Tignale, Lombardy, Italy

Punta del Cesto

Punta del Cesto is one of Tignale's most popular shore-entry dive sites on Lake Garda, just south of the village. The site is a steep rocky drop-off that descends from the surface to well past 40 metres, with terraces of submerged boulders, fissures and freshwater vegetation patches. The lake's glacial origin gives it cold and clear water; visibility commonly ranges from 6 to 12 metres, with the best clarity in late spring and autumn, and a sharp thermocline below 18–20 metres. Resident fauna includes pike (Esox lucius), perch (Perca fluviatilis), lake trout (Salmo trutta lacustris), carp, bullhead, small shoals of bleak and the endemic carpione (Salmo carpio) in the deeper layers. Submerged tree trunks and rocks attract perch shoals. Easy parking and shore access make the site popular for deep freshwater training. Suitable for intermediate divers with cold-water experience and proper exposure protection.