{
  "destination": "italy",
  "name": "Italy",
  "question": "Can you snorkel and dive from a charter boat in Italy, and how warm is the sea?",
  "answer": "Yes, but check each marine protected area first: Italy's environment ministry says Zone A is closed to any activity that may harm the marine environment and each area sets its own rules, and at La Maddalena a summer ordinance allows anchoring only on sand or mud (news report, April 2026). The sea averages 13.5 °C in February and 25.0 °C in August (NOAA, 1991–2020 mean at our reference point); by our rule of thumb August is the month at 24 °C or more, when a 3 mm shorty is enough, while February calls for a 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving.",
  "canonical_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/italy/",
  "markdown_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/snorkel-dive/italy.md",
  "destination_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/italy/",
  "best_time_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/best-time/italy/",
  "fishing_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/fishing/italy/",
  "api_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/api/snorkel-dive/italy.json",
  "book_url": "https://catamaranindex.com/go/samboat?dest=italy&pos=api",
  "checked": "2026-10-28",
  "sea_temperature": {
    "unit": "celsius",
    "source": "NOAA OISST v2.1 long-term monthly mean",
    "period": "1991–2020",
    "reference_point": {
      "place": "Off La Maddalena, north-east Sardinia",
      "lat": 41.375,
      "lon": 9.625
    },
    "note": "NOAA OISST v2.1 long-term mean, 1991–2020, one 1/4° sea cell per destination. It is the sea surface; shallow bays can be warmer and water at depth cooler.",
    "warm_water_threshold_c": 24,
    "months": [
      {
        "month": 1,
        "name": "January",
        "sea_c": 13.8,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving"
      },
      {
        "month": 2,
        "name": "February",
        "sea_c": 13.5,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving"
      },
      {
        "month": 3,
        "name": "March",
        "sea_c": 13.8,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving"
      },
      {
        "month": 4,
        "name": "April",
        "sea_c": 14.8,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving"
      },
      {
        "month": 5,
        "name": "May",
        "sea_c": 17.4,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving"
      },
      {
        "month": 6,
        "name": "June",
        "sea_c": 20.9,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "5 mm full wetsuit"
      },
      {
        "month": 7,
        "name": "July",
        "sea_c": 23.8,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "3 mm full wetsuit"
      },
      {
        "month": 8,
        "name": "August",
        "sea_c": 25,
        "warm_water": true,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "3 mm shorty"
      },
      {
        "month": 9,
        "name": "September",
        "sea_c": 22.9,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "3 mm full wetsuit"
      },
      {
        "month": 10,
        "name": "October",
        "sea_c": 20.2,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "5 mm full wetsuit"
      },
      {
        "month": 11,
        "name": "November",
        "sea_c": 17.4,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving"
      },
      {
        "month": 12,
        "name": "December",
        "sea_c": 14.8,
        "warm_water": false,
        "wetsuit_rule_of_thumb": "7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving"
      }
    ],
    "derived": "warm_water and wetsuit_rule_of_thumb are our rules applied to the NOAA mean; sea_c is NOAA's, rounded to 0.1."
  },
  "wetsuit_rule": "Our rule of thumb for snorkelling, applied to the monthly mean: 28 °C or more: swimsuit or rash vest; 26–28 °C: rash vest or 1–2 mm shorty; 24–26 °C: 3 mm shorty; 21–24 °C: 3 mm full wetsuit; 18–21 °C: 5 mm full wetsuit; below 18 °C: 7 mm wetsuit, or a drysuit for diving. Divers lose heat faster and meet cooler water at depth: go one band thicker. People feel cold differently; this is a guide, not a source's advice.",
  "sites": [
    {
      "name": "Marine protected areas (aree marine protette)",
      "kind": "protected areas",
      "where": "All Italian coasts",
      "facts": [
        {
          "text": "Zone A (integral reserve) is closed to every activity that may harm or disturb the marine environment; in Zone B (general reserve) activities are allowed and often regulated by the managing body; Zone C (partial reserve) allows recreational and sustainable use of modest impact. The detailed rules are in each area's decree and regulation.",
          "status": "official",
          "sources": [
            {
              "id": "dive_it_mase",
              "name": "MASE (Italian Ministry of the Environment)",
              "title": "Aree marine protette",
              "url": "https://www.mase.gov.it/portale/aree-marine-protette-2",
              "checked": "2026-10-28",
              "note": "Official page, last updated 17 November 2023 (Italian; translations ours). Defines zones A, B and C; the detailed rules are in each protected area's decree and regulation.",
              "tier": "official"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "La Maddalena Archipelago National Park",
      "kind": "national park",
      "where": "North-east Sardinia",
      "facts": [
        {
          "text": "L'Unione Sarda reported in April 2026 a harbour-office ordinance, drawn up with the park, in force from 1 June to 30 September each year: 7 knots within 500 m of the coast, 10 knots between 500 and 1,000 m, anchoring only on sandy or muddy seabeds, and no anchoring at all in some areas (not named in the report).",
          "status": "secondary",
          "sources": [
            {
              "id": "dive_it_maddalena",
              "name": "L'Unione Sarda (newspaper)",
              "title": "La Maddalena, stretta su navigazione e ancoraggi per tutelare l'ambiente marino",
              "url": "https://www.unionesarda.it/news-sardegna/gallura/la-maddalena-stretta-su-navigazione-e-ancoraggi-per-tutelare-lambiente-marino-aks58wdj",
              "checked": "2026-10-28",
              "note": "News report dated 17 April 2026 on a Capitaneria di porto ordinance drawn up with the national park and the town. We could not open the ordinance or the park's site (lamaddalenapark.it refused our connection on 28 Oct 2026).",
              "tier": "secondary"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "fees": [
    {
      "item": "La Maddalena park permit for a charter boat",
      "amount": "Not verified",
      "status": "not_verified",
      "note": "The park's site refused our connection.",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "mooring_and_anchoring": [
    {
      "text": "In every marine protected area, Zone A is closed to activities that may harm or disturb the marine environment; check the area's own regulation for anchoring and buoys.",
      "status": "official",
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "dive_it_mase",
          "name": "MASE (Italian Ministry of the Environment)",
          "title": "Aree marine protette",
          "url": "https://www.mase.gov.it/portale/aree-marine-protette-2",
          "checked": "2026-10-28",
          "note": "Official page, last updated 17 November 2023 (Italian; translations ours). Defines zones A, B and C; the detailed rules are in each protected area's decree and regulation.",
          "tier": "official"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "text": "La Maddalena (1 June–30 September): anchoring only on sand or mud, banned outright in some areas; 7 knots within 500 m of the coast (L'Unione Sarda, April 2026).",
      "status": "secondary",
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "dive_it_maddalena",
          "name": "L'Unione Sarda (newspaper)",
          "title": "La Maddalena, stretta su navigazione e ancoraggi per tutelare l'ambiente marino",
          "url": "https://www.unionesarda.it/news-sardegna/gallura/la-maddalena-stretta-su-navigazione-e-ancoraggi-per-tutelare-lambiente-marino-aks58wdj",
          "checked": "2026-10-28",
          "note": "News report dated 17 April 2026 on a Capitaneria di porto ordinance drawn up with the national park and the town. We could not open the ordinance or the park's site (lamaddalenapark.it refused our connection on 28 Oct 2026).",
          "tier": "secondary"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "diving": [
    {
      "text": "Diving rules differ by protected area: they are set in each area's decree and regulation.",
      "status": "official",
      "sources": [
        {
          "id": "dive_it_mase",
          "name": "MASE (Italian Ministry of the Environment)",
          "title": "Aree marine protette",
          "url": "https://www.mase.gov.it/portale/aree-marine-protette-2",
          "checked": "2026-10-28",
          "note": "Official page, last updated 17 November 2023 (Italian; translations ours). Defines zones A, B and C; the detailed rules are in each protected area's decree and regulation.",
          "tier": "official"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "text": "Whether visitors must dive with an authorised centre in La Maddalena or Tavolara: not verified.",
      "status": "not_verified",
      "sources": []
    }
  ],
  "visibility": {
    "text": "We found no official or survey source for underwater visibility, so we give no figure. Ask the local dive centre on the day.",
    "status": "not_verified",
    "sources": []
  },
  "not_verified": [
    "La Maddalena's permit prices and the bays where anchoring is banned outright (the park's site refused our connection).",
    "Tavolara, Egadi and other protected areas' snorkelling and diving rules (we did not read their regulations).",
    "Underwater visibility."
  ],
  "source_counts": {
    "official": 2,
    "secondary": 1
  },
  "status_legend": {
    "official": "Read in an official text: government, park authority, ministry or official tourism board.",
    "secondary": "From a newspaper, NGO, guide or tour operator; not official.",
    "not_verified": "We could not confirm it. We leave it open rather than guess."
  },
  "caveat": "Park rules change and some are seasonal. Check with the park, the charter base or a local dive centre. The answer, wetsuit column and warm-water flag are our wording and rules applied to labelled facts and NOAA means.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "dive_it_mase",
      "name": "MASE (Italian Ministry of the Environment)",
      "title": "Aree marine protette",
      "url": "https://www.mase.gov.it/portale/aree-marine-protette-2",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "Official page, last updated 17 November 2023 (Italian; translations ours). Defines zones A, B and C; the detailed rules are in each protected area's decree and regulation.",
      "tier": "official"
    },
    {
      "id": "dive_it_maddalena",
      "name": "L'Unione Sarda (newspaper)",
      "title": "La Maddalena, stretta su navigazione e ancoraggi per tutelare l'ambiente marino",
      "url": "https://www.unionesarda.it/news-sardegna/gallura/la-maddalena-stretta-su-navigazione-e-ancoraggi-per-tutelare-lambiente-marino-aks58wdj",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "News report dated 17 April 2026 on a Capitaneria di porto ordinance drawn up with the national park and the town. We could not open the ordinance or the park's site (lamaddalenapark.it refused our connection on 28 Oct 2026).",
      "tier": "secondary"
    },
    {
      "id": "noaa_oisst_ltm",
      "name": "NOAA PSL (NOAA/NCEI OISST v2.1)",
      "title": "NOAA High-resolution Blended Analysis: OISST v2.1 long-term mean monthly sea surface temperature, 1991–2020 (sst.mon.ltm.1991-2020.nc)",
      "url": "https://psl.noaa.gov/thredds/catalog/Datasets/noaa.oisst.v2.highres/catalog.html",
      "checked": "2026-10-28",
      "note": "NOAA's published 1/4° monthly climatology (climo_period 1991/01/01–2020/12/31; every month of every cell we use rests on 30 years). Read on 28 Oct 2026 through PSL's THREDDS point service by scripts/fetch-sst.mjs; we chose one sea cell per destination and rounded to 0.1 °C. Satellite-and-in-situ analysis of the sea surface, not a beach or depth reading.",
      "tier": "official"
    }
  ],
  "attribution": "Cite \"Catamaran Index\" with a link to the canonical_url of the page the figure comes from, and name the original source listed with it.",
  "affiliate_note": "book_url links go through /go/samboat, an affiliate link: Catamaran Index may earn a commission on bookings, at no extra cost to the traveller. It never changes the data."
}