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| Crystal clear water and an average
visibility of 30 metres are just some of the characteristics of diving
along the coast of Capo Vaticano. The ˛
MONDO BLU Diving Center" offers diving fans more than 25
different diving places which are all suitable for beginners as well as
for diving experts and can all be reached within 10 boat minutes from the
diving center. In the following, we would like to present some of the most
popular diving places along the coast of Capo Vaticano, most of which have
also been mentioned several times in well-known diving magazines.
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˛ U Vapuri˛ is the name of an old –once shipwrecked- boat situated in front of the small village of Riaci at a depth of about 30 metres. Because of the crystal clear water, the position of the ship on the sandy sea ground is clearly visible even from the surface. Unfortunately, in the course of the years, nothing but the metal body of the ship remained, so that it is no longer possible to determine its type and its origin. This metal body rises at a maximum height of 50 – 60 cm above the sea ground, and therefore it is difficult to determine its position with the help of an echo-sounder. Diving in this place is a real pleasure, as numerous fishes have built their caves between the pieces of metal. You will have the possibility to observe Brazilian groupers, large octopuses and sometimes even the grey triggerfish which is rarely found in the Mediterranean and which the locals also call ˛ pig fish˛ , because of the strange sounds it utters once captured.
Between Riaci and Torre Marina, at a distance of about 300 metres from the coast, several rocks are jutting out of the sea. Historically speaking, these rocks are the remains of an ancient Roman port. From the air, you get the impression of observing an ant colony, which is the reason why these rocks are nicknamed ˛ Formicoli˛ (in English: ˛ ant swarm˛ ) by the locals. Diving in this place is a real pleasure, as you do not have to go too deep beyond the surface. Already at a depth of about 18 metres, the ˛ Formicoli˛ are stretching out towards the open sea, so that the diver gets the impression of moving along a sustained chain of rocks providing an ideal habitat for Brazilian groupers, breams and in October and November also for croakers which have all built their caves in the rocks. In the middle of the rocks, you can also find a tunnel, the entering of which should better be avoided, as otherwise the very fragile animals stuck to the tunnel walls are in danger of being destroyed. Divers who want to traverse the tunnel nevertheless, should at least be aware of not touching the walls and holding their breath in order to avoid the expulsion of air bubbles which would have damaging effects on even the most resistant organisms. In greater distance from the coast and at a depth of 27 to 30 metres, the ˛ Formicoli˛ chain of rocks turns into a rocky platform.
At a depth of about 20 metres, the ˛ Vadaro˛ rock is rooted into the sandy sea ground. It is possible to dive around the entire rock whose northern side (direction of Tropea) is marked by erosion and subsides landslide-like to the sandy ground. There are numerous crevices and fissures running through the rock which provide the ideal habitat for octopuses, Brazilian groupers and other species of whitefish. In some distance from the rock and usually only in the month of September, it is also possible to observe scads. 4) ˛ LA RETE˛ Leaving Capo Vaticano behind, you will arrive at the beach district ˛ Grotticelle˛ which is half-way interrupted by numerous rocks. Emerging from the bottom of the ˛ Grotticelle˛ , these rocks are called the reef of MONACO which is also nicknamed ˛ Smalidittu˛ (in English: ˛ damned place˛ ), as it has already destroyed numerous fishing nets of the local fishermen. For this reason, one of the underwater rocks was given the name ˛ La Rete˛ (in English: ˛ the fishing net˛ ). Diving takes place on the sea ground, as the top of the reef can only be reached at a depth of 38 metres and the rock faces run down additional 20 metres before arriving on the sandy ground. The rock faces are marked by extreme ˘ baldness˘ , but you will find numerous cicades (even big specimen) there. The reef is surrounded by rocky arches and additional reefes (even deeper below) which fall down steeply on the sandy ground providing the ideal habitat for Brazilian groupers.
From the bottom of the ˛ Grotticelle˛ , at a depth of 40 metres, a Roman anchor (in Italian: ˛ L´Ancora˛ ) emerges which is partly rooted into the sandy sea ground and completely coated with crust-forming sponges and bryozoa. The anchor is situated right at the margins of the slope that leads to the underwater valley which nearly reaches the beach of ˛ Grotticelle˛ . The submarine valley comprises a sand hill which is supported by a rock face on which divers will find closely packed colonies of bryozoa and sponges. 6) ˛ SCOGLIO MANTINEO˛ Another interesting diving place along the coast of Capo Vaticano is the ˛ Mantineo Rock˛ (in Italian: ˛ Scoglio Mantineo˛ ). It is situated right below the lighthouse and is relatively close to the shore. It is the most interesting sample of a whole series of underwater rocks which arrive at the sea ground at a depth of 15 metres. The ˛ Mantineo Rock˛ is especially recommended for a second diving tour and is suitable for beginners as well as for diving experts whose keen regards will observe all kinds of benthic organisms living in the Mediterranean Sea: sponges, tunicates, bryozoa, numerous crustaceans, gudgeons and blennies regarding the divers from within their caves. In the presence of the current, diving along the rocks allows you to observe crowds of small surmullets which have taken up their position in the most sheltered coins of the sea ground with their mouths facing the current.
The most southern diving place along the coast of Capo Vaticano is the ˛ Galley Rock˛ (in Italian:˛ Scoglio Della Galea˛ ). Diving takes place on the southern side of the rock at a maximum depth of 19 metres. The ˛ Galley Rock˛ comprises a chain of rocks of various sizes which is interrupted by numerous crevices and fissures. These crevices represent an ideal habitat for Brazilian groupers, croakers and breams. The rock faces placed on the shadow side are covered with multi-coloured sponges and coated with various spezies of algae. The ˛ Galley Rock˛ is said to be the most characteristic diving place of Capo Vaticano, as it combines all peculiarities of this coastal district: crystal clear water, extreme lightness and rock faces covered all over with multi-coloured sponges. |
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