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)
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Grouper, barracuda and fan mussels on rocks at 18–20 m
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Imposing grouper circle the rocks down to 35 m
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A grouper family holds one rock at 35 m off Erbalunga
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Three big rocks linked by a posidonia field, 15–35 m
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