Grotta Totò

A mystical dive site with stalactites and stalagmites reflecting the relativity of time.

 

The Grotta Totò lies in close proximity to the Pastizza caves. Starting at the Pastizza rock‚ the dive heads in northern direction‚ swimming over a large meadow of posidonia sea grass where shoals of seabream and salema swim around. A rocky riff‚ perpendicular to the coastline‚ appears on our path after a few metres. Crossing this riff‚ we reach a small bay‚ where at a depth of 13m the small entrance of the cave can be found.

Internally‚ a permanent line marks the dive itinerary of the cave. Following the cave line we reach a large dark chamber holding two enormous submerged stalagmites. Due to the absence of daylight‚ marine life inside the cave is scarce‚ but the orange shrimps with their elegant fine pincers that can typically be found around here‚ are definitely to be seen.

The floor of the cave is composed of fine sand and slowly slopes upwards. We proceed our dive along this slope leading us towards two separate air pockets where we can surface. The first chamber has a ceiling rich in majestic elongated large stalactites. The ceiling of the second chamber is decorated with finer and smaller stalactites alternated by tree roots that poke out from the grounds above. Both air pockets allow divers to take out their regulators and speak‚ but stunned by the beauty of what is seen‚ usually not a word is said.

Following the cave line back we exit the cave and make our way back to the diving boat‚ exploring some of the Pastizza caverns before ending the dive.