Cave diving in Sardinia

• Gulf of Orosei: the sea caves lie below high cliffs and are reached only by boat; in practice you dive them with a Cala Gonone cave centre (Base One, Protec Sardinia, Argonauta, Bluforia), which provides boat and guide. No marine protected area is in force here yet: an AMP 'Golfo di Orosei–Capo Monte Santu' was being prepared in 2019. • Bue Marino (Dorgali) and Grotta del Fico (Baunei) are also show caves where tour boats call daily; the Fico is open May–October, tours 10:00–15:30. • AMP Capo Caccia–Isola Piana (Alghero, 2025 rules): no diving in zone A; zones B/C only with authorisation from the managing body. Unguided diving: daytime, max 4 divers, within 50 m of the buoy, at least a 2nd-level certification. The 15 named underwater caves (Nereo, Falco, Fantasmi, Cervi, Madonnina, Pozzo, Tunnel Azzurro and others) only as guided dives with an authorised centre (guide at least cavern-certified), max 6–10 divers and 3 dives per day per cave; Fantasmi only with a 2nd-level cave certification; training only in the Grotta del Pozzo; no night dives. • Supramonte: Su Gologone is a natural monument (1998) in a managed site (Società Le Fonti); we found no public diving rules — ask for permission in advance. Sa Oche (Valle di Lanaittu) has paid entry. • Water: sea ~22 °C in summer, fresh water in the caves 14–16 °C, halocline around -5 m. After heavy rain the springs flow hard and visibility drops to 1 m or less. • Gas and rental: Base One (Cala Gonone) fills nitrox, trimix and O₂ and rents CCR cylinders and scooters (Suex XK/XJS). Protec Sardinia runs CCR courses (ask about gas). • Emergency numbers: 112; coast guard 1530; DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685. • Hyperbaric chambers (SIMSI list 2024): Cagliari – Ospedale Marino, Lungomare Poetto 12 (daytime +39 070 609 4424, nights/holidays +39 070 609 4345); Sassari – Centro Iperbarico Sassarese, Via Venezia 3 (+39 079 310514); La Maddalena – Ospedale Paolo Merlo, Via Ammiraglio Magnaghi 3 (+39 0789 791200). The list has no chamber in Nuoro province; from Cala Gonone every chamber is hours away — call 112 and DAN first. • Rest day: the Bue Marino and Grotta del Fico show caves, the Su Gologone spring and the Valle di Lanaittu (Sa Oche, the nuraghic village Sa Sedda 'e sos Carros).