If you are staying in or around Golfo Aranci and looking for a scuba diving or snorkeling experience in Sardinia, you are in the right place. Just 30 to 35 minutes away by car, Cannigione is home to Anthias Diving, a PADI 5-star dive center operating since 1993 in one of the most spectacular marine environments in the entire Mediterranean.
Golfo Aranci is great. The La Maddalena Archipelago is something else.
Golfo Aranci and the surrounding area offer beautiful waters and a genuine Sardinian atmosphere. But if you are a diver or snorkeler looking for an extraordinary underwater experience, the La Maddalena Archipelago National Park takes things to a completely different level.
This protected marine area, just north of Cannigione, is home to over 40 dive sites with visibility reaching up to 40 metres, rocky walls draped in red and yellow gorgonians, historic wrecks, and an incredible diversity of Mediterranean marine life. It is one of the last truly pristine marine environments in Europe, and very few dive centers in Sardinia have the experience and knowledge of these waters that Anthias Diving has built over 30 years.
What you will find at Anthias Diving in Cannigione
Anthias Diving is a PADI 5-star IDC Center based at the port of Cannigione, with over 131 five-star Google reviews. Our team of certified PADI instructors and guides speaks English, Italian, French and Spanish, welcoming divers and snorkelers from all over the world every season.
We offer daily guided double dives departing at 8:30 AM, snorkeling boat tours to Caprera and Spargi in the afternoon, discover scuba diving experiences for beginners, and a full range of PADI courses from Open Water to Divemaster. Equipment rental is available on site.
The dive sites you will explore
Every morning our guides choose two dive sites from over 40 available spots based on sea conditions and the group’s level. Some of the highlights include Il Grottino, a spectacular underwater cave formation, the wreck of the Angelika, walls covered in gorgonians at depths between 15 and 35 metres, and the waters around the Isole dei Monaci, where large schools of barracudas are a regular sighting.
For snorkelers, the afternoon tours to Cala Coticcio in Caprera, known as the Tahiti of the Mediterranean, and to the hidden coves of Spargi including Cala Corsara and its legendary Roccia della Strega, are experiences that stay with you long after you leave Sardinia.
Is it worth driving from Golfo Aranci to Cannigione?
Absolutely. The 30 to 35 minute drive from Golfo Aranci to Cannigione takes you through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Sardinia, with views over the Costa Smeralda and the islands of the archipelago. And what awaits you at the end of the drive is a diving or snorkeling experience in a protected marine park that very few places in the Mediterranean can match.
Many of our guests travel much further than Golfo Aranci to dive with us. Some come specifically from France, Germany and the UK for a week of diving in the La Maddalena Archipelago. If you are already in Sardinia, 30 minutes is nothing.
How to get from Golfo Aranci to Cannigione
From Golfo Aranci, take the SS125 north towards Olbia, then follow the signs for Arzachena and Cannigione. The drive is approximately 30 to 35 minutes and the road is straightforward. Parking is available at the port of Cannigione, right where we depart every morning
FAQ
How far is Cannigione from Golfo Aranci?
Cannigione is approximately 30 to 35 minutes by car from Golfo Aranci, via the SS125 towards Arzachena.
Do I need a diving certification to join your trips?
For our guided dives a minimum Open Water Diver certification or equivalent is required. For our discover scuba diving experience and snorkeling tours, no certification is needed.
What time do the dives depart?
Guided dives depart every morning at 8:30 AM from the port of Cannigione. Snorkeling tours depart at 3:00 PM and return at 6:30 PM.
Can I rent equipment at Anthias Diving?
Yes, full equipment rental is available at €30 per day, including wetsuit, regulator, mask and fins.
Is it worth visiting Cannigione just for diving?
Absolutely. The La Maddalena Archipelago National Park is one of the finest diving destinations in the Mediterranean, with over 40 dive sites, visibility up to 40 metres and exceptional marine biodiversity.