Cave diving on Ustica
Volcanic island off Palermo with Italy's first marine protected area (1986): nine official underwater caves, from the shallow Pastizza near the harbour to the deep Grotta dei Gamberi (-42 m) and Grotta dei Cirri — guided only, with an authorised dive centre.
8 caves · down to 50 m · 8 suitable for an intro team
All 8 caves
| Site | Max depth | Type | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grotta dei Cirri | 50 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta dei Gamberi | 50 m | Backmount | Intro to cave |
| Grotta dei Gamberi 2 | 25 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta della Falconiera | 34 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta della Pastizza | 25 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta delle Cipree | 18 m | Backmount | Cavern |
| Grotta delle Stalattiti | 13 m | Not known yet | Cavern |
| Tunnel del Medico (Grotta della Balena) | 26 m | Backmount | 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.
- Chamber on the island: Servizio Terapia Iperbarica of ASP Palermo in the Ustica Poliambulatorio, +39 091 844 9630 (SIMSI list, March 2024; 24 h service not stated). According to ASP Palermo it operates from 1 May to 31 October, for emergencies and elective treatment. On Sicily: Palermo – Policlinico Paolo Giaccone, Via Alfonso Giordano 3, pavilion 4D (+39 091 655 2722, +39 091 655 2729); Palermo – Ospedale Civico, Via Lazzaro (+39 091 666 5104); Partinico – ASP Palermo, Via Circonvallazione 1 (24/365 for emergencies; daytime +39 091 703 1168, nights and holidays +39 091 703 1205). Call 112 and DAN first.
Access and rules
- AMP Isola di Ustica (1986, ~16,000 ha; also Natura 2000 site ZSC ITA020046). Zone A (integral reserve, west coast between Punta Spalmatore and Punta di Megna): no diving except AMP research. Zone B (north side, from Punta Cavazzi to Punta Omo Morto, out to 3 nm) and zone C (south side): diving with authorisation. AMP office: +39 091 844 9237, direttore@ampustica.it.
- Caves (2026 disciplinare, art. 8): guided dives only, with an AMP-authorised centre, in daylight only; all participants and guides hold a cave speciality certification; max 4 divers per guide and max 2 dives per day per cave; from 1 June to 30 September only in the first and third week of each month. The official list has nine caves: Stalattiti, Accademia/Pastizza, Gamberi 1 and 2, Cocci and Cipree (zone C); Cirri, Tunnel del Medico and Falconiera (zone B). Ask whether your centre is authorised and has a cave-certified guide.
- Independent diving (art. 7 and 21): in zones B and C with AMP authorisation, only at the designated sites, within 50 m of your mooring or dive buoy, max 4 dives per site per day, not solo and not without someone qualified in first aid; caves are excluded. Fee €6 per day or €50 for 10 dives; apply with the 'Immersioni libere' form via direttore@ampustica.it or PEC comune@pec.comune.ustica.pa.it. Mooring only with authorisation on the AMP buoys, one boat per buoy, for the length of the dive; max 5 knots within 300 m of the coast and 10 knots between 300 and 600 m.
- Scooters (DPV) are banned in the AMP unless the AMP authorises them on application. Do not touch or take anything and do not feed fish.
Gas and fills
- Gas: La Perla Nera Diving fills air, nitrox and trimix (Haskel booster) and welcomes rebreathers; Ustica Diving Center fills nitrox up to 36%. Ask in advance about pure O₂ for CCR.
Water and season
- Season: most divers come in summer; Blue Diving says it is open all year.
Getting around
- Getting there: hydrofoil (Liberty Lines) from Palermo ~1.5 h, ferry (Caronte & Tourist Isole Minori – Siremar) ~3 h; daily all year, in summer up to 4 hydrofoils a day, far fewer in winter. Bringing a car is discouraged (little parking, restrictions for visitors). Ask the shipping line in advance whether you may carry full dive cylinders.
Rest day
- Rest day: snorkel routes along the Grotta Azzurra, the Grotta Pastizza, the Grotta delle Barche and the Grotta Verde.
Plan a cave diving trip to Ustica
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 (2026 disciplinare integrativo and forms of the Isola di Ustica AMP via the Comune di Ustica, 1986 institution decree via FAOLEX, Regione Siciliana, WWF camps Ustica, Parchi per tutti, dive centres Ustica Diving Center, La Perla Nera, Blue Diving, Lustrica and Mister Jump, Viaggi per Sub, OpenStreetMap via Mapcarta, ASP Palermo via PalermoToday, SIMSI list March 2024, Explore Ustica, Caronte & Tourist, Wikipedia; Sept 2026). Pins from OpenStreetMap (see each site); ~ = estimate. Rules change — check locally.