Tavolara & La Maddalena · Italy · Reef
Faro dei Monaci
A sheltered lighthouse cove with gorgonians below
Photo: Gianni Careddu · CC BY-SA 4.0
Faro dei Monaci is dived under the lighthouse on the Isola dei Monaci, from a cove sheltered from the Grecale and Scirocco winds. The anchorage sits on a 5 m bottom suited to beginners, while the seabed below descends fairly quickly to 30 to 35 m, where the gorgonians are.
0Where it is and how deep
41.2166° N, 9.5171° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The boat anchors in the cove below the lighthouse, where the bottom lies at only 5 m and newer divers can stay in the shallows. From the anchorage the seabed descends fairly quickly to 30 to 35 m, and the gorgonians appear at that depth for divers who follow the slope down.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair | Fair |
Season follows Tavolara & La Maddalena: April to October is the main season; summer brings the clearest water, while winter wind and current cut visibility.
Dive videos
BARRACUDA AL FARO DEI MONACI · wa ri on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is the anchorage at Faro dei Monaci sheltered?+
Yes. The boat anchors in a cove well sheltered from the Grecale and Scirocco winds, beneath the lighthouse of the Isola dei Monaci.
Sources
- Faro dei Monaci dive site — ScubaGo
Photo credits
- Low rocky islets with a small white lighthouse far out on a dark blue sea, seen past green scrub. by Gianni Careddu, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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A 2 m to 41 m profile that suits both new and deep-trained divers