Sealife Sardinia review: skippered RIB days from Palau to La Maddalena and Corsica

Sealife Sardinia is a small RIB operator working out of the Porto Turistico in Palau, the main departure port for the Parco Nazionale dell’Arcipelago di La Maddalena. Unlike the motor ships that fill the same quay every morning, this is a skipper-and-boat set-up: you charter the RIB for the day and the skipper takes you where the wind and your wishes allow. Sealife Sardinia La Maddalena days are therefore private by nature, and the reviews reflect that. The Google listing reads “noleggio gommoni Palau, escursioni con skipper”, which sums up the two halves of the business.

We have read through the public Sealife Sardinia reviews on Google Maps and Tripadvisor and checked the company’s own site. What follows is what is verifiable, what is not published, and who this kind of outing suits.

What they offer

The services page lists three things:

• Skippered excursions in the La Maddalena Archipelago, with the usual pattern of several swim stops between Spargi, Budelli, Santa Maria and Caprera. The itinerary is agreed with the skipper rather than fixed.
• Southern Corsica days across the Bocche di Bonifacio to the Lavezzi, Cavallo and Piana islands, with time ashore in Bonifacio for a walk, a coffee or lunch in town.
• Sport-fishing outings, arranged on request as a dedicated day.

RIB rental without a skipper also appears in the company’s name on Google, but the site gives no self-drive terms, so treat that as something to ask about rather than a listed product. The Costa Smeralda, also in the name, is a third possible direction: Porto Cervo and the coves south of it are about 30 km by road from Palau but a short hop by fast boat.

Durations are not stated. Reviewers describe full days, and the Corsica run needs one: the strait crossing alone takes time and depends on the sea state.

Insider tip: If Corsica is your priority, book for a day with a light easterly or no wind at all and keep a second date in reserve. The Bocche di Bonifacio get choppy in a mistral, and a good skipper will offer the archipelago instead rather than bounce you across.

Boats and comfort

The company describes the boat only as a RIB; length, engine and capacity are not published. Reviewers call it clean, spacious and modern, and mention shaded seating, which matters on a long day in July. Snorkel gear and stand-up paddleboards were provided on the days reviewers describe. There is no mention of a toilet on board, which is normal for a RIB; plan a stop in La Maddalena town or Bonifacio.

Because it is a private RIB, you get the advantages of that format: fast transfers between islands, the ability to nose into small coves the motor ships cannot enter, and anchoring on the park’s mooring buoys instead of queuing for a beach.

Prices and what’s included

Sealife Sardinia prices are not published on the website as of September 2026, and there is no booking engine. Quotes come by WhatsApp. When you ask, get these points in writing:

• Whether fuel is included in the day rate (on private RIBs it often is not).
• Whether the park contribution for the day is included. Operators hold their own authorisations, and some pass a small per-person amount on to guests.
• What food is on board. Reviewers describe an aperitif of salami, pecorino, fruit and Vermentino; a cooked lunch is not advertised.
• Cancellation terms if the mistral cancels the day.

One family on Tripadvisor called the quote fair compared with others they had received, but that is a single opinion, not a price list.

What customers say

At the time of writing, the Google Maps listing shows a 5.0 rating from 255 reviews, and Tripadvisor shows 5.0 from 43 reviews, ranking the company 26th of 83 tours and activities in Palau (both checked September 2026). Recurring themes:

• The skippers, named in reviews as Luca and Sergio, are praised for local knowledge, good English and a relaxed manner.
• Flexibility: several reviewers say the route was adjusted to their wishes or to the wind on the day.
• Small touches: drinks and snacks on board, restaurant recommendations, a dog welcomed on at least one trip.
• One review describes the skipper diving to free another rental boat’s fouled anchor, which tells you something about how the day runs.

We found no recurring complaints in the visible reviews. The honest caveat is that a small operator with a single boat has no slack: if the skipper is ill or the boat is in the yard, there is no replacement, and August dates disappear early.

Departure logistics

The boat leaves from the Porto Turistico in Palau. Free parking near the port fills by 9:30 in August, so use the paid multi-storey car park or arrive early. If you are staying on La Maddalena island, Delcomar and Maddalena Lines ferries cross to Palau in 15–20 minutes; check the current timetable on their sites. Our guide to boat tours from Palau covers parking and the waterfront in more detail.

Contact hours are listed as 08:00–22:00 every day. Confirm the meeting point on the quay the evening before; small operators do not run a kiosk.

Who should book it, and who should not

Book Sealife Sardinia if you want a private day, if Corsica is on your list, or if you would rather have a local choose the coves than follow a printed itinerary. It suits couples, families with children old enough for a fast open boat, and small groups splitting a day rate.

Skip it if you need a published price before you commit, if you want a toilet and a galley lunch, or if your group is larger than a RIB can carry. In those cases a shared catamaran or a larger private boat is the better fit; see our private charter and rental guide.

How to book

Booking is direct: phone or WhatsApp on the number published on the contact page, or a message on Instagram. We did not find Sealife Sardinia on GetYourGuide or Viator, so there is no free-cancellation platform booking for this operator. For other Palau companies, see the operators hub.

Insider tip: Ask for the skipper’s WhatsApp confirmation to state the departure time, the pier and the price with fuel and park fee listed separately. It takes two minutes and removes every argument at the end of the day.

Alternatives you can book online

If you prefer instant confirmation and free cancellation up to 24 hours before, GetYourGuide lists comparable formats. Browse all La Maddalena boat tours, or go straight to the private RIB trip for up to eight from La Maddalena, the licence-free guided RIB outing, or the private all-inclusive motorboat day from Palau pier 5. Prices for those are shown on each listing.