Fishing tourism and diving in Sorrento

Sorrento's sea is not just something to admire from a terrace or a beach: you can experience it up close in every season, by boarding a fishing boat or diving into the coastal waters. Fishing tourism, snorkelling and diving are the best ways to get to know the peninsula from its most authentic side, the world of fishermen and marine nature.

Along the coast in a gozzo

Excursions leave from Sorrento's harbour by day and also by night, organised by local cooperatives aboard the area's traditional boats, the gozzi. Along the way you can admire the hills sloping down to the sea, cloaked in Mediterranean scrub, stop for a swim at little beaches reachable only by boat, and discover the nymphaea of Roman villas and the watchtowers built against Saracen raids. For an idea of the finest stops, read our coastal itinerary to Punta Campanella.

A day as a fisherman

Joining a fishing trip brings you closer to the world of professional fishing: these are real hands-on outings at sea, using different gear depending on the season and the purpose of the trip, such as set nets, octopus pots or deep-water bottom lines. An instructive experience for young people too, showing where the fish at the heart of Sorrento cuisine comes from.

Snorkelling and diving

Local diving centres run excursions both for snorkellers and for experienced divers, in the clear waters of the Sorrento coast and the Punta Campanella Marine Protected Area, where the seabed is rich in gorgonians and sponges. Those who prefer not to dive can still discover the underwater world from the comfort of the boat, thanks to the underwater cameras some operators use to show the seabed live.

Practical tips

• Book a few days ahead, especially in summer, and always ask about the forecast sea conditions.
• In the Marine Protected Area there are precise rules on navigation, anchoring and fishing: choose authorised operators.
• Bring sun protection, a hat and a windproof jacket even in summer: out at sea the wind makes itself felt.