Camogli, Liguria, Italy

Punta Chiappa

Punta Chiappa is the rocky promontory on the western side of the Portofino headland, opposite the bay of Camogli. The dive site is a stepped reef descending in irregular terraces from a shallow plateau around 10 metres to about 45 metres on the seaward face, with classic Ligurian wall scenery. Below 25 metres, red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) forests cover the wall together with yellow Eunicella cavolini fans, orange Astroides calycularis on shaded sections, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and red and yellow encrusting sponges. Resident wildlife includes dusky groupers, brown meagre, conger eels, octopus, moray eels and scorpionfish; barracuda and amberjack schools occasionally cross the blue. Currents can be moderate and drift profiles are common. Visibility ranges from 12 to 20 metres, often best in late summer. As part of the Portofino MPA, dives are conducted in small guided groups under reserve rules. The mix of relatively sheltered shallow reef and deeper gorgonian wall makes Punta Chiappa accessible to intermediate divers.