Lampedusa & Linosa · Italy · Seamount · Wall
Secchitella
A canyon splits the shoal into two caps
Photo: tato grasso · CC BY-SA 3.0
La Secchitella is a shoal off the east side of Linosa, a few minutes by boat from the old landing, that rises to within 4 m of the surface. A canyon splits its top into two caps, and its east side drops away as a wall. It is known for its rich life and for the number of groupers, many of them large.
Also known as La Secchitella.
Where it is and how deep
35.8564° N, 12.8655° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
From the mooring on the shallow cap, the dive descends to a terrace at about 20 m, which overlooks a wall that falls a further 25–30 m. The canyon cuts the top of the shoal into one cap at 4 m and another at 10–12 m.
The route follows the wall past the canyon and ends back on the cap for the decompression stop. Groupers, many of them big, are found all over the rock.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Lampedusa & Linosa: August and September bring grey sharks to Lampione; ferry and flight options shrink in the off-season.
Know before you go
- Strong current is almost always present on the shoal and is part of nearly every dive here.
Photos from Secchitella
tato grasso · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dive videos
Linosa - Immersione sulla "Secchitella" - Sensazionale incontro.... · micdiver59 on YouTube
Notturna Secchitella · subolle scuolasub on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is there current at the Secchitella?+
Almost always: strong current is a constant on this shoal, which together with a wall dived to 45 m makes it a site for experienced divers.
Sources
- Immersioni subacquee a Lampedusa, Lampione e Linosa — Pelagos 2.0
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap contributors
Photo credits
- A dark moray eel speckled with yellow dots, mouth open, peering out from an algae-covered rock by tato grasso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A rock face packed with orange cup corals, green algae and pink encrustations, with several small reddish fish by tato grasso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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