Vulcano, Sicily, Italy

Secca del Capo Grosso

Secca del Capo Grosso is a volcanic seamount off the eastern coast of Vulcano in the southern Aeolian Islands. The seamount rises from a deep base around 45 metres to a top near 18 metres and is one of the most representative offshore dives of the archipelago. The walls of dark volcanic rock host yellow Eunicella cavolini fans on the upper sections and dense red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) forests below 25 metres, with encrusting orange Astroides calycularis on shaded faces, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and a varied sponge community. Pelagic encounters are common: barracuda and amberjack schools, dentex and the occasional tuna or sunfish in summer. Resident species include large dusky groupers, brown meagre, conger eels, octopus, moray eels and scorpionfish. Visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres in summer; currents around the seamount are moderate and can pick up. The Aeolian Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site. Reserved for advanced divers.