Tourists' rowing boat hits rocks and starts taking on water inside the famous sea cave.A romantic getaway to celebrate 25 years of marriage nearly ended in disaster for an American couple after their small rowing boat struck rocks and began sinking inside Capri's Blue Grotto.The frightening episode was caught on camera by Sherina Welch, a 49-year-old American travel creator, who was visiting the island with her husband to mark their silver wedding anniversary. Welch later shared viral footage of the ordeal on TikTok. The Blue Grotto can only be entered aboard small rowing boats, and only when the sea is calm, owing to a narrow entrance flanked by rocks that demands skilled manoeuvring from the oarsmen. According to Welch's account, her boat struck a rock as it entered the cave, and within seconds began filling with water, sending both tourists into a panic. Disavventura a lieto fine per una coppia di coniugi americani in visita a Capri. Durante un'escursione alla Grotta Azzurra, uno dei luoghi più celebri dell'isola, accessibile solo a bordo di piccole barche a remi e con mare calmo, l'imbarcazione su cui viaggiavano ha urtato una… pic.twitter.com/hpYV3D3NWv — Repubblica (@repubblica) July 23, 2026 Matters were made worse by a language barrier with the boatman and the confusion among guides from other boats also inside the grotto at the time. The situation was eventually brought under control when a second boat arrived and helped bring the couple to safety, while their own vessel continued taking on water. Neither tourist was injured, and the couple were able to continue their holiday on the island. Barcaroli The incident has reignited criticism of how Capri's so-called barcaroli - the boatmen who ferry visitors into the grotto - are regulated. High-profile local politician Francesco Emilio Borrelli said he has long raised concerns about what he described as chaotic and, at times, dangerous practices among some operators, pointing to a public dispute between boatmen in front of tourists only days earlier. Thousands of visitors take the same short but delicate journey into the Blue Grotto every year, drawn by its shimmering blue waters - a spectacle that has captivated travellers since the cave was popularised in the 19th century. Video sherinafreespirit

A romantic getaway to celebrate 25 years of marriage nearly ended in disaster for an American couple after their small rowing boat struck rocks and began sinking inside Capri's Blue Grotto. The frightening episode was caught on camera by Sherina Welch, a 49-year-old American travel creator, who was visiting the island with her husband to mark their silver wedding anniversary. Welch later shared viral footage of the ordeal on TikTok. The Blue Grotto can only be entered aboard small rowing boats, and only when the sea is calm, owing to a narrow entrance flanked by rocks that demands skilled manoeuvring from the oarsmen. According to Welch's account, her boat struck a rock as it entered the cave, and within seconds began filling with water, sending both tourists into a panic. Disavventura a lieto fine per una coppia di coniugi americani in visita a Capri. Durante un'escursione alla Grotta Azzurra, uno dei luoghi più celebri dell'isola, accessibile solo a bordo di piccole barche a remi e con mare calmo, l'imbarcazione su cui viaggiavano ha urtato una… — Repubblica (@repubblica) Matters were made worse by a language barrier with the boatman and the confusion among guides from other boats also inside the grotto at the time. The situation was eventually brought under control when a second boat arrived and helped bring the couple to safety, while their own vessel continued taking on water. Neither tourist was injured, and the couple were able to continue their holiday on the island. The incident has reignited criticism of how Capri's so-called barcaroli - the boatmen who ferry visitors into the grotto - are regulated. High-profile local politician Francesco Emilio Borrelli said he has long raised concerns about what he described as chaotic and, at times, dangerous practices among some operators, pointing to a public dispute between boatmen in front of tourists only days earlier. Thousands of visitors take the same short but delicate journey into the Blue Grotto every year, drawn by its shimmering blue waters - a spectacle that has captivated travellers since the cave was popularised in the 19th century. Video sherinafreespirit