Levanto, Liguria, Italy

Punta Mesco

Punta Mesco is the rocky cape that marks the northern boundary of the Cinque Terre Marine Protected Area between Levanto and Monterosso. The dive site is a stepped reef of irregular boulders and ridges that descends from a shallow rocky platform near 8 metres to about 35 metres on a sandy base. The walls and terraces below 20 metres support yellow Eunicella cavolini fans, patches of red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) in the deeper sections, encrusting orange Astroides calycularis on shaded faces, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and a varied sponge community. Resident wildlife includes dusky groupers, brown meagre, conger eels, octopus, moray eels and scorpionfish; salema and damselfish schools, sea breams and ornate wrasses are common. The Cinque Terre MPA is one of the youngest reserves on the Ligurian Riviera and protection has noticeably increased fish biomass over the past decade. Visibility is typically 12–22 metres; currents are moderate and the site is best for intermediate divers.