A dive spot‚ known for its steep vertical reef wall facing the blue‚ where pelagic species frequently are encountered.
This dive site is situated in a cove in close proximity of the “Grotta delle Cipree”‚ on the south-western side of the island of Ustica. We start our dive with a descend on the shallow seabed of this cove. Following the contours of the coast‚ passing pinnacles of rock formations and strips of posidonia sea grass‚ we arrive at a large horizontal fissure in the reef. Swimming through this fissure we can admire the orange tints of the sponges and corals‚ accentuated by the play of lights of the sunbeams shining around the irregular formations of the rocks. It is also an interesting place to explore for slipper lobsters‚ hermit crabs and dotted nudibranchs.
The exit of the fissure brings us on the edge of this dramatic vertical drop-off‚ facing the blue of the open sea. Orange corals‚ yellow cluster anemones and yellow gorgonians colour this reef walls surface. Its crevices hide sea stars‚ sea urchins and spider crabs perfectly mimicked with environment as their carapaces are covered with plucks of algae. Clouds of damselfish decorate the blue waters‚ where an occasional barracuda‚ amberjack or tuna swims by.
The reef wall ends in a small bay; a valley reaching from 10m to 25m of depth that is covered with boulders. Exploring the seabed‚ we can find nudibranchs such as the purple nudibranch or the pilgrim hervia‚ while shoals of seabream accompany us in the water. On our return towards the dive boat‚ at a depth of 10m we find a tunnel shaped opening in the rocks of about 15m long. This cave is an interesting place to visit‚ looking for groupers‚ slipper lobsters and various other types of crustaceans.
Type: Reef wall / Fissure / Cave
Certification Requirement: OWD
Recommended Certification: AOWD
Difficulty Level: Low – Medium
Depth: 10-30m
Duration: 50-60 min
Typical encounters: Slipper lobster, hermit crab, nudibranch, grouper, crab, amberjack, tuna, seabream
Notes: Good visibility, possible weak current