naturalistic
archaeological
Naturalistic and archaeological
Browsed itineraries of Sicily and discover the wonders above and below the water of a timeless island
THE LISCA BIANCA WRECK
A tour of the English cargo ship
After descending into the water, head right past the southern tip of the Lisca Bianca outcropping, over a seabed of algae and sea grass at a depth of 15 m, and follow the sandy channel that leads directly to the ship’s bow. Only the stern portion of the ship is located within the shipping lane, as the bow lies on the port side and is resting along the slope of the seabed itself. The wooden bridges are practically non-existent, with only the twisted and tangled metallic infrastructures remaining in place. In the central portion, you can just make out the remains of the boilers. The stern, which has remained in its sailing trim, is the most fascinating and intact part of the entire wreck. On the deck, you will find the remains of the rudder and its column, while below deck you can make out where the captain’s cabin must have been. Under the sternpost, the remains of the massive rudder and the large propeller have remained in position, with a number of the rudder’s blades hidden by the sand. Here you will reach a maximum depth of 42 to 44 m.
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.