Granite instead of coral: dive courses and trips in the La Maddalena National Park – Washington Rock, Caprera and Spargi, with Ahmed as your guide.
See prices & coursesFrom October to May, Ahmed belongs to the Red Sea. When the summer heat arrives there, he moves to the other end of the Mediterranean – the La Maddalena National Park off Sardinia's north-eastern tip.
It is a completely different underwater world from Hurghada. Instead of coral gardens you find enormous, water-smoothed granite boulders, canyons and swim-throughs. The water is clear and cooler, the light falls differently. Anyone who has seen both understands why Ahmed refuses to give up either.
The archipelago has been a protected area since 1994. That is exactly why the fish life here is so good – groupers that vanished from other places long ago will sit calmly right in front of your mask.
Three sites, three completely different dives – all a short boat ride away.
The archipelago's best-known site and its most demanding. A free-standing pinnacle rising from the depths, splitting the current – and that is exactly what draws the life in. Schools of barracuda hang in the blue, big groupers park in the cracks, and when you look up you see the shoals silhouetted against the surface. On a day with current, this is a dive you will still be talking about years later.
Off the island where Garibaldi spent his final years, granite boulders the size of small houses lie underwater. Between them: narrow canyons, arches and swim-throughs where the light breaks into stripes. A dive for wandering and staring, technically relaxed yet never dull.
Shallow, bright and sheltered – the friendliest site in the archipelago. White sand reflects the light upwards, with rock formations in between holding octopus, scorpionfish and clouds of small damselfish. This is where Ahmed runs most of his course dives, and where people with only a handful of dives in the logbook love to go.
All prices are per person. Equipment is fully included on all courses.
Your first breath underwater – in the Mediterranean off Sardinia. No experience needed, Ahmed stays by your side the whole time.
The fast track into diving: become a certified Scuba Diver in just two days. Perfect when holiday time is tight – you can upgrade to Open Water any time later.
Two dives at two different sites in the La Maddalena National Park – Caprera, Washington Rock or Spargi. Granite boulders, schooling fish and visibility all the way to the bottom.
The full diving licence off Sardinia's coast. Theory, sheltered training dives and four open-water dives – after that you dive worldwide, for life.
Ahmed is on site from June to September. During that period the water sits between roughly 21 and 26 °C and visibility regularly reaches 20 to 30 metres. July and August are the warmest, June and September the quietest.
Not for the Intro Dive – you need nothing but swimwear and the ability to swim. For the half-day trips you do need a certification. If you don't have one: the Scuba Diver course takes only two days and then you can join.
In the La Maddalena National Park off Sardinia's north-eastern tip, a short boat ride from La Maddalena. It is a free-standing pinnacle rising from the depths – known for current, barracuda and big groupers.
Yes, in designated zones and with licensed operators. The archipelago has been protected since 1994, and that is precisely why the fish life is so good. Ahmed knows the rules and the permitted zones.
On all courses full equipment is included in the price. On the half-day trip you can choose: €140 with your own kit, €175 with full rental equipment.
Write to Ahmed directly – tell him the dates you have in mind and what experience you bring. He replies personally, usually within a few hours.