17 Best Spots For Snorkeling In Sardinia

As you know, Sardinia is the island where I was born and where I live. Although I have travelled a lot and to wonderful places like Caribbean, Maldives and Seychelles, I think the sea here is among the most beautiful in the world.

It is not only because of its color that has a thousand shades of turquoise, green and blue but it is mostly because of its clearness: even when the water is 15 meters (49 feet) deep or more you can still see the seabed.

The Mediterranean Sea is home to so many varieties of fish, so it goes without saying that snorkeling in Sardinia can be a lot of fun! You can see cetaceans, crustaceans and even tortoises that live among rocks, corals, caves and Poseidonia meadows. There are, in addition, many protected areas where marine flora and fauna are really rich.

For all these reasons I think snorkeling is one of the most unforgettable things to do in Sardinia.
You don’t believe me? Come and try! Just pick a beach, bring your snorkel gear and start swimming.

If you want to do some snorkeling in Sardinia, worry not. I love doing that, and just for you I have selected some of the best spots for snorkeling in Sardinia.

Map Of The Best Places To Go Snorkeling In Sardinia

Wondering “where are to go snorkeling in Sardinia?” – I have created a places to go snorkeling in Sardinia map for you that you can see below.

In some cases, you can simply wear your snorkeling gear and start swimming from the shore for a snorkeling session, but in other cases you will need to get on a boat for a more fun snorkeling experience.

How to use this Snorkeling in Sardinia map: This snorkeling in Sardinia map points out the places you should consider visiting if you are interesting in looking at marine life. Use your computer mouse on desktop or laptop, or your fingers on your smartphone, to enlarge it. When you click on the star next to the title, the map should be saved in your Google Maps account. You can see the saved map on your smartphone or computer when you click on “Your saved maps” in your Google Maps. You can also see the map it in a larger screen by clicking on “View larger map” in the top right corner.

I’d also like to stress that there are many more snorkeling spots in Sardinia that are worth checking out other than those I mention in this post – if you have been to Sardinia already and have a favorite snorkeling spot, let me know in the comments!

Where To Go Snorkeling In Sardinia

Sella del Diavolo (Cagliari)

The Sella del Diavolo – or Devil’s Saddle in English – is the closest nature escape to the city. In fact, it is located in Cagliari and just a five-minute drive from the center. This strip of land separates Poetto Beach from Calamosca beach – two of the most famous beaches in Cagliari – and it’s considered one of most famous landmarks in Cagliari.

You can discover more about the Sella del Diavolo, the legend behind its name and even how to visit by reading my post How To Visit The Sella Del Diavolo In Cagliari.

The Devil’s Saddle is full of small caves and sheer cliffs, little beaches accessible only by sea, the water is crystal clear and has a thousand beautiful shades of blue.

Isn’t it incredible that one of the top spots for snorkeling in Sardinia is just in the capital city? Just a few meters from shore it is easy to come across small murres, soles and starfish, while much larger fish can be found offshore. If you are very lucky you may even see dolphins.

LOCAL TIP: Avoid going on Saturdays and Sundays in the peak summer months as that’s when many locals will also go and you may find yourself swimming among the boats with the seabed moved by their engines.

You will need to join a guided tour to get to the snorkeling spots around the Devil Saddle. Most of them depart from Poetto Beach, which is very close to Cagliari city center: you can easily get there by bus.

If your tour is starting at Su Siccu, you can easily walk there from the city center. If you have your own car, follow the directions to Poetto Beach and park your car there.

This half day speed boat tour to Sella del Diavolo departs from Su Siccu, a very convenient location in Cagliari, and makes several stops for snorkeling. You will also be provided with snorkeling gear.

Another option is this zodiac tour that departs from the Molo Dogana, at the tourist harbor of Cagliari. It’s similar to the one above, but you will also enjoy prosecco during your tour.

Alternatively, you can rent a kayak or a Stand Up Paddle board at one of the beach clubs along the beach to get closer to the Devil’s Saddle.

Capo Carbonara / Isola dei Cavoli / Isola di Serpentara (Villasimius)

Capo Carbonara, Isola dei Cavoli and Isola di Serpentara are among my favorite places to go snorkeling in Sardinia. They belong to a Marine Protected Area, so snorkeling there is like swimming in a big aquarium going through large schools of fish that brush past you.

You can spot groupers, capons, ravens, snappers, shrimps, octopuses, amberjacks, breams, mullets and morays. In the Variglioni of Serpentara you’ll easily come across barracudas too. Dolphins and marine turtles live in the area too. On the seabed, between granite rocks, there’s Posidonia, a marine plant that is a great indication of how clean these waters are.

In addition to flora and fauna, my actual favorite sight at Isola dei Cavoli is the Madonna del Naufrago (Castaway Madonna), a statue by famous Sardinian artist Pinuccio Sciola. Located at a depth of 11 meters (36 feet) below sea level, thanks to the crystal-clear water, it can be easily seen when snorkeling. The statue is in pink trachyte and over 3 meters (almost 10 feet) tall.

The Marine Area of Capo Carbonara is near Villasimius, a lovely small town and a popular summer tourism destination. The easiest way to see the Marine Area is to rent a boat or join a guided tour.

I recommend this excellent Capo Carbonara Boat and Snorkeling Tour that departs regularly from the tourist harbor in Villasimius and lasts 4 hours.

Another good option to explore this area is with a diving school, there are some in Villasimius (one of the most famous diving hubs in Sardinia) that organize diving expeditions to the Protected Marine Area.

Boat tours to Isola dei Cavoli and the Protected Marine Area also depart from the beach in Costa Rei – you can ask at any of the beach clubs along the beach for information on departures.

Porto Giunco (Villasimius)

Porto Giunco Beach is one of the many beautiful Villasimius beaches and one of the most famous, beautiful beaches on the southeast coast of Sardinia. Being part of the Protected Marine Area of Capo Carbonara, it is one of Sardinia’s prime snorkeling and diving spots.

Since there are so many boats offshore in the summer, I recommend swimming at the sides of the beach, but that’s also because near the rocks you will spot many fishes, including breams, snappers and morays.

The beach is characterized by soft, fine white sand and shallow, topaz transparent waters. At the back of the beach, a lagoon – the Stagno di Notteri – is home to pink flamingoes and other species of migratory birds.

Porto Giunco can be easily reached by car from Villasimius or Costa Rei. You will find a massive parking lot (you will have to pay by the hour) and various trails to access the beach.

Occasionally, you may also find a tourist shuttle taking tourists from the center of Villasimius to the beach.

My post A Complete Guide To Porto Giunco shares more detailed information to help you plan your visit.

Tuerredda (Teulada)

Located between Capo Spartivento and Capo Malfatano, Tuerredda is one of the most iconic beaches of southern Sardinia, loved by tourist and locals alike.

This strip of beach combines the wilderness and beauty of a natural beach, with golden sand dunes and emerald waters, with the comfort of beach clubs, restaurants and equipment for a more relaxed stay.

The shallow waters make it a perfect place for families, as kids can play safely on the shore, while adults and children alike can enjoy snorkeling along the rocky sides of the beach. In fact, in front of the beach, you can see the islet of Tuerredda, which is easily reachable by boat, kayak and even by swimming if you are keen.

The islet waters are populated by marine life and flora. You can easily see sand steenbras, wide-eyed founders, wrasses and many more Mediterranean fish species. You can also try to spot a wide-eyed founder and a grouper. Next to the rocks there are many two-banded seabreams.

For an even more fun experience, have a walk on the islet, admire the view and the beautiful colors of the sea and relax before snorkeling back to the beach – though mind you, if you want to get on the islet you will need rock shoes.

GOOD TO KNOW: Tuerredda is a highly protected beach and access is capped to 1100 people per day. Access is on a first come, first serve basis. Otherwise, you can reserve a beach umbrella with sunbeds at one of the beach clubs.

There is no public bus from Cagliari to Tuerredda, so the best way to get there is by car. It’s easy to reach from either Cagliari, Chia or Pula.

My post A Useful Guide To Tuerredda explains in more details how to visit this protected beach.

Cala Cipolla (Domus de Maria)

Cala Cipolla is an extremely popular cove close to Chia and Pula, in south Sardinia.

Being small, sheltered and beautiful, this bay can get incredibly crowded during summer months – and especially during the weekend. It definitely worth visiting though, and if you are traveling to Sardinia in the summer, you should try to arrive very early in the morning get a comfortable spot.

You’ll be treated to fine, white sand; shallow waters perfect for children; and thick Mediterranean vegetation.

The rock formations actually make one of the best places for snorkeling in Sardinia: in this crystal-clear water you will see mullets, breams, groupers, diplodus or white sea bream and, hidden in the rocks, even moray eels.

Cala Cipolla is an easy place to visit on day trips from Cagliari, and close to Pula and Chia. It shares the parking lot with Su Giudeu Beach in Chia. From there, it’s roughly at 10-minute walk to the beach.

My post A Quick Guide To Cala Cipolla shares more detailed information that will help you plan your day there.

Isola di San Pietro

Blessed with beautiful sandy beaches, small rocky coves, transparent waters of a million shades of blue, a barren landscape with scenic rock formations, hiking trails, and the lovely small town of Carloforte, Isola di San Pietro, in southwestern Sardinia, should definitely be on your radar for your next trip to Sardinia.

This is one of the best diving destinations in Sardinia, though keep in mind it is best for expert divers as the diving spots often have strong currents. The best diving centers are Isla Diving and Carloforte Diving.

Further than that, San Pietro Island is also one of the best places to go snorkeling in Sardinia – though I shall warn you the sea is often rough.

Having volcanic origin, its seabed is very varied, rich in reefs and spires, from shallows to gullies, from caves to vertical walls, from sandy bottoms to Posidonia meadows. The sea is rich and unspoiled, you can spot large shoals of bream, moray eels, conger eels, octopus, bream, croakers, groupers, lots of damselfish, and barracudas.

San Pietro Island is easy to reach from Cagliari but not recommended for a day trip (you’d miss out on a lot if you rushed it!). To get there you’ll have to take the ferry from Porto Scuso in mainland Sardinia, or from Calasetta in Sant’Antioco Island.

To enjoy a snorkeling experience in San Pietro Island, you could rent a boat or join a guided tour. There are various options departing from either Carloforte or Calasetta in Sant’Antioco.

My post The Ultimate Guide To San Pietro Island shares more information on the many things to do there.

Cala Goloritzé (Golfo di Orosei)

Swimming under the arch of Cala Goloritze is a unique experience to do in Sardinia. The sea is so transparent that you will be able to see the seabed even when it is 15 meters (49 feet) deep.

Since spring water gets right onto the beach from underwater sources, in some areas the water becomes colder attracting many fish such as sea breams, gilthead breams and sparrows. Can you imagine an immersive experience swimming among them?

The scenery is equally beautiful with sheer cliffs, sandy seabed and a small cave at the right of the arch. The water has an incredible shade of blue: turquoise is so intense to look painted.
For all these reasons, Cala Goloritzé is not only one of the best beaches on the island, but also one of the best spots for snorkeling in Sardinia.

Cala Goloritzé is located in the gorgeous Gulf of Orosei and was declared a National Monument of Italy in 1995. This is one of the protected beaches in Sardinia, and in order to preserve its beauty, visitors are capped. The only way to get to the actual beach is via a hike that starts in the Golgo Plateau.

My post The Best Guide To Cala Goloritzé explains how to visit the beach and plan the hike.

However, the best way to explore this stretch of coastline is on a boat tour, and I actually recommend a small group boat tour. Only small boats – departing from either Santa Maria Navarrese or Cala Gonone – can go into tiny caves and coves. Also, fewer people means less time waiting for everyone to get on or off the boat!

This boat tour departing from Santa Maria Navarrese stops at various beaches, including Cala Goloritzé, and to the Grotta del Fico. The tour lasts 8 hours, and you will have plenty of chances to snorkel.

My post The Best Gulf Boat Tours To Cala Goloritzé shares the best options for tours in the area.

Cala Mariolu (Golfo di Orosei)

Considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Cala Mariolu is one of Sardinia’s most famous beaches, located in the Gulf of Orosei, and one of the various protected beaches on the island.

This is a place of mesmerizing beauty: a small beach, divided into two small coves and surrounded by 500 meters (1,640 feet) high cliffs on both sides. There’s no real sand here, but tiny white pebbles and aquamarine to turquoise colored sea.

Water is almost immediately deep, but as the beach is nicely sheltered from the wind, currents are minimal, making it a fantastic and safe place for swimming and snorkeling. There are several small nearby caves, just a quick swim away. It’s not uncommon to spot dolphins swimming offshore.

The sea at Cala Mariolu is a great habitat for numerous species of fish but you’d better come early in the morning to get the best sunlight and to avoid boats and crowd.

Cala Mariolu can only be reached by boat from Santa Maria Navarrese or Cala Gonone, or via a very challenging hike from the Golgo Plateau. Despite its isolation, the beach is always crowded. Boat tours of the Gulf of Orosei normally stops here too.

For example, you could consider this full day boat tour of the Gulf of Orosei from Cala Gonone which stops at Cala Luna as well as Cala Mariolu. It’s a small boat tour so you’ll be sure to have a great time. I recommend bringing your gear as it may not be available on the boat.

My post A Short Guide To Cala Mariolu explains how to plan a visit to this beach.

Cala Luna (Golfo di Orosei)

Various caves, golden sand, clear water and colorful underwater scenery make Cala Luna one of the most beautiful snorkeling and diving spots in the Gulf of Orosei.

Thanks to its scenic beauty, Cala Luna has been used as the set of many famous movies, among which the most notable ones are Swept Away – both the original movie by Lina Wertmuller and the remake by Guy Ritchie were filmed there – and Mr Robinson, a parody of Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.

Cala Luna is a gorgeous 800 meters (about 0.5 miles) cove of fine golden sand, surrounded by white cliffs that raise up to 300 meters (984 feet) which are perfect for rock climbing and characterized by beautiful azure waters which are shallow for the first meters and soon after become deep.

Along the beach there are five caves which provide shelter from the sun in the summer months and the perfect framing for photos.

The beach is located at the mouth of Illune River, which, at the end of Codula di Luna canyon, creates a small lagoon surrounded by a forest of oleanders, holm oak, oak and Mediterranean bush.

Cala Luna is located between the territories of Baunei and Dorgali and is not accessible by car. The easiest way of getting to Cala Luna is by boat (tours depart from either Cala Gonone and Santa Maria Navarrese) but if you are looking for challenge, you can also hike there.

This guided tour to Cala Luna and Cala Mariolu is one of the best available options. You will be traveling by zodiac, so it’s nicely paced, and get more time to snorkel at various spots. As this isn’t a specific snorkeling tour, make sure to bring your gear!

My post A Detailed Guide To Cala Luna explains how to visit this beach. You should also read my post The Best Cala Gonone Boat Tours which selects the best options for tours along the coast that also go to Cala Luna.

Tavolara and Molara Islands (Olbia)

Tavolara and Molara islands are part of the Protected Marine Area of Tavolara Punta Coda Cavallo, that was created in 1997 in order to preserve the thriving marine life of this part of Sardinia. They are one next to the other, and still unknown to mass tourism (that’s especially the case for Molara).

Being part of a protected area means that visitors can only access a limited area and fishing is prohibited in the entire area – which means there’s a lot of marine life here to admire. Typically, Zone C is the one free to access where you can swim, dive, snorkel and even sail. Nature here is untouched.

Spalmatore di Terra, the main beach of Tavolara, has fine golden sand and incredibly clear waters that get almost immediately deep. It’s 616 meters (2,021 feet) long, and backed by small sand dunes and low Mediterranean shrub.

Molara is a private island, and it can only be visited on guided tours. You will find several small coves, usually a mix of sand and pebbles. Cala Spagnola is a tiny cove where the zodiac of Associazione Molara – the association that runs tours here – docks and which is the only access point to the island.

On a snorkeling expedition you’ll be able to spot coral reef and even underwater caves as well as groupers and gold blotch groupers, seabreams and white seabreams, roughsnout grenadiers and red snappers live.

You may even be able to see archeological remains and shipwrecks. Teddja Liscia, in the southern bit of Tavolara island, Secca del Papa, Molara and Molarotto are the best spots for divers. Other nice snorkeling spots are Punta Molara, Cala dell’Attacco, Punta dell’Arresto and the gorgeous Piscine di Molara, natural pools with pristine clear waters.

You can get to Tavolara by public ferry from Porto San Paolo, but you won’t see so much if you just snorkel from the shore. So, I recommend joining a guided snorkel expedition.

This Tavolara Boat Tour With Snorkeling is only open to no more than 10 participants. The tour lasts 4 hours and leaves every day at 9:30 am. It stops at the Tavolara Marine Protected Area as well as the Piscine di Molara.

My posts The Best Guide To Tavolara and How To Visit Molara Island are insightful resources to plan your visit to both destinations.

Capo Coda Cavallo (San Teodoro)

Capo Coda Cavallo is located on the northeast coast of Sardinia, between San Teodoro and Porto San Paolo, two small towns which are both popular tourist destinations, and within the Protected Marine Area of Tavolara Coda Cavallo.

The beach is a crescent of white sand lapped by a crystal clear sea with shallow waters. At the end of the beach, you’ll find a granite rock promontory that overlooks the island of Proratora.

As it is sheltered from winds and currents and part of the protected marine area, Capo Coda Cavallo remains one of the best places for snorkeling in Sardinia. The best spot is the northern part of the beach, next to the rocks. If you swim along the rocky shore, you can head to Proratora islet.

Underwater life here is incredible. Poseidonia meadows provide the perfect living environment for a great variety of fish, and you will have plenty of chances to see small moray eels, octopuses, striped red mullets, rainbow wrasses and several species of seabream. You may even spot wide-eyed flounders and starfishes if you are lucky.

Cala Spinosa (Santa Teresa di Gallura)

Cala Spinosa is a lovely, tiny cove not far from Santa Teresa di Gallura, and one of my favorite beaches in northern Sardinia. For me it was love at first sight since I saw it from the top of the road.

The cove is made of large rock formations and pebbles only partially mixed with sand and water is incredibly transparent. Both factors, supplemented by the presence of many fish, make it perfect for snorkeling.

The access to the beach is a bit hard as to get there you have to go down a steep slope; but this is not a deterrent, in fact the beach is always quite crowded. As it is not an equipped beach, make sure to bring whatever you need for the day – including obviously your snorkeling gear.

My post How To Visit Cala Spinosa shares more details on how to get to this cove.

Maddalena Archipelago

Made up 62 islands (most of them truly tiny), La Maddalena Archipelago has been a national park since 1994. This protected area is a real paradise for snorkels and divers. You could spend weeks exploring the various islets to discover their marine life.

The beach landscape here is very varied. Some beaches have very fine sand; others rugged rocks; some have very shallow water and in others water quickly becomes deep. Each of them is unique and special.

Many beaches can be reached by car, bike and hike. But if you are short on time and you want to make the most of everything this incredible archipelago has to offer, you need to rent a boat or join a guided boat tour.

Luckily there are many tours available – for any budget and taste. I go to La Maddalena every summer so I have been on all sorts La Maddalena boat tours – catamaran tours, zodiac tours, hop-on hop-off cruises, etc. I must admit that I usually prefer zodiac tours because they allow you to go in small coves and move faster.

If you are staying at La Maddalena you can join this small-group tour that stops at Cala Santa Maria and approaches Spiaggia Rosa (Isola di Budelli) – closed to the public, you can only see this famous pink sand beach from afar. The sail continues to Cala Coccodrillo and Cala Granara (Isola Spargi).

Anoter option is this catamaran tour starting in Palau that includes several stops for snorkeling at Razzoli, Budelli, Santa Maria, Spargi, Caprera and Santo Stefano, depending on wind and sea traffic.

My post The Essential Guide To La Maddalena shares more information on this unique holiday destination.

Asinara Island

Imagine an island where nature rules: here you will not hear traffic noise but only the braying of donkeys, the racing of wild boars; turtles will cross your path; the colors of the sea will fill your eyes and the sea breeze will caress your skin. Well, such an island exists, it is in Sardinia and it is called Asinara.

The small, uninhabited Asinara is one of Sardinia’s National Parks, as well as a wildlife and marine preserve. It is home to some of the best beaches in Sardinia, with powdery white sand that almost seems like spun sugar. The water is crystal clear and unpolluted. You can see a thousand shades of blue.

As Asinara National Park is a protected area, the marine life is flourishing. Asinara is one of the top spots for diving and snorkeling in Sardinia. You’ll see a stunning variety of Mediterranean fish and even some coral.

Spots you should not miss are Cala Sabina, just a 15-minute walk from the only village on the island called Cala d’Oliva. The water is so clear that you will see schools of fish without even needing to snorkel. If you do, you will have the feeling of swimming in an aquarium.

Cala Trabuccato (which can be visited with a guide) is where you can see the “nacchere”, the largest mollusks of the Mediterranean Sea, which can reach up to 1 meter (3 feet) in length.

There are more beautiful beaches but not all of them are accessible to visitors. Cala Arena and Cala Sant’Andrea. for example, are officially off-limits to the public.

Asinara can be reached from mainland Sardinia by ferry – there are departures from Porto Torres and Stintino. There are also boat tours that are a wonderful idea if you are keen on snorkeling.

I recommend this catamaran tour that departs from Stintino and makes several stops for snorkeling. The tour is full day and includes lunch as well as drinks.

My post How To Visit Asinara National Park shares more details that will help you plan your visit.

La Pelosa (Stintino)

Most likely if you have seen a photo of Sardinian beach, this is of La Pelosa. This beach is so beautiful and picturesque, with the Aragonese tower on the islet in the background, that it is really unique.

La Pelosa is a small beach in northern Sardinia, close to Stintino, a picturesque fishing town. It has fine white sand and shallow, transparent waters. Upon arriving the first thing that will strike you will be the intense color of the sea: thousand shades that start from pale blue and fade into turquoise and cobalt blue. In short, a true palette of colors.

The beach faces Isola Piana, and further north, Asinara Island.

It is one of Sardinia’s protected beaches, which means that access is capped to no more than 1500 daily visitors. In my post How To Visit La Pelosa I explain how you too can visit this slice of paradise in Sardinia,

For a fantastic snorkeling experience, bring your snorkel and swim towards the Aragonese Tower to enjoy the fishes and the rocky seabed. And if you’d rather to observe more marine life, you will find two diving centers (Asinara Diving Center and Roccaruja Diving Center) where you can sign up for diving expeditions to Asinara Island and Capo Falcone.

Porto Conte (Alghero)

In northwest Sardinia, the stretch of coastline between Alghero and Stintino is known as Riviera del Corallo because of the presence of red coral in the sea water. Here there are white sandy beaches, small coves and rock formations and more than 2,500 hectares of sea, rocky cliffs, and sandy shores that make up Capo Caccia Marine Protected Area.

Inside this protected area you’ll find Porto Conte Regional Park, founded in 1999 and located just a short distance from Alghero, easy to reach both by car and bus. Inside the bay you will see majestic formations of calcareous algae (up to 3 meters – 9 feet – long) and sandy seabed with Posidonia meadows – it’s the ideal place for the reproduction of mollusc and crustaceans, including lobsters.

There’s even Nereus Cave – one of the most spectacular underwater caves in the Mediterranean Sea, home to a series of tunnels and chambers. These can’t be really seen while snorkeling (you’d have to dive) but the area is home to lots of red corals.

To make the most of snorkeling here, you could join this guided snorkeling tour that goes to Porto Conte and lasts about 4 hours.

Isola di Mal di Ventre (Sinis Peninsula)

Mal di Ventre is a completely uninhabited island in the Sinis Protected Area and it is one of the most popular spots for diving and snorkeling in Sardinia.

This small island has a perimeter of about two kilometers (1.2 miles) and is characterized by the typical Mediterranean scrub vegetation: you will see the beautiful flower of wild garlic.
Being exposed to strong winds, from which its Sardinian name (Malu Entu: Bad Wind in English) originates, it is not easily accessible.

The strong wind that regularly swipes this coast has also caused several shipwrecks, the most famous is the steamer that carried lead ingots. A spectacular 36-meter (118 feet) Roman ship lies on the seabed at a depth of about 30 meters (98 feet), 6 miles from the coast.

This island has several beautiful and unspoilt beaches with crystal clear water, including Punta Libeccio, Cala Maestra and Cala Ponente. The seabed is full of marine life, in fact it is the ideal habitat of crustaceans, mollusks and lots of fishes. You might occasionally spot dolphins.

Isola di Mal di Ventre is on the west coast not far from Oristano. The only way to get there is by boat, typically departing from Mari Ermi beach and occasionally Putzu Idu.

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