When is the best time to dive Aeolian Islands?

The best months to dive Aeolian Islands are May–Oct. May–October is the recommended period.

Is Aeolian Islands good for beginner divers?

Not really: none of the 10 dive sites we document is rated for Open Water divers. Plan an Advanced certification and some experience first.

What marine life can you see in Aeolian Islands?

Divers regularly see amberjacks, crustaceans, nudibranchs, octopus, scorpionfish and conger eel.

Aeolian Islands

Diving in Italy

10 documented dive sites. Known for amberjacks, crustaceans and nudibranchs.

Best months: May–Oct
Levels: Advanced, Experienced, Technical
Nearest airport: CTA

When to go

Pick a month: the diving season, from published sources, and the typical weather.

Pick a month

Best
Good
Possible
Closed
Not documented yet

Aeolian Islands in October

Best season

Sea: 24 °C; at the surface
Air: 23 °C; 21 °C at night
Rain: 50 mm; average for the year
Wind: 15 km/h; on average

Exposure suit: 3 mm full suit · if you feel the cold: 5 mm full suit. How we choose

Typical weather, not a forecast: averages for 2021–2025 (air, rain, wind) and 2023–2025 (sea), data from Open-Meteo (ERA5 / Copernicus, Météo-France). Covers an area of roughly 10 to 25 km around the destination.

Compare with another destination

May–October is the recommended period.

Source: estateolie.net

Dive sites in Aeolian Islands

From the easiest to the most demanding. Levels with a dashed outline are estimates we are still verifying.

The Capo Graziano archaeological shoal off Filicudi can be visited only by certified divers accompanied by authorised dive centres (Sicily Region, 2025); its deepest wrecks are closed to recreational divers.

For Advanced divers

usual dive down to 30 m3 sites

down to 20 m

Hidden gem

Bottaro & Lisca Bianca gas vents (Panarea)

An easy 12–20 m dive among columns of pulsing bubbles around Panarea's islets, like a submarine snow-storm.

Advanced

Reef

down to 30 m

Secca delle Formiche (Lipari)

Two rocks rising to 10 m off Lipari, home to eels, lobsters, scorpionfish, groupers, octopus and parrotfish.

Advanced
Nudibranchs

down to 30 m

Strombolicchio (Stromboli)

A simple dive around Strombolicchio, the rock topped by a 50 m lighthouse a mile north of Stromboli.

Advanced

For experienced divers

usual dive down to 40 m6 sites

Wreck

down to 40 m

Panarea wreck (Lisca Bianca)

An English ship wreck sitting upright on a 30–40 m seabed near the Lisca Bianca islet off Panarea.

Experienced

Wreck

down to 36 m

Hidden gem

Secca di Capo Graziano (Filicudi)

An underwater archaeological itinerary off Filicudi with wrecks from the 5th century B.C. to 1943, the 'Roghi' wreck at 36 m.

Experienced

down to 40 m

Pietra Menalda (Lipari)

A rock off Lipari, circled at 18–40 m among huge boulders that shelter octopus, eels and groupers.

Experienced
Octopus

Pinnacle

down to 33 m

Scoglio di Petra Nave (Panarea)

A rock rising from 33 m to 11 m off Panarea, cut into steep monolithic pinnacles with narrow valleys between them.

Experienced

down to 50 m

Punta Castagna (Lipari)

A 10 m plateau covered in white pumice dust off Lipari, with inlets whose crests are covered in red gorgonians.

Experienced
Groupers

down to 50 m

Secca di Capistello (Lipari)

A shoal off Lipari with the remains of a Roman ship of 300 BC, Roman pottery and a big Roman anchor.

Experienced

Technical and specialty dives

1 site

down to 45 m

Secca del Bagno (Lipari)

Submerged peaks off Lipari, the highest at 22 m, with walls alive with red gorgonians and frequent shoals of amberjack.

Technical
Amberjacks

Marine life

When the big encounters happen, month by month.

Reported here, season not documented yet:

Amberjacks
Crustaceans
Nudibranchs
Octopus
Scorpionfish
Conger eel
Groupers
Anemones

Where is Aeolian Islands?

View on OpenStreetMapLocation: Aeolian Islands (Wikipedia)Map: Natural Earth

Nearest airport: CTA

Aeolian Islands: frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive Aeolian Islands?: The best months to dive Aeolian Islands are May–Oct. May–October is the recommended period.
Is Aeolian Islands good for beginner divers?: Not really: none of the 10 dive sites we document is rated for Open Water divers. Plan an Advanced certification and some experience first.
What marine life can you see in Aeolian Islands?: Divers regularly see amberjacks, crustaceans, nudibranchs, octopus, scorpionfish and conger eel.
How do you dive Aeolian Islands?: The nearest airport is CTA.

About this page

Seasons and marine life come from the sources below. Site levels and depths marked as estimated come from our original catalogue and are being checked one by one. Conditions change: always confirm with a local dive centre.

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Photo: Sarah Lee on Unsplash

Photo credits

Sunlight and bubbles in deep blue water, Sarah Lee, Unsplash License, on Unsplash