mediterranean diving

[scubagirl12]

Anyone ever been there? I will be studying abroad in Florence, Italy for a month this summer and have weekends free. The west coast of Italy is only an hour away and want to at least do a two tank dive. What's it like? Is a 7mil suit enough?

 

[jefft]

Dove the area and off Greece in the 70's. Water doesn't get real cold, 7 mils will be fine.

 

[scubagirl12]

have any pictures? what did you see? how was the viz?

 

[jefft]

Visibility was excellent around the Greek Isles +50', about 30' around Italy. Its been over thirty years and I was in the USN. No way could I afford a underwater camera or enclosure on the 287 dollars a month that I was making back then.

 

[sshindell]

I dove Santorini, Greece in August. Not much to see, but pleasant diving. I would not go out of my way for it, but if you are there already there are nice dive shops, pleasant people, good visibility, and a few things to see. Not worth a second trip though.

Above the water Greece was GREAT!

 

[sshindell]

A 7 mm would be fine (although I was a bit cold in Greece in August when you got to a place where the water was coming out of the inlets). I would not bring equipment, just rent it there.

Frankly, if I was in Italy, I would spend all the weekends topside. You have better diving in Florida then you will see in Italy. But then again, you can say you dove Italy....

 

[jade76]

there is the underwater statue to see.....he he. other than that I just got back from a three week stay in florence about a month ago.

 

[jefft]

<span style="color: black;">I totally agree with Steve, Spend your time above water. Visit ruins, monuments, museums, churches, tourist sites, etc. Get out and see the countryside, ask the locals about the history of their neighborhoods, many locals speak English. I dived because I was a Navy diver and had the equipment on the ship and I was there anyway. I wouldn't go there to dive on purpose.</span>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"> </span></span>

 

[jgoal55]

I studied abroad in Florence for 15 weeks. One of the greatest times of my life. I did go snorkeling around the Amalfi coast a couple of times and did some spear fishing with some Italian friends that I met. The "reefs" are nice but all you see are a lot of sponges and very few corals....mostly rocky caverns and some huge fish.

Here is a good link with some dive sites around Italy.

 

[scubagirl12]

thanks everyone. i want to take a dive while im there just to experience another place and to say i've done it.