Ponza & the Pontine Islands · Italy · Seamount · Wall
Secca di Silverio
A 50 m shoal-top rising from 90 m of mud, its east wall in red coral and gorgonians
Area photo: Seba Sofariu from Dublin, Ireland · CC BY 2.0
Secca di Silverio is a shoal off the north-east side of Ponza, about a mile from the coast, that rises from a muddy bottom at 90 m to a top at 50 m. It is a rebreather dive: the eastern wall is covered in Paramuricea clavata gorgonians and red coral, with John Dory, large scorpionfish and lobsters living on it.
Where it is and how deep
40.9093° N, 12.9999° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
There is nothing shallow here. The shoal rises from a muddy bottom at 90 m to a top at 50 m, so the whole dive is planned as a technical one, and the source describes it as a shoal for CCR users. Descend the line to the top at 50 m and get oriented before moving: the site is about a mile offshore on the north-east side of the island, and the boat above is your only reference.
Go to the wall on the eastern side. It is covered in Paramuricea clavata, the red gorgonian, and in red coral, and it is the reason to make the dive. Look for John Dory hanging among the fans, large scorpionfish sitting on the rock and lobsters in the holes. Keep to the depth in your plan rather than following the wall down toward the mud at 90 m. Ascend on the line and run the decompression in open water above the shoal.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Off-season | Off-season | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Off-season |
Season follows Ponza & the Pontine Islands: Diving runs April to early November and all but stops December–February; water peaks at 23–24°C in August–September and is down to 14–15°C in March–April. Naples ferries are summer-only.
Know before you go
- The shallowest rock is at 50 m and the bottom is 90 m: this is a closed-circuit or full technical dive with staged decompression.
- The shoal is about a mile offshore: descend and ascend on a line and carry a surface marker for the open-water stops.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Secca di Silverio?+
The top of the shoal is at 50 m and it rises from a muddy bottom at 90 m. The source describes it as a dive for CCR users.
Sources
- Secca di Silverio — Scubago
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