Cave diving at Monte Argentario
The Argentarola islet off the west coast of Monte Argentario, with the speleothem-filled Grotta Grande (and a tight, deep shaft for full cave divers) plus a small cave, and the Grotta Azzurra on the south coast — all by boat from Porto Santo Stefano or Porto Ercole.
3 caves · down to 40 m · 3 suitable for an intro team
All 3 caves
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grotta Azzurra (Cala dei Santi) | 18 m | Backmount | Open water / no overhead |
| Grotta delle Cicaline (Argentarola) | 10 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta Grande dell'Argentarola | 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.
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.
Plan a cave diving trip to Monte Argentario
Enter your team, with certifications, gas and configurations, and see right away which caves fit. With driving times from your stay, fill stations and an AI instructor who thinks along.
Compiled from web research (argentarioturismo.it, Argentario Divers, Diving Argentario, Parco Nazionale Arcipelago Toscano, sea-level research on the Argentarola speleothems, giglioinfo.it, GeoNames, SIMSI; Sept 2026). Pins mark the islet, not the cave entrance; ~ = estimate. Rules change — check locally.