DIVING AT CAPO VATICANO - TROPEA
Mondo Blu Diving Centre is one of the most famous and experienced diving centres in Calabria. Since 1985, the center’s underwater activities have always been characterized by constant improvement, refinement, organization, and attention to every detail.
Our experience, continuous research, quality, professionalism, represent, for over 25 years, our strength!
Crystal clear waters are just one of the typical characteristics of the coast along Capo Vaticano. 30 metres of visibility is the norm in these waters and diving here is catered to both beginners and more advanced divers alike.
Mondo Blu Diving has access to over 25 diving sites, each located approximately 10 minutes
Diving activity list:
1. SCOGLIO DELLA GALEA
This is the southernmost diving site in Capo Vaticano. The dive starts on the southern side of the rock at a maximum of 19 meters. A chain of rocks both big and small embedded within the san on the sea floor makes up an endless row of crevices which create the ideal habitat for groupers, corvina and bream. The shaded rocks are covered in coloured sea songs and multiple varieties of algae. Scoglio della Galea is probably the most typical of dives around Tropea because it features of the characteristics of the local landscape: clear water, high luminosity and rocks covered in multi-coloured sponges.
2. SCOGLIO MANTINEO
Beneath the lighthouse, close to the shore, the Scoglio del Matineo is another great dive. The emerging rock is the most imposing of a row of rocks submerged at a depth of 30 meters under the surface. This is another great dive, suited to divers of all levels who can catch of glimpse of all our Mediterranean benthic organisms: sponges, tunicates, bryozoa, nudibranchs, crustaceans, gobies and blennies looking out in groups from inside the rocks. Passing thorough the rocks, brushed by the current, keep an eye out for whole flocks of red mullets. Although small they are found in large numbers, lurking in sheltered areas with their mouths pointed towards the current.
3. VADARO
The Vadaro rock is found at a depth of about 20 meters. Underwater, we go around the rock which, on the northern side (facing Tropea), falls into the sand. Even the ravines between the stacked rocks give refuge to octopi, grouper as well as white fish and even in free water, especially in September, often kingfish.
4. FORMICOLI
Between Riaci and Torre Marino, a series of rocks emerge from the surface about 300 metres from the coast. These are Formicoli – the last remains of a Roman port, so they say. This is a pleasant and relatively shallow dive: Formicoli continues underwater, creating a ridge of rock formations which nestle on the seabed at a depth of 18 metres. This is the perfect environment for groupers, breams and corvina, which are found typically in October and November. Each of these formations in the submerged rocks houses many creatures, making this one of the best sites for divers. A tunnel opens between the rocks, but it’s best not to enter for fear of damaging the fragile creatures attached to the rock. If you’re confident enough to try, be careful not touch the walls and to hold your breath, otherwise the air bubbles will destroy even the most resilient organisms attached to the rock. Despite being suited to beginners, this is a beautiful and tranquil dive, which is suited to both beginners and the more advanced underwater diver. Further out to sea, at 27-30 meters, the row of rocks closes on the outer shoal of Formicoli.
5. LA RETE
Beyond Capo Vaticano is Groticelle beach, which is cut off halfway by a series of emerging rocks. An underwater ridge rises from the backdrop – this is the Monaco shoal, otherwise known as Smalidittu (the damned), probably because of the amount of nets that the rock has snatched from the local fishermen. For this very reason, one of these underwater mini ridges is affectionately called ‘the net’.This is a deep dive – the top of the ridge is found only at 38 metres and its walls are almost completely bare with no coral but lots of red ascidians. To compensate, you’ll find an abundance of crustaceans both large and small here. This ridge is surrounded by a series even deeper formations which extend downwards onto the sloping seabed, creating large crevices which are home to large groupers and underwater arches.
6. L’ANCORA
At 40 metres, an ancient Roman anchor nestles half buried in the sand of the deeps of Groticelle, covered in sponges and bryozoa. The anchor is located at the edge of drop towards the underwater valley which creeps near towards the Groticelle coast – a sandy hill supported by a rock wall which provides a home to dense colonies of sponges and bryozoa.
7. U VAPURI
At about 30 metres, off the coast of the village of Riaci, lies the U’Vapuri wreck. Little or nothing is known about the ship and all that remains is its metal skeleton with panels rising up to 2 feet from the bed. As a result, spotting U Vapuri is not always easy. Although only the husk of the ship survives, the dive is nonetheless very enjoyable, with groupers and large octopi nestling between the panels and sometimes even triggerfish (known as pig fish to the locals), which are not typically found in the mediterranean.
