Giglio, Tuscany, Italy

Punta del Morto

Punta del Morto is a granite cape on Giglio Island's wild western coast, popular among local dive operators for its mix of accessible depth and Mediterranean wall scenery. The dive descends along a stepped granite reef from a shallow ledge near 8 metres to about 35 metres on a granite and sandy base. The terraces and walls below 22 metres support patches of red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata), yellow Eunicella cavolini fans on shallower sections, encrusting orange Astroides calycularis on shaded faces, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and a varied sponge community. Resident species include dusky groupers, brown meagre, octopus, moray eels and scorpionfish; barracuda and amberjack schools occasionally pass in the blue. Visibility is typically 18–28 metres in summer; currents are moderate and the dive is usually run as a multi-level along the cape. Within the Tuscan Archipelago National Park, Punta del Morto is suitable for intermediate divers.