On the enigmatic and wild island of Sardinia there are beautiful cliffs that, like giant hands, hug the sea in its northwestern part and the fury of the elements has drawn a steep coastline protected between two capes, Capo Galera and Capo Caccia, which hide the mediterranean red gold.
Despite being almost two hours away by plane, Sardinia continues to be a very little known destination and that has allowed it to remain a true wild paradise, where you feel nature and the presence of the Mediterranean forest in all its splendor, wherever the eye can see . If you want to dive seeing red coral at a shallow depth, feel the silence of the forest and regain inner peace, without a doubt, this is your destination.
Sardinia
The mythical island of Sardinia is located near the Italian coast, but it has nothing to do with the modern museum cities that make it so famous. Sardinia is a diamond in the rough, where man has not been able to finish polishing the landscape, and fortunately the populations are far enough apart from each other to have to go through the forests that are a constant in the island's landscape. Without a doubt, to circulate through its convoluted secondary roads while enjoying the true Mediterranean forest with all its creatures, it is a dream come true. The visitor has the opportunity to go back in time, when forests densely covered the Mediterranean coasts. Despite being a single island, Sardinia has 3 airports, due to the difficulty in the realization of roads, as it is very steep, so that to move from one side of the island to the other, you must go up and down mountain passes. It is therefore highly recommended, take a look at the map and know where you want to go and which airport you have to take.
How is the diving in Sardinia
Diving off the coast of Sardinia is to immerse yourself in the cold waters of the Mediterranean where its crystalline waters give life to the coral and pre-coral ecosystems, as well as some sandy areas and seagrass meadows. The interesting thing about its northwest face is its incredible cliffs, so diving is restricted to departures from a boat. The area chosen in our trip was the one between Capo Caccia and Capo Galera, the latter being the headquarters of the dive center of the same name. The advantage is that you can dive in the entire area that both capes embrace and therefore, the great variety and number of dive sites is wide.
The type of dives that predominate are caves, caves, cavities and arches, as well as hidden enclaves where we can see vivid red coral clumps at shallow depths. This unique effect is due to the cold streams of water that, loaded with nutrients, feed the demanding corals in areas with a predominance of darkness, as is the case of certain entrances to certain caves. Depending on the wind, one point or another will be chosen, normally enjoying a visibility of more than 20 m. We recommend bringing lights or flashlights to enjoy in the caves, keep warm and above all, put on your hood.
Who to dive with
The only accommodation and diving facilities on Capo Galera belong to the Capo Galera Diving Center complex. In the middle of a dense Mediterranean forest that has been totally respected and preserved, some individual bungalows and apartments are hidden. The dive center is in the middle of the complex and a large ramp leads a cart with heavy equipment to the boat, while we go down a path in the middle of bushes overlooking the sea. A luxury!
(Nora Camara, Rafael Fernandez)