Stintino & the Asinara National Park · Italy · Pinnacle · Reef
Punta Tumbarino
An offshore shoal whose head rises to within a few metres of the surface
Off Punta Tumbarino on Asinara's west coast, a shoal rises from a bottom of boulders and crevices to a head only a few metres below the surface. Divers circle the cap and pick their own maximum depth, threading small canyons, holes and boulders that shelter groupers and morays.
Also known as Punta Tamburino.
Where it is and how deep
41.0392° N, 8.2287° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The dive circles the cap of the shoal, whose head lies just under the surface, and each diver chooses how deep to go, to a maximum of 30 m. The route threads between small canyons, holes and large boulders.
The many dens in the rock hold groupers, forkbeard and morays. Below the usual route the boulders and crevices step down to a plain of debris at about 38 m.
Marine life and season
- Groupers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Stintino & the Asinara National Park: June to September has the warmest water; July and August are also the busiest months on this coast.
Know before you go
- The shoal is not recommended as a dive when a current is running over it.
Dive videos
Punta Tumbarino 26 06 2024 · Emanuele Coveri on YouTube
Sources
- Immersioni all'Asinara — Roccaruja Diving Center
- Immersioni all'Asinara: le 7 più belle — Traghetti per Sardegna
- OpenStreetMap — OpenStreetMap
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Octopuses mating on the granite each May
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