The Pilot in Noli
The Pilot Plant
Located in Noli on the stunning Italian Riviera, our Pilot Plant is the heart of Nemo’s Garden—a unique research and demonstration site where innovation meets the sea.
Just 48 km west of Genova and 106 km northeast of Nice, France,190 km south of Milan. This is where the concept of underwater cultivation was first brought to life, and where we continue to test, refine, and evolve our technology today.
The Biospheres
From the first simple, transparent, lift-bags turned into test pods, to the large biosphere n3, finally to the rigid modules, GeoSphere and BioTunnel, the Pilot has been our home.
In 2025 visitors can expect to see nine 1.1 biospheres equipped with different hydroponic systems, an observatory biosphere, first of its kind and a test-micro-greens culture one.
The Tree of Life
At the heart of Nemo’s Garden stands the Tree of Life—a striking metal sculpture rising from the seabed, symbolizing evolution, interconnectedness, and the harmony between nature and technology. Michelangelo’s historic design originally inspired us, and the creative director Marco Balich reimagined it for Milano Fiera Rho. With Balich’s permission, we then created Nemo’s version and adapted it for our unique underwater context.
Today, the Tree of Life serves as a central node of the Pilot Plant, housing and organizing vital infrastructure such as cabling, utility systems, and scenic lighting. Just as importantly, it has become a living structure—providing shelter for hundreds of marine creatures that now inhabit its vertical surfaces and base platform.
The Control Tower
Known as the Control Tower in Noli, technically the Land Control Unit (LCU) is the technological nerve center of Nemo’s Garden. Positioned onshore, it is the starting point of our cabling systems, where we draw power, internet from. It enables real-time monitoring and management of the underwater biospheres, controlling key parameters such as temperature, humidity, light, and oxygen levels.
Through advanced sensors and a dedicated software interface, the LCU allows remote operation and data collection, seamless coordination between surface and underwater operations via advanced undwerater communication systems as well as video monitoring, strutturale air control systems. It also serves as the primary training and briefing station for our agronauts and support teams as well as the logistic hub of the Pilot and safety and rescue equipment storage.
The Noli Pilot Plant is currently certified via Global GAP as a recognized production plant for products.
Explore Nemo’s Garden
How to visit Nemo’s Garden Pilot Plant
How to get Here
Nemo’s Garden is located in the beautiful bay of Noli, on the Ligurian coast of Italy, close by Bagni Letizia, Via Aurelia, 17026 Noli (SV), Italy.
By Car: From Genoa or Nice, take the A10/E80 highway and exit at Spotorno. From there, Noli is just a 10-minute drive. Paid parking is available near the beachfront. By Train: Arrive at Spotorno-Noli station, then walk or take a short bus/taxi ride to the beach area. By Air: Fly into Genoa (GOA) or Nice (NCE), then reach Noli via train, car rental, or transfer service.
When to visit
The best time to visit Nemo’s Garden is during the summer season, from May to September.
The weather is sunny, the sea is calm and warm, and the biospheres are fully active—perfect for snorkeling and diving. Most of the facilities, in Noli, that are present in the summer months are not existing during the autumn-winter months, that is a partial reason for our avoiding welcoming guests during those months.
How to be featured
We love seeing your perspective! Tag us in your stories and posts! Use @nemosgarden_official on Instagram and we may re-share your content on our official profile. Please remember that Nemo’s Noli Pilot is and remains a private property space that our Company graciously offers for the public to enjoy – the grounds of the project are not to be featured in commercials, advertisement, product placement of any sort without our written permission.
Join a special event
We occasionally host special events and guided experiences with limited availability. If you’d like to join the next one, just fill out the form below to get on the guest list.
How to visit
Nemo’s Garden is located a few meters offshore and is freely accessible by sea. Everyone is welcome to swim, snorkel, or dive in the surrounding area. You can explore the garden best in two ways:
Snorkeling/freediving: Swim above the biospheres and enjoy the view from the surface—ideal for all ages and skill levels. Freedive anywhere in the pilot. It offers beginners depth’s ranging between 5m and 15m. Swim-troughs under the biospheres, chains and anchoring are strictly forbidden as dangerous for potential entanglement. If you snorkel/freedive, be mindful of the creatures that inhabit the Garden – do not touch, hang on the structures. It is strictly forbidden to push against any structure to kick back to the surface.
Diving: Certified divers can dive around Nemo’s Garden. It’s possible to rent diving equipment or book guided tours through local dive centers.
While access to the sea and the underwater garden area is free, access to and use of the facilities at Bagni Letizia (beach umbrellas, loungers, showers, etc.) is to be paid for – Nemo’s Garden does not have a commercial agreement with Bagni Letizia for these services. Nemo’s Garden does not organize private or collective tours of the Garden. We only welcome accredited media or Corporate events (special events excluded).
How to behave
Let’s work together to keep this space safe, sustainable, and welcoming for everyone:
Do not enter the biospheres – they are sealed research environments. Avoid disrupting maintenance work or ongoing scientific operations. Respect marine life and underwater structures – please look, but don’t touch.
It is unsafe, forbidden to enter or stick hands or cameras in the biospheres – violators will be prosecuted as the Pilot is monitored and footages recorded 24/7.
Visit Nemo’s Garden