Syracuse, Sicily, Italy

Punta della Mola

Punta della Mola is one of the most representative dives of the Plemmirio Marine Protected Area on the eastern Maddalena peninsula, southeast of Syracuse. The dive descends along a stepped limestone wall from a shallow rocky platform near 8 metres to about 35 metres on a rocky and sandy base. The walls below 20 metres support yellow Eunicella cavolini fans, encrusting orange Astroides calycularis on shaded faces, yellow Parazoanthus axinellae and red and yellow sponges, with patches of red gorgonian (Paramuricea clavata) in the deeper sections. Several scattered Roman and Byzantine amphorae fragments lie on the seabed in the area, protected by Italian law and presented during guided dives without any manipulation. Resident species include dusky groupers, brown meagre, conger eels, octopus, moray eels and scorpionfish. Visibility is typically 15–25 metres in summer; currents are moderate. Suitable for intermediate divers.