Villasimius, Sardinia, Italy

Variglioni di Cavoli

Variglioni di Cavoli is a complex of granite pinnacles rising offshore east of Isola dei Cavoli, within the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area in southeastern Sardinia. The pinnacles are surrounded by a sandy and Posidonia oceanica plain at about 40 metres and rise to within 8 metres of the surface, with vertical walls, ridges and small swim-throughs. The walls below 22 metres support yellow Eunicella cavolini fans, encrusting orange Astroides calycularis on shaded faces, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and a varied sponge community, with patches of red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) in the deeper sections. Resident species include dusky groupers, brown meagre, conger eels, octopus, moray eels and scorpionfish; barracuda and amberjack schools commonly cruise the open water and dentex hunt over the reef. Visibility regularly exceeds 25 metres in summer; currents around the pinnacles are moderate. Boat access from Villasimius.