Ponza & the Pontine Islands · Italy · Seamount · Wall
Secca di Tramontana
A 60 m cap dropping past 80 m, with the outer ledge at 110 m by scooter
Area photo: Seba Sofariu from Dublin, Ireland · CC BY 2.0
Secca di Tramontana is one of Ponza's most challenging shoals: the cap is at 60 m, the north-west side plummets to more than 80 m, and with a scooter the outer ledge can be followed to a bottom at 110 m. The rock is cut with indentations and ravines that are dens for huge lobsters, with thousands of anthias and clouds of anchovies over it.
Where it is and how deep
40.9516° N, 12.8482° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The cap of the shoal is at 60 m, which sets the tone: this is a technical dive from the first metre, and the source ranks it among the most challenging on the island. Descend the line onto the cap and settle on the plan. The rock is characterised by numerous indentations and ravines, and these are the dens of huge lobsters; above them the water is full of thousands of anthias, with clouds of anchovies moving over the shoal.
The north-west side is the deep face, plummeting to more than 80 m. Follow it only as far as the plan allows. With a scooter it is possible to continue along to the outer ledge and reach the bottom at 110 m, a dive the source simply calls very challenging and which belongs to divers equipped and trained for that depth. Whatever the floor, the run time is short relative to the decompression that follows: come back to the line and run the stops in open water above the cap.
Marine life and season
- Reef fish swarms
| 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 cap is at 60 m and the north-west face drops past 80 m: closed-circuit or full trimix planning with staged decompression is required.
- The 110 m outer ledge is reached by scooter: a scooter failure at that distance from the line must be planned for.
Questions divers ask
How deep is Secca di Tramontana?+
The cap is at 60 m and the north-west side drops to more than 80 m. With a scooter the outer ledge can be followed to a bottom at 110 m; the source calls it very challenging.
Sources
- Secca di Tramontana — Scubago
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