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In 1885 the
island of Asinara was requisitioned
by the Italian government for use as a leprosy colony and then as a penal
colony. The prison was dissolved in1995
but the buildings still survive and
it is its possible to visit this Mediterranean Alcatraz during the summer months.Because of
this the unique natural environment of Asinara has
remained virtually undamaged and in 1997 the island was designated a National
Park and since August 2002 a
fully protected area.Situated on the northwest
coast of Sardinia the national park covers over50 thousand hectares of
land and some 10 thousand hectares of surrounding sea.The landscape
is extremely varied, from high cliffs, bays and creeks in the west to large
granite formations in the east.The
national park boasts a huge diversity
of flora and fauna and with over twentynine rare species of plants it is not
surprising that it is considered an extremely valuable natural asset. The marine
environment is if anything even more amazing. Because of it's protected
status it remains one of the richest areas of sea-life anywhere in
the Mediterranean .Few activities
can better reveal this wonderful underwater world, in all its silent
glory, than scuba-diving .The indescribable beauty of this very special
environment with its great variety of inhabitants in every possible combination
of colour and form, must be seen to be believed.The park
has something
to offer everyone, from the novice snorkeller drifting over the amazing
fish flitting among the rocks, to the professional diver. For the latter,
there are underwater cliffs, rocks and little caves forming a unique landscape
which can be safely explored under the supervision of the authorised
diving centre. To reach the dive spots, divers can follow the professional
diving guides who will show them the amazing beauty of the Asinara
coast. In fact to approach the dive spots the divers have to join the
authorized dive centres, which have the permission to bring a certain number of
divers into the park, it is necessary to use the offered service by Asinara
National Park Diving Centers Association.
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ASINARA ISLAND NATIONAL PARK.
Associazione Centri di Immersione Parco Nazionale
dell' Asinara
ARGO SUB DIVING CENTER