Portofino, Liguria, Italy

Punta del Faro

Punta del Faro, the cape beneath the Portofino lighthouse, is the most celebrated wall dive of the Ligurian Riviera. The wall plunges from a shallow plateau near 12 metres past 50 metres into deep blue water, carpeted from about 25 metres down with one of the densest forests of red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) in the Mediterranean, in shades of red, pink and white. Higher up, yellow Eunicella cavolini fans, orange Astroides calycularis on the shaded faces, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and encrusting red sponges complete the wall community. Resident dusky groupers (Epinephelus marginatus), brown meagre, conger eels, octopus and scorpionfish are frequent; barracuda, amberjack and dentex schools cross the blue and the rare brown nudibranch Discodoris atromaculata is a characteristic sighting. Visibility commonly reaches 15–25 metres. Currents are moderate and can pick up around the cape. The Portofino Marine Protected Area enforces strict diving rules, so the site is reserved for advanced divers in small guided groups.