Sicily & Her Islands + Sardinia

Sicily

Western Sicily - Scopello; Trapetto, Frangenesi; Lo Zingaro National Park; Castellamare; Terrasini along with the Islands of Ustica, Marettimo & Pantelleria is the area Crusader operates in.

Here we have villas, apartments, town houses and village rooms and in some cases hotels - in all of these locations we work with fully licensed Dive Centres for both teaching Scuba and operating Dive boats, with Cetaria in Scopello, Profundo Blu on Ustica and Voglia De Mare on Marettimo, arguably offering the best Mediterranean diving to be found.

The Aeolian and the Egadi Islands also offer the finest sailing holiday for families or clubs. Luxurious, skippered catamarans from Cefalu can be chartered for one week or short breaks. Every island visited has at least one dive center.

Sicily, eternal triangle of intensity, excess and carnal beauty, sits square at the crossroads of Europe and Africa. Only 4 km separate it from the toe of the big boot, but these 4 km have given the island enough history, customs and personality for an entire continent.

Although they are the most Italian of the Italians, Sicilians are also the least, the heirs of the ancient Greeks, Carthaginians, Arabs and Normans. Spain, Naples and Rome have ruled it from afar, but never engaged its heart. Sicily has an incredible number of things that, individually, make the trip more than worthwhile, things you won't see the like of anywhere else: the glittering Cappella Palatina in Palermo, or Stromboli erupting every 8 minutes, the face of Christ at Cefalu' cathedral, the acre of Roman mosaics at Piazza Armerina, the poetic solitude of the temple of Segesta, the dreamlike panorama of the Aeolian islands rising from the sea. If Sicily's past has made it a world apart, it has also left it among the lands most able to provide that old Mediterranean speciality; for the sleepy times we live in, that makes Sicily priceless.

Sardinia

Sardinia is known for its white sandy coves with the sea having an amazing dark blue to turquoise palette of colours. It is the second largest island in the Mediterranean after Sicily.

For your diving holiday in Sardinia we have chosen Palau, a small harbour town. Where boats of all kinds from small fishing vessels to luxury yachts visit the harbour. There is an array of traditional Sardinian restaurants, cafes, and a weekly market. Bustling in July and August, but for the rest of the year quiet and laid back, with siesta taking up most of the day. The surrounding rugged hills are scattered with fragrant plants, rosemary, thyme and colourful wildflowers. With a variety of accommodation available from hotels, apartments and camping, Palau offers great flexibility for divers.

Palau is in a strategic position on the north-eastern coast. It is the gateway to the Maddalena Archipelago, with the Lavezzi Marine Reserve in Corsica just 40 minutes boat ride away. With nearly 40 dive sites to choose from whichever way the wind blows, there is always a magical dive to experience.