Ustica, Sicily, Italy

Punta Galera

Punta Galera, on Ustica's western coast, is one of the most photographed dives in the Riserva Marina dell'Isola di Ustica. Volcanic activity carved a sequence of basalt arches, swim-throughs and shallow grottos along the headland. The shallow reef around 8–15 metres is bathed in light, with dense Posidonia oceanica meadows and damselfish swarms; the wall continues down to about 35 metres on the seaward side. The rock surfaces host orange Astroides calycularis cup coral, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae, Eunicella cavolini fans and red sponges. Inside the swim-throughs, divers find slipper lobsters, shrimp, scorpionfish and conger eels; on the open reef, schools of damselfish, salema, breams and the occasional barracuda or amberjack pass by. Octopus and moray eels are frequent. Currents are usually weak and visibility commonly reaches 25 metres in summer. The mix of shallow swim-throughs and deeper wall makes Punta Galera suitable for intermediate divers and a perfect example of Ustica's volcanic underwater landscape.