The Secret Submarine base
One of my favorite myths of Porto Taverna-Tavolara is the one that talks about a secret submarine base built inside the Island of Tavolara.
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Being a fan of military aviation, I read many books and magazine about the military history of Sardinia. And as someone from the Italian Air Force, I wanted to know if this myth was true.
Deep inside, I wanted it to be true. Having a secret submarine base appealed to the kid in me. I also got a kick out of listening to the tall tales the locals and the tourists add to the myth.
On the other hand, I knew there was something happening in the other side of the island. We frequently see jet fighters flying fast on top of Tavolara. They also seem to indulge me as the planes made crazy maneuvers while they reconnoiter around the island. It was not hard to deduce that there was military presence on the eastern side of Tavolara and the interdiction to land on the Navy’s beach.
Italian Navy West access gate on Tavolara
After an exhaustive research, I found out that sadly, there was no secret submarine base. There aren’t even submarines in the site! The base is a NATO radiogoniometric station. Tavolara is home of the VLF-transmitter ICV, which works on 20.27 kHz and 20.76 kHz. It is basically the communications center for transmitting messages to submarines.
Around Tavolara, you will notice an antenna dominating the peak of the island. There are also internal galleries that allow access from both capes of the island.
The Antennas are visible on the Eastern side of Tavolara
Depending on weather, the Navy shuttles use the west dock or the much larger east dock of the island. The Western dock is more protected from the winds and high seas. Below a picture of a small shuttle docking on Western dock this past summer.
The good thing about the base is that the Eastern Coast and the surrounding areas of the access to the Navy base are in pristine condition. The marine life there haven’t been disturbed. Aquatic life have thrived in its waters for year, even if I can’t find submarines passing by.
Is it true that the northern part of the island has been hollowed out into an enormous cavern which houses the NATO communications base and that Ian Fleming (a submariner in WWII) used this as the inspiration for the location for Dr No in the James Bond film?
Based on my experience the Huge Submarine cave is a myth. I think if that was true the would never let people circle the island ( at a certain distance) and most of Dive few meters from the entrance of the base ( Punta del papa).
As i kid i loved to believe it was true, then growing up i realized that the base is nothing more than a Submarine base.
But i didn’t know that Ian Fleming used Tavolara as an inspiration….
here hare the antennas:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucaberta/519995970/sizes/l/in/set-72157600282656846/