The 15 Best Snorkeling Trips in Italy

1.Cagliari: Boat Tour with 4 Swim Stops, Snorkeling & Prosecco

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,546 reviews · 3 hours · from $59Our pick

Join a professional Italian- and English-speaking skipper from Cagliari’s Via Roma for a three-hour RIB boat trip around Devil’s Saddle. Expect four swim and snorkeling stops, shared space for up to 12 people, fish-filled water, coastal stories, and Prosecco on the way back. Guides may include Matteo, Giovanni, Pietro, or Alessandro.

“Great guide, very flexible with regards to stops, friendly and professional!”

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2.Tropea: Capo Vaticano Boat Trip with Snorkeling & Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 1,130 reviews · 3 hours · from $40

Sail from Tropea along the Coast of the Gods to Capo Vaticano, stopping at Formicoli, Praia i Focu, Riaci, and the Blue Grotto. You get about three hours on the water, several chances to swim and snorkel, equipment, Calabrian snacks, prosecco, and a soft drink. Guides such as Domenico, Cristian, and Frederico lead tours in Italian and English.

“Good boat trip with stops for swimming & snorkelling. Very enjoyable”

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3.Amalfi Coast: Boat and Snorkeling Tour with Fruit & Drinks

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 985 reviews · from $100

Spend four hours aboard a traditional 10 to 12 meter Amalfitan Gozzo with an English or Italian speaking captain. Cruise from Amalfi toward Positano, stop to swim and snorkel near Conca dei Marini and La Porta, pass Furore Fjord and coastal grottoes, and enjoy fruit, prosecco, beer, soft drinks, and limoncello. Groups are limited to 10 people.

“The boat was comfortable and guide was great; particularly skilled navigating the choppy water as the weather turned half way through the tour. Coastline is beautiful! Due to the weather, we only swam off the boat once but when we did it was fantastic to jump off and swim inside a grotto!”

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4.Sardegna: Tavolara Boat Tour with Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 921 reviews · 4 hours · from $88

Spend four hours aboard a small boat from Olbia, stopping at Spiaggia del Dottore, Molara’s natural pools, Tavolara Bay, Punta Spalmatore, and the Ulisse Ear Cave. Guides such as Antonio, Francesco, and Giovanni lead the swims, provide masks, drinks, and Sardinian snacks, and adjust the route when wind or clouds roll in.

“Magical morning in Olbia with the wonderful guide Antonio. Spoke good English and was interactive with everyone on the boat. Thank you Antonio! It was my first time seeing dolphins so close and it is definitely a memory that will stay with me forever. The tour overall was great, the weather was nice and enjoyable despite it being October. Would definitely recommend!”

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5.Syracuse: Boat Tour with Captain Mirko, Snorkeling & Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 746 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $35Best value

Join Captain Mirko, or another member of his friendly crew, at Riva della Posta for a 90-minute cruise around Ortigia. See Maniace Castle, Aretusa Fountain, the Grand Harbor, and the Umbertino Bridge, then enter sea caves and stop to swim. English and Italian commentary, masks, and fresh water are included.

“A great boat trip around syracuse to the caves. Mirko is really charming, although he only spoke italian. Well worth the money!”

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6.Siracusa: Ortigia Boat Tour with Marine Grotto & Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 726 reviews · 2 hours · from $47

See Ortigia from a 12-person boat, passing the Umbertino Bridge, Arethusa Spring, Maniace Castle, and sea caves. Your skipper speaks Italian, English, or Spanish, with fruit, juice, prosecco, snorkeling gear, and swim time included. Captains such as Michelangelo, Gaetano, Salvo, and Gianni are known for friendly hosting and lively music.

“A great experience! The people are very friendly. I made a double booking (exploring Etna and this boat exploration). It was no problem to reschedule the booking, while we were absent, to the next day. The boat trip was unforgettable. A captain who lives for the sea and loves to sing, with great energy. Explaining the surroundings in Italian, while recording the explanations in Google translate, which caused some funny moments while playing these after his Italian explanatory, in English. The views from the boat are exceptional. and the water was clear and warm. Go for it!”

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7.Olbia: Dolphin Watching & Snorkeling Boat Tour near Figarolo

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 670 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $77

From Olbia, join a small group of up to 10 people aboard a fast 8.5-meter inflatable boat. Guides such as Antonio, Francesco, and Giovanni search for wild bottlenose dolphins near Figarolo, then stop for snorkeling, swimming, coastal sights, and Sardinian snacks with beer or soft drinks.

“Amazing experience! highly recommend. Guide was friendly and great!”

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8.Olbia: Tavolara and Molara Snorkeling Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 667 reviews · 4 hours · from $82

Board a zodiac at Olbia’s MOYS marina for a four-hour tour with a captain and guide. Snorkel over the Chrisso shipwreck, swim among fish at Molara’s natural pools, and pause at Tavolara and Punta Spalmatore. Guides speak Italian, English, French, and Spanish. Drinks, snacks, and gear are included.

“We had a really great trip, with excellent guide. It was first time snorkeling for us, but everything was explained and couldn't have been better. Thank you for a great experience! 😀”

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9.Taormina Boat Tour with Snorkeling and Prosecco

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 626 reviews · 2 hours · from $53

Spend two hours cruising from Giardini Naxos along the Taormina coast with guides Enzo or Tindaro. You’ll see Isola Bella, Grotta dell’Amore, the Blue Grotto, White Lotus filming sites, and a clear-water swim stop. Snorkel gear, fruit, Sicilian sweets, music, and Prosecco are included.

“It was excellent. We had lots of fun thanks to make our day”

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10.From Tropea: Capo Vaticano boat tour with snorkel & aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 559 reviews · 2.5 - 3 hours · from $47

Sail from Tropea along Calabria’s Coast of the Gods with Captain Paolo and his crew. You’ll pass caves, beaches, and historic coastal sites, stop to swim and snorkel at Grotticelle Bay, then enjoy music, snacks, and drinks before returning to Tropea. The tour is in Italian, with some crews offering English directions.

“I loved this boat, the people are very friendly, the appetizers are good, it was very funny!!”

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11.Cagliari: Boat Tour, 4 Stops, Swim, Snorkeling, & 1 Spritz

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 539 reviews · from $62

Set out from Bacan Cagliari on an 8-meter RIB for a 195-minute tour of the southern coast. Your skipper, possibly Francesca, Gianni, Johnny, or Simon, leads you to Cala Bernat, Cala Mosca, Cala Fighera, Devil’s Saddle, and Poetto. Expect swimming, snorkeling, coastal stories, music, dolphin-spotting chances, and one onboard pink sangria or Spritz.

“This trip is perfect if you are a bigger group of friends! We were 7 girls and booked this trip almost last minute and we had the boat for ourselves. Gianni is amazing, he’s really funny, he’s an entertainer and he’s great personality made the trip to be unforgettable! His English is perfect so it’s easier to have a laugh. Thank you , this boat trip is the highlight of our vacation 🥰”

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12.Boat Excursions in Cefalù with Snorkeling & Aperitif

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 457 reviews · 3 hours · from $53

Join Francesco and Gabriel aboard the 10-meter Popeye boat for three hours along Cefalù’s coast. Swim at Kalura and Mazzaforno, explore sea caves, try the paddle board, and finish with bruschetta, cheeses, fruit, Prosecco, and Sicilian snacks. The 5:30 PM departure adds sunset views and a short evening swim under underwater lights.

“Absolutely fantastic day. Our guide and who I believe was his son were very accommodating and welcoming. Multiple stops at lovely swimming locations. They had lots of history to tell about the locations. They also told us of their families history fishing in Cefalú which was very interesting. Food and drinks were also lovely. Definitely would recommend to anyone, especially sunset time. The snacks and drinks where a bonus on top”

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13.7 hours Boat trip to Lampedusa lunch, SUP and Snorkeling

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 453 reviews · from $86Top rated

Join Pietro, Giuseppe, Marino, and the Sapore di Mare team for a seven-hour boat trip around Lampedusa. You’ll stop at La Tabaccara, swim near protected beaches when conditions permit, use SUP equipment, snorkel, and enjoy a generous lunch aboard a small boat limited to 15 people.

“Lampedusa is an island in the Mediterranean Sea. Lampedusa is an Italian island to the south of Italy, not far from the North African coast. It's famous for it's seafood; agriculture is an active source of vegetables. Lampedusa is a great place to dine. Boating is the best way to reRead more”

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14.Amalfi: Boat Adventure Caves, Beaches, Snorkeling & Positano

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 355 reviews · from $88

Set out from Amalfi on a 10 to 12 metre gozzo with an English-speaking host and captain. Sail past Conca dei Marini, Furore and Praiano, stop to swim and snorkel, then reach Positano. The 4-hour trip includes drinks, snacks, towels and equipment. Longer tours add free time in Positano, while sunset and Capri options are also available.

“Beautiful weather, boat captain was very professional and knowledgeable about the area.”

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15.Syracuse Boat Excursion with Snorkeling to the Sea Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 100 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $37

Set out from Via Eritrea in Ortigia for a two-hour cruise along Syracuse’s coast. Skippers such as Carmelo, Enzo, Gianni, Corrado, and Michelangelo take you beneath the castle, into sea caves when conditions allow, and to calm swimming spots. Expect music, fruit, prosecco, and a relaxed boat ride for up to 15 people.

“Amazing experience! Water is clear, and staff was fantastic, snacks and champagne on the boat, and a beautiful view of the island.”

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