Baia & the Phlegraean Fields · Italy · Artificial reef
Nymphaeum of Emperor Claudius
A marble-clad imperial hall with an apse and a central pool
Area photo: Dan Schofield · CC BY 4.0
The Nymphaeum of Emperor Claudius is the flooded triclinium-nymphaeum of an imperial palace off Punta Epitaffio, in zone A of the Submerged Park of Baia. Divers visit for the marble-clad hall and its central pool, a Roman interior that the dive explores no deeper than 5 m.
Also known as Nymphaeum of Claudius, Sunken Nymphaeum of Claudius, Nymphaeum at Punta Epitaffio.
Where it is and how deep
40.8223° N, 14.0769° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
On the seabed in front of Punta Epitaffio lies a large rectangular room of about 18 by 10 m, closed at one end by a semicircular apse. The hall was entirely covered in marble and has a large pool at its centre, and the dive through it goes no deeper than 5 m.
Background
In 1969 a high-quality marble sculptural group was discovered about 7 m deep on the seabed in front of Punta Epitaffio, and a systematic excavation followed. The palace had begun to flood at the start of the 4th century as bradyseism lowered the coast, and most of its wall decorations and lead pipes were removed. Since 2002 the site has lain inside the Submerged Park of Baia, a marine protected area.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Baia & the Phlegraean Fields: One Lucrino centre dives daily from May to October and on weekends from November to April; the sea is warmest in July and August.
Dive videos
DIVING IN POZZUOLI, PHLEGREAN FIELDS, SUBMERGED ARCHAEOLOGICAL PARK OF BAIA | NYMPHAEUM OF CLAUDIUS · Graziano Maccarana on YouTube
Questions divers ask
What certification does the Nymphaeum of Claudius need?+
Open Water is enough: the dive stays within 5 m in zone A of the Submerged Park of Baia, and the Pozzuoli centres reach it by boat in a few minutes.
Sources
- Baiae — Wikipedia
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
- Submerged Nymphaeum — Centro Sub Campi Flegrei
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