Cave diving around Sorrento and Punta Campanella
Shallow sea caves in the Punta Campanella marine protected area on the Sorrento peninsula — Zaffiro and Isca with air bells full of formations, the 80 m Grotta di Mitigliano and Punta Falcone — by boat with a local centre; the Grotta Azzurra on Capri is closed to divers.
5 caves · down to 30 m · 4 suitable for an intro team
All 5 caves
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grotta Azzurra (Capri)⛔ Closed to divers | – | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta dell'Isca | 15 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta dello Zaffiro | 16 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta di Mitigliano | 15 m | Backmount | Intro to cave |
| Grotta di Punta Falcone | 30 m | Not known yet | Cavern |
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
- 112; coast guard 1530; DAN Europe +39 06 4211 5685.
- Hyperbaric chambers (SIMSI list, March 2024): Naples – AORN Cardarelli, Via Cardarelli 9, Napoli (+39 081 747 4102, +39 081 747 4098; 24 h for critical patients, on call at night and on holidays). Salerno – AOU San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona, Largo Ippocrate 1, Salerno (+39 089 672756, +39 089 673387; 24 h). Children: AORN Santobono, Via M. Fiore 6, Napoli (+39 081 220 5790; 24 h). Call 112 and DAN first.
Access and rules
- AMP Punta Campanella: marine protected area around the tip of the peninsula, managed by a consortium of Massa Lubrense, Sorrento, Sant'Agnello, Piano di Sorrento, Vico Equense and Positano (office Palazzo Vespoli, Viale Filangieri, Massa Lubrense; info@puntacampanella.org, +39 081 808 9877). Zone A (integral reserve) includes the Vervece rock and the Vetara islet.
- Rules for divers (2016 overview of the Campania marine reserves): in zone A only guided dives with centres authorised by the AMP; in zones B and C dives (individual or in groups) with AMP authorisation, or guided by an authorised centre. Ask the AMP for current rules, fees and any cave rules. The caves lie in zone B (Zaffiro, Isca, Punta Falcone) and C (Mitigliano) and you dive them by boat with a local centre.
Closed or restricted
- Capri: the Grotta Azzurra is closed to swimmers and divers (museum site, rowing boats only). Dive centres go to Capri for wall and deep dives (Punta Carena, the 'Traliccio' lattice tower off Punta Carena at -50/-62 m, Salto di Tiberio). Ferries and hydrofoils to Capri from Sorrento, Positano, Amalfi and Naples.
Gas and fills
- Gas: Punta Campanella Diving (Sorrento) lists air, nitrox, trimix, 'mixed gas' and CO₂ absorbent on its PADI page, and rents scooters; ask about O₂. Nettuno Diving (Marina del Cantone): gases not stated. Ask about CCR rental.
Safety
- Boat traffic: all caves are on the sea and reached only by boat; in summer the water is busy. In July 2026 a diver died at Marina di Puolo (not a cave dive); investigators looked at a possible impact with a passing boat during the ascent. Ascend with a buoy and at your own boat.
Getting around
- Getting there: Sorrento is on the Circumvesuviana railway from Naples.
Rest day
- Rest day: visit the Grotta Azzurra by rowing boat (April–October 9:00–18:00, November–March 9:00–14:00; €6 plus the boat, sea permitting).
Plan a cave diving trip to Sorrento and Punta Campanella
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 (dive centres Punta Campanella Diving and Nettuno Diving, PADI listing, Logbook Immersioni, Divemania, Cielo Mare Terra, 2016 overview of the Campania marine protected areas, Sorrento is Wonderful, Wikivoyage, Ministry of Culture, Wikipedia, Il Fatto Quotidiano 2020, Positanonews 2026, SIMSI list March 2024; Sept 2026). Pins from Logbook Immersioni (see each site); ~ = estimate. Rules change — check locally.