Stefano Sub Diving Center

Stefano Sub Diving Center is an established diving operation on the island of Elba, Italy. With over 20 years of experience, the centre is affiliated with PADI and SNSI, and serves as an official FIAS reference point for the island.

You can access the centre's services through two main locations. The primary base is situated in the tourist port of Porto Azzurro, offering easy parking for loading and unloading your kit. A second location is hosted within the Villa Rodriguez hotel in Naregno, just 100 metres from the shoreline.

The team is composed of experienced PADI and SNSI instructors who manage all aspects of your diving experience. They focus on providing detailed briefings and ensuring that dive groups are well-matched in terms of skill level.

Beyond standard instruction, the centre is committed to environmental stewardship. They are active members of the WWF Sub Diving community and the FIAS Sea Point programme, ensuring that diving activities respect the local marine ecosystem.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of training through PADI and SNSI. For beginners, the curriculum starts with Discover Scuba Diving and progresses through the Open Water Diver and Adventure Diver levels.

Advanced divers can specialise through various courses, including PADI Deep Diver, Underwater Navigation, Night Diver, and Wreck Diver. The centre also provides technical training such as Nitrox and Trimix. For those looking to move into professional roles, Divemaster and Master Scuba Diver certifications are available.

The centre operates two distinct vessels to suit different dive profiles. The Cape Horn is a 10-metre dive boat designed to function as a floating dive centre. It offers high levels of comfort, with a sundeck and onboard facilities including a toilet and a hot shower. The crew manages your equipment on board, and cylinders are filled directly on the boat, making the transition from deck to water seamless.

The Drake is a 7.50-metre semi-rigid RIB, ideal for reaching more distant sites quickly. This vessel is specifically used for excursions to the protected waters around Pianosa, where speed and manoeuvrability are essential for navigating the specific entry points allowed by the national park.

The shore-based facilities at the Naregno site include a dedicated classroom, changing rooms, and rinsing areas. For those using the Porto Azzurro location, the centre provides easy access to the quay for equipment handling.

Scubapro kit is available for hire, including full sets of equipment. For those who prefer to bring their own essentials, masks, snorkels, and fins can also be rented. The centre is fully equipped for safety, maintaining an oxygen kit and a first aid kit on site.

The marine life around Elba is defined by spectacular gorgonian forests. You will encounter vast colonies of red gorgonians and yellow gorgonians covering the walls and rocky outcrops. In certain areas, such as the secca di fonza, you can find rare red coral with white polyps.

Pelagic species are frequently seen in the blue, including Great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda), dentex, and Amberjack (Seriola). You may also spot eagle rays (Aetobatus) and occasionally Mola Mola during the early summer.

In the rocky crevices and caves, the macro life is abundant. Look for Spiny lobster (Palinuridae), large lobsters (Homaridae), and various species of Conger eel (Congridae) and Moray eel (Muraenidae). You can also find many species of scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), including small varieties hiding in the reef.

The reef flats and seagrass meadows are home to many groupers (Epinephelus), including Dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), and various species of saddled bream. Small crustaceans and species like the Forkbeard (Phycis phycis) add to the diversity of the seabed.

Currents can vary significantly depending on the site. Some locations, such as Cannelle Esterne, Franata del Ginepro, and Punta Galera, are known for high currents, while others like Capo Turco offer much calmer conditions.

Navigation often involves moving along walls or traversing large rocky outcrops (seccas). While many sites are suitable for all levels, certain advanced sites require careful assessment of the current before descending.