CLAUDIO'S NYMPHAEUM
The Emperor Claudio's Nymphaeum is underwater, at a depth of about 5 mt., close to Epitaffio Point. It has a rectangular shape with a semi circular apsis at the bottom and four niches on the long sides.
We can sea very clearly this structure underwater and it is extremely suggestive for the presence of the statues, accurately reproducted. After visiting the Ninfeum, the dive continues along the extroardinary Herculanea road, wich once upon a time leaded to Portus Julius, and the beautiful floors of the ancient roman baths.
Depth: 5 mt.
VILLA WITH PROTYRUM ENTRANCE
The ancient Baia's port was a delimited lagoon (Lacus Baianus) with an entrance channel, wich ruins are visible nowadays as well as the ruins of ancient shops and thermal buildings. In this urban estate the ruins of an ancient important villa stand out, with its prothyrum entrance, delimited by two marble seats.
The remains of the marbles, of the frescos and of a wonderfull mosaic (tessellatum) with black and white stones forming different hexagons, all very well kept, make the dive extremerly suggestive.
Depth: 5 mt.
THE THERMAL BATHS of LACUS
It was a spa complex, probably of a private residence, which overlooked the ancient port of Baia, the Lacus Baianus. The site was recently discovered, restored and opened to the public in the summer of 2020. The remains of several polychrome mosaics and marble floors are incredible. It is very interesting to note the different levels of flooring with overlapping mosaics. In addition to the perimeters of different rooms, and the thermal baths, it is also possible to observe three apsed walls, which once supported large windows overlooking the Lacus Baianus.
Depth: 4 mt.
PISONI'S VILLA
We dive on the ruins of an ancient majestic patrician villa of the roman imperial age. The residence originately was owned by the Pisoni's family, but further on the villa was confiscated by the mperor Nerone, after the attempt of a cospiracy against him.
Besides the remains of the columns of a large garden and the ruins of the corridors which sorrounded the garden (vidarium), the ruins of a huge are recognisable and, on the other side , it is possible to notice the thermal pool and of the private firsh farm.
Depth: 5 mt.
PORTUS JULIUS
It was an important commercial harbour, wich was noticed by the diver pilot R.Bucher, thank to aerial pictures which showed the topography of a huge port complex of about ten hectares.
During the dive it is possible to admire many ruins of floors, columns, marbles, but the peculiarity of the site is the amazing mosaics.
Depth: 3 mt.
PISONI'S VILLA PILA
There are 25 ancient Roman pillars (pila), dating back in part to the 1st century BC. to the architect Vitruvius. These are large parallelepipeds built with the technique of pouring concrete (the famous pozzolana) directly into the sea, like many other similar structures along the Phlegraean coast. They were part of the majestic Villa Pisoni as protection against the sea, probably to support a large quay. The dive takes place by swimming among these large structures (some even reach 5 meters in height) entirely covered by a very rich marine flora.
Depth: 10 mt.
SMOKY REEF
The dive is along twelve pillars wich supported the external jetty of Portus Julius. In this dive we can go deeper then in the other dives of the park, infact we reach the depth of about 13 mt., swimming along these structures observing the marine acquatic life grown on them.
It is very impressive the presence of some fumaroles, gasous emissions coming from the bottom for the volcanic activity.
Depth: 13 mt.