Levanzo, Sicily, Italy

Cala Minnola

Cala Minnola, on the southern coast of Levanzo in the Egadi Islands, is one of Sicily's most important underwater archaeological dive sites. The seabed at around 27 metres holds the surviving cargo of a Roman wine ship that sank in the first century BC: dozens of amphorae of Dressel 1B type, partially sunk into the Posidonia oceanica meadow that has grown over the wreck site, are still visible in their original stowage pattern. Strict Italian and EU laws protect the site; touching, moving or recovering any artefact is forbidden, and dives are conducted only with authorised local guides. The reef context combines Posidonia meadows, sandy patches and small rocky outcrops where octopus, moray eels, salema schools, ornate wrasses, painted comber and sea breams are common. Currents are usually weak in the bay and visibility regularly reaches 25 metres in summer. Suitable for intermediate divers with good buoyancy control to avoid disturbing the seagrass and amphorae.