naturalistic
archaeological
Naturalistic and archaeological
Browsed itineraries of Sicily and discover the wonders above and below the water of a timeless island
Rabbate
The itinerary of the neophyte naturalists
The Rabbate dive begins off the coast at about 10 m from the shore, at a depth of 7 m. The wall is exposed to the northwest, and we follow it on the right hand side, heading eastward. Large boulders lie in the sand on the side of the open sea. The vertical wall of the ridge gradually becomes more curved, with a number of small caves and a seabed of coarse sand. A series of channels similar to “canyons” later appears, interlinked by small tunnels. A 3 m wall with rock formations and a number of small splits stands opposite to the north. The wall then gradually slopes and descends, and you will find yourself on a plateau at a depth of 8 m, with ravines on the left hand side that are home to various fish species.
Browsed itineraries of Sicily and discover the wonders above and below the water of a timeless island
RELITTO DEI CANNONI
The barbary pirate ship of Punta Libeccio
Just north of Punta Libeccio, at about 100 m from the coast, a site known as the “Relitto dei Cannoni” (the “Wreckage of Cannons’’) can be found at a depth of 15 m. The gently sloping seabed, which is characterised by naturally split rocks alternating with clearings of sand and gravel, contains traces of an ancient shipwreck: eight cannons of uniform size and characteristics, six of which are lying in disarray along a vaguely rectilinear axis, while the other two are offset by about 20 m to the west. The total distance between the farthest cannons is about 30 m.
Browsed itineraries of Sicily and discover the wonders above and below the water of a timeless island
PUNTA FALCONIERA
The archaeological and naturalistic dive
The northern tip of Punta Falconiera is characterised by a rocky wall that is interrupted to the east, at a depth of about 15 m, by a sandy valley with banks of sea grass. In this direction, you will descend to a depth of about 30 m, where you will encounter a steep slope made up of sand and organogenic debris. Following the guiding rope, you will come to a slightly sloping plateau at a depth of 20 m. Continuing southward, you will descend to a depth of 30 m, where the seabed consists of a series of sloping steps with large isolated rocks and banks of sea grass, while beyond the escarpment the sea floor is sandy and covered by debris. Nearby, you will find a rocky wall covered by crevices that you can follow to reach the dive’s end point.