Capo Carbonara, the area around Secca dei Dotti

Capo Carbonara · Italy · Reef

Secca dei Dotti

Gorgonian fans thick enough to block the channels

Area photo: dronepicr · CC BY 2.0

Secca dei Dotti is one link in a chain of granite ridges that continues south-west into Secca di Mezzo and Secca di Libeccio. The rock stands from a debris floor a little past 30 m up to 24-26 m, and the current that accelerates over it makes ground the park calls particularly suited to gorgonians: white and yellow fans and paramuricea, thick enough in places to close the channels.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Secca dei Dotti: typical dive 24–26 m (80–85 ft), deepest point 30 m (100 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit24 m26 m30 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 40 m (130 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

39.0773° N, 9.5368° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

The bottom under the secca is detrital and a little over 30 m. From it, scattered boulders give way to more compact formations that rise to 24-26 m, cut with splits, tafoni, erosion hollows and passages between stacked blocks, so there are numerous ways through the relief. The park notes the setting as a bright one for the depth.

Current is what makes this dive. Meeting the ridge on the flat bottom it accelerates, then works into the fissures and the dips between boulders, and that flow feeds the fans. White eunicella (Eunicella singularis) spread in wide candelabra and more branched forms over the sediment floor; yellow Eunicella cavolini and paramuricea grow on the boulders themselves, in some channels so densely that they obstruct them.

Every shaded surface carries unbroken carpets of Parazoanthus, the sea daisies, interrupted by the tube-shaped growths of the sponge Haliclona mediterranea. Around the rock you meet golden groupers - the dotti the secca shares its name with - along with brown grouper, sea bream, dentex and amberjack.

Marine life and season

  • Groupers
  • Trevally & jacks
Month-by-month season rating for Secca dei Dotti
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairFairGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFairFair

Season follows Capo Carbonara: May–Oct is the settled season with the warmest water; the mistral and easterlies close the exposed seccas in winter.

Know before you go

  • Current accelerates as it meets the ridge and funnels between the boulders; start up-current and keep the rock within reach instead of crossing open channels.

Sources

  1. Secca dei Dotti - Immersioni in AMP — Area Marina Protetta Capo Carbonara

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