Portofino Marine Reserve · Italy · Wall
Punta della Torretta
A terraced wall that works from 10 m down to 65 m
Area photo: Stefan Schäfer, Lich · CC BY-SA 4.0
A wall under the old tower on the headland, vertical at first, then terraced, then dropping again to about 39 metres. It works at several levels: 10 to 22 metres for divers still building experience, down to 35 for those who are not, and a line on the outer boulders from 45 to 65 metres for technical teams. Red gorgonians cover the rock.
Where it is and how deep
44.3021° N, 9.1668° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
The point takes its name from the old tower standing on the rock above the water, and that rock carries on below the surface as a wall — vertical to begin with, then terraced, then dropping away again to about 39 metres. The terracing is what makes the site work for mixed groups: divers keeping to the upper part have 10 to 22 metres of wall to work along, with no need to go deeper to see the best of it.
Experienced divers carry on down the face to the bottom at around 35 metres, and technical teams run a line on the outer boulders from 45 metres to 65. Red gorgonians are the cover here, and the point is a passage for dentex; in warm periods barracuda come through as well. Whatever depth you take, the ascent is the same wall in reverse, so the shallow terraces double as somewhere to spend the end of the dive.
Marine life and season
- Barracuda
| 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 Portofino Marine Reserve: May–Oct is the settled season; visibility is often best in late autumn, and winter storms close the exposed southern walls.
Know before you go
- The wall does not stop at the recreational band — the outer boulders run from 45 to 65 metres, which is a planned technical line, not somewhere to drift into.
Questions divers ask
Can a beginner dive Punta della Torretta?+
Within limits, yes. The site is described as suitable for all levels, with beginners staying in the upper part between 10 and 22 metres. The full descent to the bottom at about 35 metres is for advanced and experienced divers, and the outer boulders from 45 to 65 metres are technical ground.
Sources
- Area naturale marina protetta Portofino — Wikivoyage (IT)
- Punta della Torretta dive site — SSI MyDiveGuide
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