Aeolian Islands · Italy · Reef · Pinnacle
Secca delle Formiche
Two rocks whose tops show through the clear water from the surface
Secca delle Formiche is a shoal off Lipari made of two rocks that climb from 30 m on the seabed to within 10 m of the surface, close enough that the top shows through the clear water from the surface. It is an undemanding, relaxed dive, and its rock faces are packed with resident life, from nudibranchs and shrimp to groupers and octopus.
Where it is and how deep
38.4433° N, 14.9399° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The two rocks rise from 30 m on the bottom to within 10 m of the surface, and the dive works around their faces between those depths. The walls are crowded with moray and conger eels, lobsters, shrimp, scorpionfish and nudibranchs, while groupers, octopus and parrotfish keep to the cracks. The dive is not demanding, which makes it a relaxed one.
Marine life and season
- Nudibranchs
- Groupers
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Macro critters
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Aeolian Islands: Lipari's centre dives April to November and Vulcano's May to October; no month is singled out as best, and July and August are crowded.
Questions divers ask
Is Secca delle Formiche a shore dive or a boat dive?+
A boat dive. The RIB leaves from a boarding point a short walk from the Lipari dive centre, and the rocks rise from 30 m to 10 m below the surface.
Sources
- Immersioni a Lipari — Diving Center La Gorgonia
- Immersioni guidate — Diving Center La Gorgonia
- Adventure dives in the Aeolian Islands from Lipari — Manawa
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