Archivio mensile:Gennaio 2012

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The sport center ArchiMete organizes all year round scuba diving courses for all ages and all skill levels. The courses are held by qualified scuba instructors from Overing Diving Center, diving center that operates in partnership with ArchiMete, and are divided into a theoretical part and a practical part.

The first aim of all the courses is to provide the diver with the necessary tools to live in a safe the experience of scuba diving.

A sport that embodies the fun, freedom and the very close relationship with the sea and with nature.

For information about diving courses, please send an e-mail to the following e-mail address:  archimete@archimete.it, and specify “Info on diving courses” in the subject.

Or, you can directly call the following phone nr. +39.333.6744889 (Sandro) – +39.334.9372278 (opening hours: 9 – 1 p.m. / 2 – 7 p.m.)

Please, before read our privacy policy

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***********DIVING COURSES ***********

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ESA Smile Diver: course for children over 12 years. It allows them to experience the thrill of the first breath underwater, in complete safety and under the close supervision of a dive professional. The program takes place under the water and comes with a very nice kit in which, in addition to the diploma and the Smile Card Diver, the little diver will find the ESA Smile Diver Story, cartoon designed to explain in simple and clear basic rules for a first approach with f

un and safe diving. The Smile Diver Card is valid for 21 days and during this period the diver can repeat similar experiences to those experienced during the program, always in the company of a scuba instructor.

Practical Information: minimum age 12 years, delivery kit with student manuals and handouts, 1 theory lesson, 1 lesson practice in confined water, 1 scuba diving.

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ESA Easy Dive: This is the first step towards diving, a new way to get to know other people and to achieve a big dream. It is the natural approach to diving, accompanied by a kit with diploma Easy Dive, the Easy Story Card and the Easy Dive Card. In 21 days of validity of the patent, the student will have the opportunity to continue to dive under the guide of an ESA scuba instructor. And, again, the ability to access courses ESA Open Water / ESA New Diver and receive credits for some of the exercises already carried.

Practical Information: minimum age 12 years, with delivery kits student manuals and handouts, 1 theory lesson, 1 lesson practice in confined water, 1 scuba diving.

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ESA New Diver (EN 14153-1): ideal course for those who want a gradual approach with the diving activities and for those who want to immerse themselves within the operating limits of this patent (maximum depth 10 meters and under the guide of a scuba instructor).

Practical Information: Minimum age 12 years for Junior divers, 15 years for others. Delivery kit with student manuals and handouts, 2 theory lessons, 2 practice lessons in confined water, 2 scuba diving.

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ESA Open Water Diver (EN 14153-2): is the course that offers the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and the practical skills to dive safely within the maximum depth of 18 meters, while respecting the buddy system.

Practical Information: Minimum age 12 years for Junior divers, 15 years for others. Delivery kit with student manuals and handouts, 5 theory lessons, 5 confined water practice lessons, 4 scuba diving.

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ESA Advanced Diver: allows you to learn the techniques and basic knowledge related to different areas of diving. During the course you will acquire information and is held practice of diving computers, underwater structure, navigation with compass and underwater orientation, deep diving and night (or naturalist dives).
To participate, you must already be in possession of the prior patent Open Water Diver / Junior OWD (Or equivalent).

Practical Information: Minimum age 12 years for Junior divers, 15 years for others. Delivery kit with student manuals and handouts, 5 theory lessons, 5 scuba diving.

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ESA Prevention & Rescue Diver: is the course that allows you to learn the fundamentals and techniques to prevent or cooperate in the rescue operations in the event of a diving accident. The course is divided into 6 theoretical presentations and 4 practical exercises. To enroll you must demonstrate that they have completed at least 20 dives and being in possession of the patent Esa Advanced Diver (or equivalent).

Practical Information: Minimum age 15 years. Delivery kit with student manuals and handouts, 6 theory lessons, scuba diving 4, 1 tutorial on the ground.

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ESA First Aid: the course provides the necessary information to help other people in the event of accident or injury on land or at sea. Through a simple but efficient program explains the key life-saving maneuvers to be taken in case of emergency.

Practical Information: minimum age 15 years, holds the patent Esa Advanced Diver (or equivalent), at least 30 logged dives on the log-book.

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ESA Specialty Diver: There are different areas of diving under which acquire a Specialty Diver certification. In these courses are thorough theoretical information and practical skills to plan and conduct dives into new environments and / or new techniques.

• Underwater archaeology
• Cave

Practical Information: minimum age 15 years, holds the patent Esa Advanced Diver (or equivalent), at least 30 logged dives on the log-book.

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ESA Dive Leader: marks the entrance into professional diving. This course enables students to become leaders divers and transfers the skills needed to better manage the group during the dive.

The sport centre ArchiMete offers a practical and convenient service of rubber boat rentals, dedicated to sea lovers who wants to independently discover the naturalistic and landscape heritage of the Riviera del Corallo (the Coral Riviera), and the area of Capo Caccia-Isola Piana. The rubber boat is the perfect means for living life to its fullest, between sunbathing and the sea.

To use the rubber rental boats, there’s no need of a boating license, because the engines are only 40 horsepower ; a perfect power to safely sail in comfort.

The rubber boats, which are continuously checked and serviced, are equipped with every kind of safety equipment, complying with Italian recreational rules. The boats are also insured with insurance policy.

USEFUL INFORMATION AND BOOKING

For information on the period and availability of the rubber boats please send an e-mail to the following e-mail address: archimete@archimete.it, and specify “Info on rubber boat rentals” in the subject.

Or, you can directly call the following phone nr. +39.333.6744889, +39.334.9372278, +39 327 5909300 (opening hours: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. / 2 – 7 p.m.)

For the rental of a rubber boat, the customer is asked to sign a rental contract, and leave a deposit upon delivery of the craft. The deposit will be given back at the end of the rental period, and upon the safe and undamaged return of the craft.

Please, before read our privacy policy

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Rubber boats:

SELVA D500 with a Yamaha 40/60 horsepower engine

Max. 6 people allowed;
Steering console;
Stern and bow sundeck with pillows;
Sundeck canopy;

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GOMMONAUTICA G48 Comfort equipped with a Yamaha 40/60 horsepower engine

Max. 6 people allowed;
Steering console;
Stern and bow sundeck with pillows;
Sundeck canopy;

CLICK HERE FOR FEES

Rubber boat rentals are available from May to September.

The fuel is EXCLUDED from the rental fee.

The sport centre and diving ArchiMete proposes several offers and packages of activities specifically created to satisfy customers’ needs as much as possible. There is also the possibility to rent rubber boats to discover independently, and in a fun way, the wonders of the Marine Protected Area. For lovers of diving, the ArchiMete Diving Capo Caccia periodically organizes diving courses, with teaching methods recognized at international level. Instructors with twenty plus years of experience, will lead you to discover the wonders of underwater activities. It is also possible to obtain any level of certification, from the most basic one (Open Water Diver), to the most advanced one (Dive Master); including various specializations.

There is also the possibility to buy diving packages and plan a very enthusiastic stay in cosy accommodations.

*********************** SEE OFFERS ***********************

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DIRECT FLIGHTS TO ALGHERO. CLICK AND FLY TO SARDINIA!

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 …AND BY FERRY. CLICK ON THE ICONS!

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It is one of the most important caves in Sardinia and in the entire Mediterranean area, both from a naturalistic and scientific point of view. Inside, there is a rich fossil deposit made up of bones of Sardinian deer, belonging to the Megaloceros cazioti algarensis species, which lived in this area when the lands were above sea level, between 120,000 and 75,000  years ago.

The underwater route, which is accessible to most divers, starts inside the cliff of Punta Giglio, at the eastern entrance of the Porto Conte bay.

Departure: the cave is 5 minutes away from the ArchiMete tourist centre by rubber boat.

Route: the cave is on three levels and the exploration is quite easy and suitable to most divers.

Depth: maximum 22 metres, the cave entrance is at 8 metres depth.

To see: just point your flashlight towards the walls, and you can admire calcite arabesques and stalactites, which create the natural frame of a small lake overlooking the inside of an air chamber inside the cliff. The air is breathable thanks to some cracks in the rocks which allow air in from outside. On the lake’s shore, divers can safely leave BCDs, flippers and weights behind, obviously being careful to not damage stalactites and arabesque rocks. Once you are free of your equipment, after a few metres, you will enter a niche which contains a fossil deposit consisting of the bones of Sardinian deer:  the long bones, skulls, lower jaws and imposing antlers of these animals, which widely populated the entire area of Porto Conte tens of thousands of years ago, are perfectly preserved. Remember that during that period, the entire area was above sea level. Paleontologists presume that the deer were probably looking for shelter from bad weather inside the cave, but that maybe, due to the darkness or the crowding of many animals, fell into a narrow and deep part of the cave, which turned into a death trap.

Length of the exploration: 1 hour

Price includes: scuba tank and ballast, transfer by rubber boat, diving and naturalistic guide inside the cave, washing and storage of the equipment.

Further information: the tourist centre ArchiMete offers the possibility to buy cheap diving packages, which allow one to experience the wonders of the Protected Marine Area of Capo Caccia-Isola Piana. The offer can be combined with trekking and snorkeling routes, in addition to naturalistic activities proposed by ArchiMete. See also the section “Discover our offers” on the homepage of the website.

It is the second most important cave after Neptune, and is located on the eastern side of Capo Caccia. The scenic and huge entrance is at an altitude of around 80 metres; the entire cave is very interesting from a geological, naturalistic and archaeological standpoint, since in the prehistoric age —it is estimated at least 7000 years ago—the cave was already populated by hominids looking for a shelter. On the walls, graffiti and undisputed signs of a human presence are still recognizable; drawings that many still consider shrouded in mystery, and which remain without explication. The natural light which penetrates into the wide entrance hall, allows for the growth of green mosses and lichens on the rocks. This is the feature that gave name to this place.
Imposing stalagmites, which are at least twenty metres high, are clearly visible, and continuing along towards the end of the cave, you reach the underwater part of it, where cave-divers discovered human remains, traces of ancient graves and even Neolithic vases.

The Grotta Verde (the Green Cave) was renamed as “cave of the altar”, because sailors built a small altar inside it dedicated to Saint Erasmo, their patron, back in the Fifteenth century.

Inside the Neptune’s cave

It is one of the most stunning places easily reachable by visitors and was discovered by chance by a local fisherman in the Eighteenth century. It is accessible both by sea (departures from the port of Alghero or from the boarding pier of Cala Dragunara, just after the enchanting Tramariglio bay), and by land, through the Escala del Cabirol (Stairs of Roebuck), with its 656 steps running along the cliff, and rising up from the sea, just in front of the Isola Foradada (Foradada Island). The inside is breathtaking and the tourist route winds its way through several rooms, with each one presenting different features: the Lamarmora Lake, an underground salt lake which is 9 metres deep, 100 metres long, and 25 metres wide; with a stalagmite column named Acquasantiera (Stoop) at its center. Another stalagmite rises from the bed of the lake and is called Albero di Natale (Christmas Tree). There are also the rooms of the Reggia (Palace), of the Rovine (Ruins), of the Organo (Organ), of Trine e Merletti (Lace and Lacemaking) and of the Tribuna della Musica (Tribune of the Music), which dominate the room of the Reggia (Palace).

The service of guided visit is available all year long. Visits to the site are possible from Easter to October, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. To reach the cave by land, once arrived at the square in Capo Caccia, just read all information on the visit procedures provided on the dedicated wallboard. Instead, to reach the cave by sea, take the motor ship which sails from the port in Alghero. 

Further information are available at the tourist office in Alghero (tel. 0039.079.979054).

It is, without a doubt, the most important among the several coastal towers in the area of the Regional Park of Porto Conte; dominating the Tramariglio bay and the tourist centre ArchiMete. It was realized in chalky material at the end of the Sixteenth century, during the Spanish dominion. Today, it is still in good conditions, and from the inside, the dome vault and pillar on the terrace are visible, with the holes which allowed light to penetrate the structure.

Prenuragic area of extraordinary importance and the largest in Sardinia. It is located nearby I Piani, along the county road 42, not far from the airport of Alghero-Fertilia. It was discovered by chance in 1903, during the excavations for the building of a farmhouse. The finding of some human bones encouraged further excavations, until crockery, jewels and several hypogean graves were discovered. Over the years, a total of 38 Domus de Janas (Home of the Fairies) were discovered, along with underground graves dating back to three different historic periods: the civilization of Ozieri (3500 B.C.), of the bell-shaped vase (2000-1900 B.C.), and of Bonnanaro  (1800 B.C.).

The Palmavera nuraghe

Along the coastal road 127 Bis which connects Alghero to Capo Caccia, three and a half kilometres after Fertilia (at kilometre 32), we find the magnificent Nuragic complex of Palmavera. The main keep dates back to the Fifteenth-Fourteenth century B.C., and can be still visited in all its parts; including the large central room with a tholos cupola. Considered the structure of the complex, which was built at the foot of the Doglia Mountain, archaeologists presume that it was surrounded by cabins and refuges. The second cycle of life of the Nuraghe, started after the first half of the Ninth century B.C., when a second keep was added and the first one was covered with blocks of sandstone, a very common material in this area.
The visit is organized between the two towers, and it is also possible to visit the meeting cabin, where there are still a stone bench, a bath and the throne of the tribal chief. During the excavations, archaeologists found several artifacts, which today are mainly exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum “Sanna” in Sassari (at 64, via Roma; Phone nr.  0038.079.272203 – www.museosannasassari.it).

This archaeological area is located along the road which leads to Capo Caccia, just after the junction on the county road 55 Bis, which goes to Sassari. This area is located in the heart of the roadstead of Porto Conte, in the so-called “Bay of Nymphs” or “Nymphaeus Portus” of Tolomeo. The complex is located right next to the sea, and archaeologists have discovered 49 rooms divided up between an estimated 140 metres in length. Some mosaics are still clearly visible, but many of them have been removed and are now safely exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum “Sanna” in Sassari (at 64, via Roma; Phone nr. 0039.079.272203 – www.museosannasassari.it).
According to archaeologists, the villa was the retreat of a wealthy figure of that period, who dedicated himself to the so-called “otium”, which means the care of the spirit and the pleasures of the body. The extent of the complex and the structures found, however, leads to the presumption that this was a place dedicated also to crop production; benefitting from a privileged position in terms of boarding and maritime trades.
Over the centuries, the villa has undergone various renovations; the different building techniques used are still clearly visible, like the opus caementicium (Roman concrete) and the opus africanum (a sort of African masonry), including masonry in dry stones dating back to the Medieval period.
The part of the villa located furthest to the north, was probably on two floors and in the lowest part a wellness and bathing room, decorated with marbles and sumptuous polychrome decorations, was created. Among these decorations, a stucco representing a Nereid riding a sea animal is of special archaeological and artistic interest. One of the legendary figures is Nereus’ daughter, the marine divinity of Greek mythology, who lived in a cave in the depths of the sea. It is right in the area of Capo Caccia that we find the “Grotta di Nereo” (Cave of Nereus), one of the most important and stunning underwater ravines of the Mediterranean sea, and one of the routes proposed by the tourist centre ArchiMete.