The Marine Protected Area of Tavolara

Accessible from the sea from Porto San Paolo or with private craft from Olbia and Golfo Aranci, the Marine Protected Area of Tavolara – Punta Coda Cavallo (set up in 1997and since 2004 under the protection of the three coastal Municipalities of Olbia, San Teodoro and Loiri Porto San Paolo) includes 1500 hectares of sea, from Capo Ceraso to Cala Finocchio, along the north-eastern coast of Sardinia.

At the centre of the marine park lie the islands of Tavolara, Molara and Molarotto protected to preserve their sea and land habitats, the large stretches of Poseidonia seagrass, the many-coloured sponges, and a variety of fish and other sealife.

The territory of the Marine Area stands out for the presence of its pink granite rocks but it also offers fascinating diverse scenery including the limestone mass of Tavolara itself, the rounded granite shapes of the lesser islands of Molara, Molarotto and Isola Piana and Cavalli, and the steeper, rugged rocks of Dragon island.

Divided into three zones marking with different protection levels, the Marine Protected Area of Tavolara is much appreciated for its scuba-diving opportunities with several points of great natural interest.