Stromboli, Sicily, Italy

Strombolicchio

Strombolicchio is a tiny, vertical basalt islet roughly 1.6 km offshore from Stromboli at the northern end of the Aeolian archipelago. The islet is the eroded remnant of an older volcanic plug and drops sharply underwater into deep blue, with walls plunging well past 50 metres. Diving along its perimeter exposes vertical basalt faces decorated with yellow Eunicella cavolini fans on the shallower terraces, dense red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) below 25 metres, orange Astroides calycularis on shaded sections, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and red and yellow sponges. The exposed location attracts pelagic species: amberjack, barracuda, dentex, bonito and the occasional tuna or sunfish are reported in summer. Resident fish include large dusky groupers, brown meagre, conger eels, moray eels, scorpionfish and octopus. Currents around the islet can be moderate to strong, so the dive is reserved for advanced divers. Visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres in summer. Boat access only, from Stromboli.