has been out of service since 25 Feb 2026 and diving is temporarily limited to zone 2 — check the current rules with the park (+39 0565 908231). No permitted cave dive known.
Gas and fills
- Gas: Argentario Divers (Porto Ercole) fills air, nitrox and trimix (order trimix 24 h ahead) and supports CCR (sofnolime); open all year.
Water and season
- Cala dei Santi and the Grotta Azzurra are exposed to southerly winds.
Good to know
- Giglio: a few shallow caves (e.g. Cala dell'Allume, -10/-13 m); otherwise mainly wall, shoal and wreck dives.
News
No recent news found about the caves in this region.
Searched automatically, last on 13 Nov 2026.
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