Taormina, Sicily, Italy

Isola Bella

Isola Bella is a tiny islet just off Taormina on Sicily's Ionian coast, connected to the mainland by a narrow gravel tombolo and protected as a regional nature reserve. Underwater, the islet continues as rocky terraces and a stepped reef descending from the shore to about 25 metres on a rocky and sandy base. The shallow profile and sheltered orientation make Isola Bella one of Sicily's most popular introductory and snorkelling sites. The terraces between 5 and 18 metres are well-lit and rich in macro life, with encrusting orange Astroides calycularis on shaded faces, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae, red and yellow sponges and small Eunicella cavolini fans on the deeper rock. Resident species include octopus, moray eels, scorpionfish, painted comber, ornate wrasses, salema and damselfish schools, sea breams, sand smelts and the occasional grouper. Visibility is typically 12–22 metres; currents are usually weak inside the bay.