Sicherheit · Destination Guide
Volcanic walls, protected Mediterranean life, and island-scale adventure
Ustica's protection is active rather than symbolic. Zoning, permits, group limits, mooring rules, buddy and surface-support requirements, and specialist cave controls shape every water activity. The island has local medical services and ASP Palermo lists a seasonal hyperbaric chamber, but remote-island evacuation still depends on weather and transport. Use an authorized operator, verify the current chamber and ferry situation, carry appropriate insurance, and make 112 or 1530 the first emergency call rather than attempting self-transfer.
The 2026 regulation prohibits solo scuba and requires authorized Zone B or C sites, certification, a buddy, and first-aid capability. Independent groups must stay within 50 m of the assigned mooring or dive float, observe the published group and site limits, and make no more than four dives per day at one site. Exposed shoals can bring current and blue-water pickups, so use an SMB, maintain gas reserves, and listen to the briefing. Treat caves as overhead environments: only properly certified divers with an authorized guide and suitable redundant equipment should enter. From June through September, the 2026 regulation schedules guided cave diving only in the first and third weeks of each month. Never exceed the operator's accepted qualification or your recent experience simply because a site is close to harbor.
ASP Palermo lists a Ustica outpatient facility at Largo Gran Guardia and a hyperbaric chamber scheduled from May 1 through October 31. Confirm current operational status before the first dive because published schedules do not guarantee day-by-day availability. Serious or complex cases may require coordination with Palermo-area hospitals, including Partinico, and evacuation can be weather-sensitive. In suspected decompression illness, administer high-concentration oxygen if trained and equipped, keep the diver at rest, call 112 or Coast Guard 1530, and contact DAN Europe. Do not descend again to recompress and do not delay care while trying to diagnose symptoms yourself.
Zone A is not general recreation water
Recreational scuba and apnea are prohibited in the integral reserve. Guided seawatching is limited to Cala Sidoti and Cala Santoro under the conditions in the 2026 regulation.
Independent diving requires authorization
Private scuba and freediving in Zones B and C require activity-specific authorization and current proof of certification. A normal recreational card does not replace the marine-park permit.
Exposed shoals can carry current
Sites such as Secca della Colombara and the outer parts of Punta dell'Arpa can bring current, blue-water separation risk, and challenging pickups. Carry an SMB and accept route changes.
Caves are specialist objectives
Grotta dei Gamberi and any other overhead section require the correct cave qualification, an authorized guide, appropriate redundant equipment, and compliance with the marine-park schedule. Private cave dives are not permitted.
Zone A is the integral reserve and is closed to recreational scuba and apnea. Guided seawatching there is limited to Cala Sidoti and Cala Santoro under authorized control. In all zones, do not touch, collect, feed, chase, or disturb wildlife; do not damage Posidonia or the seabed; and do not remove archaeological material. Use designated moorings or floats, keep good buoyancy, secure gauges and alternate-air sources, and avoid kneeling for photographs. Underwater scooters require specific authorization. Report abandoned gear, injured wildlife, pollution, or suspected illegal take to the operator or marine-park authority rather than handling the issue yourself.
Das solltest du nicht tun
Geh nicht ins Wasser, wenn zone a is not general recreation water. Prüfe lokale Briefings, bevor du dich festlegst.
| Kontakt | Funktion | Telefon | Erreichbarkeit |
|---|---|---|---|
| European emergency number | Police, fire, ambulance, and coordinated emergency response | 112 | 24 hours |
| Italian Coast Guard maritime emergency | Rescue and emergencies at sea | 1530 | 24 hours |
| DAN Europe Emergency Hotline | Diving medical emergency assistance and coordination | +39 06 4211 5685 | 24 hours; call local emergency services first for immediate rescue |
| Ustica medical on-call service | Local non-hospital medical support | +39 091 8449248 | Verify current hours and routing locally |
| AMP Isola di Ustica office | Marine-park permissions, rules, and administrative guidance | +39 091 8449045 | Administrative hours; not a substitute for 112 or 1530 |
| Partinico Hospital intensive care and hyperbaric coordination | Palermo district hospital coordination | +39 091 7031168 | Hospital contact; use emergency services for acute incidents |