Dive site at Baia Archaeological Park

Between the end of the II century b.C. and the beginning of the III century a.C., Baia was rapidly converted in one of the most mundane and rich station of the empire being coveted by all the illustrious roman families for its wonderful scenery and the abundance of thermal waters. This place became a Roman colony and prestigious people like Julius Caesar, Tiberius Claudius Nero and Scipio built their magnificent villas in Baia as symbol of a life style devoted to pleasure, luxury and otium. The progressive drop of the ground level, due to the frequency of bradyseism phenomena, slowly sank all the coast. As well, the greater part of the gorgeous buildings and the precious floor mosaics of Baia sank until 7 metres (20 feet) depth under the sea. Therefore the Sea Archaeological Park of Baia is truly inimitable since the park is contemporaneously an archaeological park and a natural marine reserve. Within this area, the ICR (National Institute for Archaeological Restore), for the first time in this field, realised a unique underwater restore due to the application of newest technology and this magnificence is possible to observe only by diving. The park is pending for the patent certificate from UNESCO.

Villa dei Pisoni
(-6 mt) The villa represents the main core of the Archaeological Park of the underwater area of Baia. It is a route among the ruins of an ancient villa dating back to the age of imperial Rome. Originally it belonged, to the Pisoni family and was later confiscated by Nero. Besides the ruins of the columns and corridors surrounding a large garden (viridarium), it is also possible to observe a large fountain and a well preserved thermal pool. The entire area is now the preferred habitat of a large family of corvinas.

Villa a Protiro
(-6 mt) Also this villa is located in the Archaeological Park of the underwater area of Baia. Marbles, frescos and a nice, well preserved mosaic (tessellatum), are the suggestive frame for the visitor. You will dive all the way through impressive ruins of ancient warehouses and thermal structures. Plenty of marble columns and remains of amphorae and other artifacts are still visible.

Portus Julius
(-6 mt) Diving on a sandy sea bed colonized by the Cymodocea nodosa assorted with sporadic Posidonia Oceanica, you will discover amazing ruins. Floors, columns, mosaics and large walls in opus reticulatum e latericium, extraordinarily preserved make this immersion a marvelous experience. A huge variety of marine organisms find feeding and shelter in the crack walls frequently unrecognizable for the abundance of seaweeds and marine fanerogamae.

Secca Fumosa
(-13 mt) Suggestive dive site located on the pilae of a huge pier that originally linked the ancient ?Portus Julius? to the central area of the old Lacus Baianus. The visit offers the possibility to dive between twelve pilae built in opus reticulatum varying from partially and perfectly preserved. Here it is visible the exceptional phenomenon of "fumarole", bubble columns of volcanic origin coming out of the sand! There are also springs of hot water and a rich fauna.