The archaeological itinerary of this dive site is a true voyage back in time swimming between the remains of Roman and Byzantine anchors in an environment rich in marine life.
On the western coast of the island of Ustica‚ just north of Punta Gavazzi‚ lies this underwater archaeological itinerary marked by a yellow buoy. Our dive starts with a descend along the buoy line‚ which takes us to a depth of around 10m. Exploring this area remains of anchors dating back to the Roman and Byzantine age can be admired.
We swim out from this platform‚ crossing the blue and arrive at a rocky ridge. This area lies at a depth varying from 10m to 24m and is characterized by its enchanting rock formations that offer perfect hiding spots for marine life. A slipper lobster can be found attached to the ceilings of a big arch‚ while at the base of a large pinnacle a crack hides a couple of meagres and striped groupers. Fields of posidonia sea grass offer the perfect habitat for crustaceans‚ while shoals of seabream and salema decorate the blue of the sea. The various types of sponges‚ tube worms‚ sea algae and corals colour the background of this scenery‚ giving it the final touch for its picture-perfect look.
Type: Archeological / shoal
Certification Requirement: OWD
Recommended Certification: AOWD
Difficulty Level: Low
Depth: 10-25m
Duration: 40-50 min
Typical encounters: Slipper lobster, grouper, meagre, seabream, salema
Notes: Good visibility, possible weak current
