I have been diving with Alex and the team for the last four days. I made the PADI Underwater Archaeology course plus fun dives around Cap Taormina. It was awesome. Alex is very passionate and experienced in diving and underwater archaeology. Everybody is very helpful, fun and things are organized very well. Also, the vulcanic caves and swim-throughs are excellent. Will come again!
There are only a few handfuls of dive centres globally which offer courses in underwater archaeology - so this Dive Sicily course something special; a unique selling point. The course teaches archaeologists how to dive with their equipment, assemble a grid and use tools in an underwater context, and comes with an excellent proprietary manual. It is very much the start of the journey (I had only just completed PADI Open Water) but the course also highlights helpful further training and Dive Sicily offer those courses too. During the course, I was able to set up a grid, record and excavate on a dummy setup. I was also able to examine artefacts in situ from the neolithic period and the medieval period. I was also given discounted entry and accompaniment to the local museum, where I was introduced to the director and was able to see a range of locally recovered artefacts, cleaned up and presented with clear information. I highly recommend this course, along with extra training and practice on performance buoyancy control - which is essential for working underwater without disturbing the site.