Catania & the Cyclops Islands · Italy · Reef · Drift
Punta Aguzza
Shoal complex and summer drift on the reserve's southern boundary
Area photo: Castielli · CC BY-SA 3.0
Off the headland that marks the southern boundary of the Isole Ciclopi marine protected area, a complex of rocky shoals runs from 14 down to 40 m. Medium current — a summer drift — and the reserve's medio-impegnativa rating put it at the experienced end of the itineraries, dived by boat with expert guides.
Where it is and how deep
37.5432° N, 15.1430° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat positions over the shoal complex off Punta Aguzza, the headland at Cannizzaro that closes the marine protected area to the south. The rock runs from 14 m down to 40 m in fissures and rocky rises, so the guide sets the plan by depth: a deeper first leg along the formations, then a stepped return over the shallower tops.
Current here is medium and in summer the itinerary runs as a drift, which is why the reserve pairs it with expert guides. The formations carry the remains of old fishing nets draped among the rock, so hold your position off the structure as you fly past. Depth discipline matters more than navigation — the guide leads, you manage the profile, and the dive ends drifting up over the top of the shoals.
Background
Punta Aguzza is a boundary marker as much as a dive: the Isole Ciclopi marine protected area extends along the Aci Castello coast between Capo Mulini in the north and this headland in the south, so the shoal complex off the point is the last itinerary inside the reserve before open coast.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Catania & the Cyclops Islands: Dived year-round; late summer and autumn add pelagics at Capo Molini, and winter water drops to about 14°C.
Know before you go
- Remains of old fishing nets lie among the rock formations — keep your distance from the netting and watch trim and gear for snags.
Sources
- Gli itinerari subacquei — Area Marina Protetta Isole Ciclopi
- Area marina protetta Isole Ciclopi — Wikipedia (it)
- Punta Aguzza (OpenStreetMap/Nominatim) — OpenStreetMap contributors
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