“For a moment there, I thought we were going to be stuck in there,” Sherina Welch tells PEOPLE

NEED TO KNOW

• In July 2026, Sherina Welch and her husband’s visit to Capri’s Blue Grotto took a frightening turn when their rowboat hit the cave entrance
• Luckily, the passengers were rescued by another boat after their boat started to fill with water
• A video of the “terrifying” experience posted by Welch recently went viral, garnering more than 3 million views on TikTok

What was supposed to be one of the highlights of a dream vacation to Capri, Italy, turned into a “terrifying” experience that Sherina Welch and her husband will never forget.

Like thousands of visitors every year, the Texas couple booked an excursion to the island’s famous Blue Grotto in July 2026, expecting a peaceful ride into one of Italy’s most recognizable natural attractions.

The sea cave, known for its glowing blue water created by sunlight filtering through an underwater opening, can only be reached by transferring from a larger tour boat into small wooden rowboats that slip through a narrow cave entrance when conditions allow.

Welch, 49, tells PEOPLE exclusively that at first, there was little reason to worry, as “everything seemed normal” and the “water seemed calm,” but within moments, the excursion took a scary turn.

@sherinafreespirit

Omg what should have been a wonderful experience was terrifying! Be warned when you go to this folks! It is a beautiful place to see but it has its risks & they handled it well and our tour guide was amazing! More of our trip later #bluegrottocapri #capriitaly #capri #bluegrotto #grottaazzurra

♬ original sound – Sherina | Travel Creator ✈️

Since the Blue Grotto frequently closes when waves become too rough, Welch says she assumed the operators would only allow boats inside if it was safe.

She, her husband, another couple and the rowboat captain boarded the small vessel after arriving from their larger tour boat, trusting the crew’s experience as they approached the cave’s famously low entrance. That confidence, however, disappeared almost instantly.

“We realized something was wrong when our boat hit the top of the rock and we swallowed what felt like a gallon of water!” Welch says. “We went from dry to completely drenched and lying in a boat full of water.”

And as water poured into the boat, panic quickly replaced the excitement of entering the world-famous cave.

“For a moment there, I thought we were going to be stuck in there,” Welch admits. “I actually asked before we went in, what happens if you go in but can’t get out? And one of the employees mentioned they’d have to call scuba divers.”

Inside the cave, confusion only intensified as people shouted directions in Italian while the passengers tried to understand what was happening. Instead of reassuring those on board, Welch claims the captain initially tried to continue the tour.

“[He] just kept singing and rowing and showing us the grotto, meanwhile we were soaked and confused and scared,” she says. “There was a language barrier as well, so that didn’t help, but other boat guides in the grotto with other boats were all yelling at our guy and each other. The other couple in our boat started crying and I was trying to soothe her.”

And although the rescue itself lasted only several minutes, Welch says, “It felt like forever.”

Luckily, relief finally arrived when another guide stepped in to help. “His boat came beside us, and hand-signaled us to get into his boat quickly as ours was sinking!” she recalls.

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After reaching safety and returning to the main island, Welch says their original tour guide completely changed the tone of the day.

He apologized repeatedly, checked on the group, treated them with kindness, and even took them to a local shop where they were gifted dry clothes so they could continue enjoying Capri despite the ordeal.

Looking back, Welch hopes other travelers remember that even iconic attractions deserve careful consideration before climbing aboard.

“Just realize nothing is worth your safety,” she tells PEOPLE. “And I accidentally put my trust in others when I should have been more aware of the weather conditions.”

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