DIVING COMMUNITY: A Sea Misunderstood
Diving in the Mediterranean is not well known and is highly underestimated. Often divers think that the diving here is boring‚ that there are no fish to be seen and that the water is cold and turbid. That is unfortunate and‚ most of all‚ incorrect. So‚ what does diving in the Mediterranean and specifically in Ustica have to offer?
What divers often don´t realize is that the Mediterranean Sea has the highest biodiversity of all seas and oceans around the world. True‚ the Mediterranean has suffered greatly from the effects of over-fishing in several locations. But fortunately‚ much attention has been paid to this problem in recent years and the establishment of marine protected areas have severely restricted‚ among other things‚ fishing‚ resulting in a strong recovery.
Ustica is a small idyllic Sicilian island and the proud owner of the title “Italy´s Oldest Marine Protected Area”. The sea of Ustica has been protected since 1986‚ which has resulted that it hosts as much as 60% of all marine life in the Mediterranean. From large groupers‚ big hunting amberjacks and clouds of barracudas in which you can lose yourself as a diver‚ to the small‚ colorful nudibranchs‚ octopuses‚ sepias and colonies of shrimp that cover the walls and ceilings of caves.
The volcanic origin of the island of Ustica created its dramatically shaped seabed and offers a completely new underwater landscape at every dive site and around every corner: From steep vertical reefs‚ to underwater passages‚ arches and caves; From large meadows of bright green neptune grass‚ bright coloured soft coral fans to an interesting wreck. Suitable for newly certified Open Water Divers to advanced Tec divers. The seabed of Ustica is anything but dull and homogeneous.
Due to the often rocky bottom‚ the water of the Mediterranean contains little suspension. The volcanic origin of Ustica makes its underwater visibility (50 meters) one of the best in the Mediterranean. This way you can enjoy underwater panoramas‚ beautifully illuminated by the sunlight that filters through the water column to great depths.
Another unique characteristic of diving in the Mediterranean: history. The Mediterranean is a great underwater museum‚ especially around Sicily: Punic wars‚ Roman ships‚ Phoenicians‚ Arabs‚ have sprinkled the seabed with cannons‚ amphorae‚ anchors. And because Ustica was often the shelter point where ships moored‚ there are many interesting archaeological finding to be seen.
Ustica is just a small Sicilian island‚ but it has a lot to offer: Reefs‚ caves‚ wrecks‚ ancient amphorae and anchors and lots of sealife‚ from small critters to large pelagic. And all this with a great underwater visibility and in pleasant temperatures‚ reaching up to 30°C in summer. And I haven´t even talked about what Ustica has to offer above the water surface ...
Want to know more? Come find us at the online Dutch Dive Show “Duikvaker Expo” on the 6th and 7th of February.
No need to travel! Due to the COVID-19 pandemic‚ the Dutch Dive Show “Duikvaker” will go completely digital. No need to speak Dutch! We’ll be there communicate with you in either English‚ Italian or Dutch.
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