Minelli 35 is a group of rocks off Bastia running between 8 and 35 m, with a resident grouper family known for coming over to look at divers. Octopus, nudibranchs, a school of barracuda and giant fan mussels fill out one of the richer wildlife lists on this stretch of coast.
Where it is and how deep
42.7102° N, 9.4583° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The rocks span a big depth range — from 8 m at the top to a maximum of 35 m — so the dive plans itself as a descending-then-ascending tour: down the structure early, deepest point first, then a slow spiral back up through the rocks with the no-stop clock recovering as you climb. The listed minimum grade is PE40, which reflects that 35 m floor.
The residents are the point. A family of grouper has colonised the rocks and likes to come and watch divers; octopus — described as playful — hide in the holes, nudibranchs reward the macro-minded on the rock faces, a school of barracuda works the water, and there are giant fan mussels on the site. Give the fan mussels room, keep your movements quiet, and let the grouper close the distance themselves.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Nudibranchs
- Barracuda
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Bastia & Cap Corse (East Coast): Centres run year round, but the sea tops 20 °C only from June to October; January–March sit at 14–15 °C.
Sources
- Scubago — Minelli 35 — Scubago
More dive sites in Bastia & Cap Corse (East Coast)
Wreck
A WWII bomber, 'Yehunde', on the seabed at 63 m
Reef
A 2–12 m slope with a colourful drop-off at the surface
Pinnacle
A rocky peak off Bastia's harbour mouth, 22 m down to 44 m
Reef
Imposing grouper circle the rocks down to 35 m
Reef
Grouper, barracuda and fan mussels on rocks at 18–20 m
A WWII fighter at 19 m, cockpit canopy still open
Wreck
A second WWII fighter at 30 m, ringed by thirty corb
Pinnacle
A big rock at 16 m with grouper, morays and John Dory
Similar dives elsewhere
Tunnels through the rock, a small wreck and a plane wing between 6 and 35 m
A fish-rich rockfall from the surface to 40 m in a 1971 no-fishing zone
Deep rock at 26–35 m rising to a garden at 8 m
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Ridges to 40 m on the sheltered side of the islet