Snorkeling in Sardinia: our guide

One of the most fun activities that can be practiced on the beach in Sardinia, both for adults and children, is snorkeling. It is a water sport that requires basic preparation and a little attention, like all activities at sea, but which is among the most satisfying and fun, especially if practiced in the most beautiful places in the Mediterranean Sea. Anyone who knows how to swim can try their hand at this activity: mask and snorkel are enough to be a perfect "snorkeler". Fins and underwater camera are part of the optional equipment, which make it even more interesting, but they are not necessary. Just put on a mask and respirator and let yourself slide on the water, admiring the colorful backdrops of the most beautiful bays in Sardinia, which flow smoothly and clearly in front of the lenses. Let yourself be captivated by the perfection and beauty of nature, which has been particularly generous in this part of the world.

We have already briefly dealt with the topic in the past, today we want to go a little deeper, naming some top spots.

Sardinian waters offer magical spectacles to snorkelers, who enjoy to be immersed in the turquoise element with a unique transparency. It is not uncommon to come across colorful schools of fish, which playfully swim among the multiform algae and corals, starfish, sea urchins, bivalves, crabs and hermit crabs and another myriad of species that inhabit the wonderful Sardinian Sea. Everything is clearly visible in contrast with the white sand of the seabed. Admire everything, take souvenir photos if you wish, but be respectful of such wonders. The marine ecosystem is as beautiful as it is fragile, and deserves to be treated with due delicacy. Everything must be left in its place: sand, shells or other types of "souvenirs" should not be taken, nor should any type of waste be abandoned in the sea, so that those who come later can admire the same wonders we were able to enjoy.

The beaches where you can snorkel in Sardinia are many: the shores are open and accessible to all. The only possible limitation derives from bans on access to certain marine protected areas or military areas. So always take your snorkeling equipment with you, and have fun!

Our suggestion is to contact specialized diving centers, which often offer snorkeling excursions by boat or dinghy, which are conducted by expert staff and connoisseurs of the area, and take place in the best bays.

Here are some suggestions on where to snorkel in Sardinia.

Among the places where you can practice snorkeling in southern Sardinia, the area of Villasimius and Chia stand out, as well as the islands of Sulcis.

Villasimius: in this very famous location in southern Sardinia there are several beaches where you can admire the incredibly clean seabed, with a colorful underwater life. Among the most famous and beautiful beaches we highlight Porto Giunco. Moving a little further south, in Capo Carbonara, right in front of the Isola dei Cavoli, you will have the opportunity to snorkel in one of the many paradisiacal coves. The seabed is inhabited by myriads of fish, and has an incredible biodiversity. Seeing is believing.

Chia: this hamlet of Domus de Maria is located southwest of Cagliari. Among the paradisiacal beaches found in the area, we advise to dive in Cala Cipolla, an unparalleled naturalistic pearl. Continuing west, you come across the famous beach of Tuerredda, in the territory of Teulada, where it is worth taking a dip with a mask and snorkel to swim in a postcard like blue sea.

Island of San Pietro and Sant’Antioco. The Sulcis islands offer various beautiful coves and beaches of great biological diversity, where you can admire superb sea beds with a great variety of marine flora and fauna. Cala Sapone in Sant’Antioco is just one of the many bays, perfect for snorkeling, due to the large presence of shoals of fish. A little more difficult to reach, but still suitable for snorkeling, is Cala Grotta, also known as Cala Tuffi: a rocky inlet with an iconic shallow cave, 15m high, where the crystalline sea has turquoise blue tones. On the other hand, close to Carloforte we point out Cala Fico, an inlet with a bottom of stones and gravel, protected by rocks that seem extraterrestrial, where snorkeling is a unique experience.

Among the pearls of the Eastern Sardinian coast where you can practice snorkeling, we highlight two iconic beaches: Cala Goloritzé and Cala Mariolu. Both have shallow sea beds, water clean and transparent like crystal, and unreal blue shades. These beaches do not need any introduction, they are among the best known and most photographed beaches in eastern Sardinia and the Gulf of Orosei.

It is difficult to choose where "not" to snorkel in the north of Sardinia! Surely, not to be missed is the earthly paradise of the Maddalena Archipelago, with its myriads of coves suitable for this activity, scattered among the countless islands and islets that make up the archipelago. Difficult to reach on foot, and not really suitable for children, but a dream location is Cala Coticcio on the island of Caprera. Another ideal beach for snorkeling is Cala Spalmatore, located on the mother island of La Maddalena, with its incredible transparency.

In Costa Paradiso, an incredible village nestled between marvelous granite rocks in the north of Sardinia, Li Cossi beach is considered a snorkeler's paradise. Protected by high rocks of pink trachite and by a shallow, slowly degrading seabed, the Costa Paradiso gem is waiting to be discovered with scuba mask and snorkel. The emerald green waters and the biological variety seem to come out of a documentary set in the atolls of the Pacific.

In Alghero, in the metropolitan area of Sassari, we find other fabulous locations for snorkeling, such as Il Lazzareto and the Porto Conte Park. By rubber dinghy, preferably with an organized excursion, it is possible to visit the white cliffs of Capo Caccia. Further north is Stintino, where we suggest a gem: after going up the panoramic road of Capo Falcone, which runs along La Pelosa beach, you can leave the car near the market and the restaurant of the same name, and walk to a high cliff leading to the Mare di fuori. Careful during the descent on the rocks. Once you get to the surface of the water, let yourself slide on a deep cobalt blue sea, which holds several amazing underwater beauties.

The west coast of Sardinia offers several beaches where it is possible to snorkel. Above all, we suggest visiting the Sinis Peninsula. In particular, we highlight the famous beach of Is Arutas, with the beach made up of billions of white quartz grains, whose seabed is very suitable for exploration with a mask and snorkel. But don't limit yourself to this beach: throughout the area there are several coves and bays that seem to be especially made for snorkeling and diving.

If you want to combine the healthy snorkeling activity with a regenerating holiday period, we suggest you take a look at the following villas for rent in Sardinia, from which you can easily reach the best beaches for diving and snorkeling:

Villa Matilde in Costa Paradiso.

Villa Linayre in Stintino.

Back to top!