Lipari, Sicily, Italy

Pietra del Bagno

Pietra del Bagno is a volcanic rock stack off the western coast of Lipari, the largest of the Aeolian Islands. The pinnacle drops from just below the surface to around 40 metres in steps, with overhangs, fissures and a small cave on the western face. Steep volcanic walls are decorated with yellow Eunicella cavolini fans, red gorgonian Paramuricea clavata in the deeper sections, orange Astroides calycularis cups, yellow Parazoanthus and red and orange encrusting sponges. The exposed location attracts pelagic fish: amberjack and barracuda schools, dentex and bonito patrol the blue, and tuna are sometimes seen passing offshore. Resident species include dusky grouper, brown meagre, octopus, moray eels and scorpionfish. Currents can be moderate at the surface and the dive is usually run as a multi-level around the rock. Visibility regularly reaches 25 metres in summer. The Aeolian Islands are a UNESCO World Heritage site and Pietra del Bagno offers one of the archipelago's most representative wall dives.