naturalistic
archaeological
Naturalistic and archaeological
Browsed itineraries of Sicily and discover the wonders above and below the water of a timeless island
PARETE SIRENETTA (THE MERMAID WALL)
A magnificent vertical wall with sulphur geysers
One of this dive’s main peculiarities is the vertical extent of the volcano’s wall. It ranges from 10 to 15 m in depth next to the rocks above the surface, to abysmal depths below. The area is characterised by awe- inspiring lava rock and black sand, with yellow nuances caused by the sulphur residues. You will see small columns of bubbles escaping through the cracks in the seabed and racing towards the surface. The dive takes place along the wall, first proceeding in one direction, and then returning to a lower depth in the other direction. The route follows the channel of sand, and arrives at the edge of the shoal that marks the boundary between the coast and the cliffs on shore. One of the small caves along the coast continues into the rock for a few metres and ends at a small underground lake. Turning right at the exit from the tunnel, you will find a small indentation where the sand has turned yellow due to the sulphur released by the minute gas emissions.
IMPORTANT. Due to the gas emissions and veins of hot water, the water of the bay that houses the Sirenetta rock outcropping and the on-shore caves is turbid for the first few metres.
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
Capo Graziano
The marine archaeological itinerary of ancient and modern times
The itinerary is marked by a guiding rope, which is initially fastened to the wall, and then to the bottom at a depth of 29 metres. The dive starts (with sign 0) at the mooring buoy, following an S/N heading. After a brief pause on the top of the shoal, you will begin your descent and will encounter the first artefacts at a depth of about 30 m. Keeping the wall of the shoal on the left and turning right (at sign 2), you will come to the observation platform at a depth of about 30 m (sign 3), from which you can observe wreck A, known as “Roghi” (from the 2nd century B.C.), which is located at depths ranging from 36 to 45 metres. Re-ascending to the depth of 28 m, you will come to a cave (sign 4) that boasts an abundance of natural features. Continuing on, a stone anchor dating back to the fifth century B.C. can be found in the vicinity of a landslide, at a depth of around 25 m (sign 5). Heading back towards the surface, the route turns south through a channel full of small caves (sign 6) at around 8 m, where remains of more recent origins can be found. From here, you will soon return to the starting point (sign 0).