Page 196 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sardinia

194  TR A VELLERS ’ NEEDS

WATER SPORTS

Despite the impressive beauty of its interior, Sardinia’s fame
is more strongly associated with the sea. The development
of the tourist industry means that the island now offers a
good range of facilities for water sports, in particular sailing,
windsurfing and scuba diving. There are diving centres and
sailing schools in almost all the coastal resorts, and many
of the holiday villages are well-equipped for water sports.
Canoeing is a different matter, since the lack of navigable
rivers limits your choice in the interior, and sea canoeing
is only practised in a few places along the coast.

find the Sardinian coast a
challenge because of the strong
and variable winds. A good source Scuba diving in the crystal-clear waters
of useful info rmation for a sailing of the Mediterranean
holiday is volume 1A of Portolano
del Mediter raneo (Mediterranean You can also buy or rent diving
Pilot’s Book), which is published equipment and get advice on
by the Istituto Idrografico della diving sites.
Marina Militare. Another useful
publication is the pamphlet I Porti
Turistici della Sardegna (Sardinian Windsurfing
Yacht Harbours), available from Windsurfing equipment is available
all tourist information offices. for hire at almost all the tourist
You need permission from beaches. Some of the sailing
the harbour master to moor in centres also offer boards for
Yachts sailing at an international most of Sardinia’s harbours. hire and can organize lessons.
sailing competition in Porto Cervo The safety rules for sailing also
apply to this sport: the winds
Sailing Scuba Diving
can be very strong and fickle
With its marvellous sea and The coastline offers plenty (especially the mistral), so do
coastline, Sardinia is regarded of opportunities for experienced not go too far out.
as a paradise for boating of all divers. Among the most famous
kinds, whether your pre ferred spots for diving are the coasts
style is a billion-dollar luxury of Asinara and Gallura, Capo Windsurfing Beaches
yacht on the Costa Smeralda or a Caccia, Carloforte, the Golfo di The following beaches are
simple dinghy for hire from one Orosei and the area around the the best on the island for
of the more affordable centres. island of Tavolara. Many diving windsurfing (see pp22–3).
The conditions vary considerably centres – often based at sports
and even experienced sailors shops – organize diving trips. Bosa Marina
Poetto – Cagliari
C alagrande – Isola di
Sant’Antioco
Saline – Isola di Sant’Antioco
Monti d’a Rena – La
Maddalena
Porto Massimo – La
Maddalena
P orto Taverna – Porto San
Paolo Lotzorai
Marinella – Olbia
Porto Istana – Olbia
Torre Grande – Oristano
Porto Pollo – Palau
Capo Testa – Santa Teresa
di Gallura
La Cinta – San Teodoro
Putzu Idu – San Vero Milis
Platamona - Sorso
La Pelosa – Stintino
The Centro Velico Caprera sailing school

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