Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy

Capo Carbonara

Capo Carbonara, at the southeastern tip of Sardinia near Villasimius, anchors a Marine Protected Area that covers nearly nine thousand hectares of granite headlands, offshore pinnacles and Posidonia oceanica meadows. Classic dive sites include Secca dei Berni, Secca di Santa Caterina, Variglioni and the wreck areas around Isola dei Cavoli and Isola Serpentara. Granite boulder topography descends in steps from shallow reef tops around 8 metres to drop-offs near 40 metres, where red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata, yellow Eunicella cavolini and orange Astroides calycularis dominate the deeper walls. Schools of barracuda, amberjack and dentex hunt over the reefs; resident dusky groupers, brown meagre, octopus, moray eels and large scorpionfish are routinely encountered. The protected Posidonia meadows around the cape host pipefish, juvenile bream and occasional seahorses. Visibility is typically excellent in summer (20–30 metres) and currents range from weak to moderate depending on exposure. Most sites are accessed by boat from Villasimius.