Activities
The sea of Salina offers unique emotions to be enjoyed over and over again at each dive. The underwater coastlines of the island, as a matter of fact, offer various orographic types (walls, caves, landslides, gullies, reefs and pinnacles) as well as an incredible variety of marine species (groupers, moray eels, nudibranchs, octopuses, dentexes, barracudas, lobsters, sea hares). Not to mention the extended colonies of yellow marine sponges and of sea fans branching over the rocks...
The offers of the Scuola Sub Salina Diving include dives at Salina and in the Aeolian archipelago. The difficulty level can be chosen on the basis of personal experience.
Tre pietre
The itinerary offered is very easy to follow. The starting point is south-east of the marina of Rinella and is delimited by three small reefs rising out of the water surface. Diving from the higher one, after a rock step, we reach an underwater coastline of round boulders that lead to two long reefs divided by a crack with the walls covered with Astroides and red sea sponges. The underwater coastline is a mix of rocks and Posidonia.
Continuing, on the left-hand side there is a wall covered with clusters of Clavelina among which a few white-corolla Fan worms stand out Moreover, in the cracks of the rock, it is possible to admire broad colonies of Astroides and Parazoanthus. The wall suddenly ends and only a little ahead on the seabed sand, it is possible to see a rocky pyramid called Il Cervino, whose external reaches the sand at 36 meters and the peak rises up to 22 meters. The wall of the pyramid deeper in the water is covered with sea stars and hatpin urchins. At night, the seabed is covered with alicia mirabilis.
Going around the Cervino, we will see a huge Cerianthus while visiting the inner wall of the rocky pyramid will lead us to a fascinating carpet of Parazoanthus. On the way back, we will pass in front of three rocky formations entirely covered with colonies of Astroides of vibrant colours.
Secca di Pollara
The starting point is the reef of Pollara located at the centre of the homonymous creek, which originated form an ancient volcanic crater today partially collapsed. Diving takes place at approximately 100 meters off the reef and begins with a flat sandy seabed at a depth of approximately 25 meters followed by small reefs covered with Posidonia.
The seascape quickly changes and leaves room to an important rocky crest that rises perpendicularly to our path.
The sight that appears before our eyes is, to say the least, magnificent: Peaks, valleys, sandy paths alternate with small caves, canyons and landslides offering the perfect habitat for underwater fauna and flora to flourish. Sea anemones, Marine sponges, Yellow sea fans and then Moray eels, Groupers, Conger eels together with
Secca del Capo
The Secca del Capo is a diving zone dedicated to the more experienced scuba divers as it is very deep and with sea currents sometimes very strong. First of all, particular attention should be paid to the choice of the boat that will have to be suitable for deepwater cruising and will have to be complete of all the necessary equipment. The fishermen use three reference points to find this spot: the sea stack Fariglione di Pollara must appear in the hole of the peak Punta Perciato, Mount Rosa must overlap the peak Punta Castagna while the reef Scoglio della Nave must form the shape of a V with the slopes of Panarea Island. The rocky peak closest to the surface is approximately 8 meters away and can easily be seen from the surface. Diving depth is not over 40/45 meters. Let us not waste time and let the spectacular view of the shallow charm us with the dark colour of the Guarracini which contrasts with the whiteness of the rocks and blueness of the sea. The shallow, moreover, is rich in cave fish and here it is also possible to find huge sized fish.
Moving away from this rocky peak, then, finning clockwise, we will reach the most beautiful area of the diving made of enormous rocks on the east side of the main peak. We will then reach a seabed covered with a mixture of algae and small reefs that will lead us, by following a coastline, gradually less and less deep, to a wall of approximately 30 meters: we are close to decompression!
