Magna Grecia for Divers: from Tropea to Capo Vaticano Foto Reggio Calabria WelcomeThe sea in Calabria, with its amazing seabed and underwater routes, offers plenty of fascinating, both cultural and natural, experiences.
A picturesque diving excursion in Tropea.
After a walk from the town’s harbour to the Riaci rock, snorkelers can dip in crystal-clear waters, entering theGrotta Azzurra to admire a small but enchanting place from a different perspective, thriving with fish and marine flora. Next lies the Grotta degli Innamorati (Lovers’ Grotto): a stop here is a must, to enjoy its amazing colours at sunset, letting all your thoughts go, while watching the sun go down.
The seabed off the beaches of Tropea, S. Irene and Capo Vaticano has unique morphology and rocky shoals filled with abundant wildlife and vivid fish species. In these areas at least two rounds of diving per day are available, all accompanied by attentive and professional guides.
From Tropea to the Shoal of St Irene
The shoal of St. Irene starts off at about 9 metres, dipping down to 21 metres. Here stands a large, majestic rock arch resting on the sand. Swimming along its walls, all colonised by rich vegetation, you will also find lots of white and yellow Mediterranean fan worms. Constantly moving flora and fauna creates real natural choreographies, making you feel as if you were immersed in a huge, open aquarium.
Formicoli
Further down the coast, between Riaci and Torre Marino, the formicoli emerge from the water. These are small rocks, most likely the remains of an ancient Roman port. About 300 metres from here there is a beautiful shoal inhabited by groupers and octopuses. The shoal features ravines and caves full of colourful sponges, corals, fan worms, and yellow cluster anemones. The deeper you go, the more likely you are to come across large fields of Mediterranean tapeweed, big pen shells, and shoals of barracuda.
